The National Moderator eNetwork

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The National Moderator e-Network
eQUALITY SOLUTIONS (Pty) Ltd
by

• Daryl McLean

Date 27 September 2005
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Outline of presentation

• The purpose of assessor and moderator networks
• Assessor and moderator networks internationally
• Different types of networks
• Organic networks
• Central hub networks
• Multi-level and virtual networks
• The National Moderator e-Network
• The beginnings of the network
• The goals of the network
• The planned process for establishing and
  maintaining the network
• Conditions of participating
• How to register yourself
• How to create a topic
• How to post a message
• How to post a response
• What will be done with the issues raised
• Current topics and comments

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Why Have Assessor and Moderator Networks Emerged
Internationally?

• Competencies are not (and cannot be) stated in
  unambiguous terms
• judgements of competency standards require
  personal interpretation
• different assessors can apply competency
  standards differently
• new situations can produce unusual cases and
  puzzling situations
• understandings of competency standards need to be
  continually refreshed and updated
• Maxwell Moderation of Assessments in VET, ANTA
  2001
• Research has shown that detailed standards
  produce less reliable results than a close
  networking of assessors, even when they are
  dealing with vague standards (Wolf, in McLean
  2002).

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What do Assessor and Moderator Networks Do?

• Through their activities the networks identified
  a number of strategies for addressing the issue
  of consistency in assessment
• sharing examples of good practice
• discussing enterprise concerns about assessment
  processes
• collaborating on the development of assessment
  protocols or principles
• comparing assessment practices
• jointly developing assessment materials,
  proformas or tasks
• seeking input from regulators
• identifying practical issues for the conduct of
  assessment in different industry environments
  (and related solutions)
• ANTA 2004 Assessor Networks in Action
• Contribute to review of standards, assessment,
  moderation

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What Are Australian Assessor Networks Dealing
With?

• Developing consistent resources Community
  Services Health Training Australia Ltd
• Quality evidence collection Victorian
  Department of Human Services (DHS) Disability
  Services Division
• Cultural sensitivity in assessment Queensland
  Community Services Health IndustriesTraining
  Council
• Assessment in the workplace Community Health
  Works Inc (ACT)
• Developing an assessment passport EE-Oz
  Training Standards
• Assessment for licensing outcomes Major
  Industries Training Advisory Council Ltd (NT)
• Implementing a new Package TDT Victoria
• Assessment and regulatory frameworks TDT
  Victoria
• Existing worker New Apprenticeships Transport
  Storage Industry Training Council (WA)

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How To Set Up A Network - Stages
ANTA, 2001 Reframing the Future
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Different Types of Networks Organic Networks

• Features of an organic network are that
• Network members can interact with all other
  members
• Network members are seen as equals with a shared
  commitment to contribute to network outcomes
• Network activities will grow and develop out of
  network interactions.

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Different Types of Networks Central Hub
Networks

• Networks with a central hub are generally
  coordinated by one organisation or individual
  that takes responsibility for
• identifying and accessing sources of funding
• liaising and contracting with funding and
  regulatory bodies
• identifying potential network participants
• administrative activities to support network
  establishment, operation and sustainability
• organising meetings and other network activities
• coordinating and stimulating network activities
• providing expert input and advice, including
  mentor support
• providing Web site facilities/access

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Different Types of Networks Multi-Level and
Virtual Networks

• Both horizontal and vertical goals and processes
• Information and analysis may be electronically
  collated and analysed

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The Beginnings of the National Moderator e-Network

• Assessment College and eQuality Solutions
  convened the first meeting
• Attended by 70 moderators, several moderator
  training providers and five SETAs
• Agreed to begin by
• Registering
• creating topics
• posting comments and responses
• Encouraging others to do so
• Assessment College will convene second workshop
  where virtual task teams may be established

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Benefits of Participating in the Moderator
e-Network

• Advertise the details of moderators to
  organisations looking for moderation services
• Network moderators with each other
• Provide mechanisms for moderators to check and
  address concerns relating to consistency and
  quality in assessment
• Provide a collective professional voice for
  moderators
• Professional guidance on moderation issues
• Keep moderators in touch with the latest
  developments in policy, theory or practice in SA
  and elsewhere
• Serve to develop, disseminate and monitor a body
  of knowledge
• a network is one of the most powerful assets
  any individual can possess. It provides access to
  power, information, knowledge, and to other
  networks. (Cohen and Prusak, in Building
  Industry Training Networks, ANTA 2004)

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Conditions of Participating

• Be both a giver and a taker participate
  actively
• Do not abuse the facility by sending spam mail to
  others
• Be constructive and supportive when interacting
  with others
• Report any abuses

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Using the Notice Boards

• Threaded notice boards allow you to create
  topics, post notices or comment on issues posted
  by others, relating to
• Unit standards being assessed
• Assessment and Moderation Policies
• Moderation techniques
• Moderation tools
• Validity of assessments
• Reliability of assessments
• Practicability of assessments
• Integrated assessment
• Reporting of results
• Subject matter expertise of assessors and
  moderators
• Any other issues

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What Will Be Done With The Notices?

• Virtual task teams may be established
• ETQAs and SAQA will regularly receive a
  synthesised report to help in the review of
• standards
• assessment
• moderation
• Key common concerns may be tabled as input to
  policy processes

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Where to Register

• www.equalitysolutions.co.za
• 0861 181818 for support
• Please register on the National Moderator
  e-Network and Post Topics, Notices or Responses!