3. Assessment and Verification

a. e-Assessment - portfolio evidence
Traditionally learners have built paper based portfolios of evidence consisting of evidence prepared by either learners e.g. personal accounts and product evidence or by assessors e.g. observations and professional discussions, plus awarding body and quality assurance documentation. The use of technology is becoming a recognised and accepted method for recording performance, product and knowledge evidence, as well as recording achievement against the qualification standards.

E-portfolios can be:

• Digital storage of evidence organised in folders and sub-folders relating to a qualifications structure; units, elements, performance criteria and knowledge

• Open source modules structured to the qualification and stored on a virtual learning environment

• Commercially supplied systems for "off the shelf" purchase

• Post or page structures within Blogs and Wikis

Evidence can be recorded using:

• Digital - voice recorders, videos, cameras, pens

• Mobile phones

• Web cams

• Web conferencing

• Skype

• Digi pads

• Software to capture application usage

b. e-Assessment - testing
Most Awarding Bodies provide testing of technical certificates, Skills for Life/Key Skills and other Vocationally Related Qualifications (VRQs) on-line. There is a lot of evidence that shows that on-line testing has benefited learners, employers and providers. The flexibility that on-line testing provides, means that learners can be tested as and when they are ready, in a location that suits both them and the employer.

c. Internal Verification
Many e-portfolio systems include the management of internal verification; producing sampling plans and verification and management reports. However, there are many ways that the use of ICT can be embedded into the Internal Verification Strategy e.g:

• sampling plan created in spreadsheet software with colour coded entries to indicate formative, interim and summative verification

• electronic verification reports stored on a VLE/website/laptop/memory stick etc:

o sampling report to the assessor

o learner and employer interview record

o assessor performance report

• assessor induction programme stored on a VLE/website/laptop/memory stick etc