NAVAL by Jo Fuller

This is the picture I like to use of myself!!

Background Information
NAVAL is an acronym for Network Assessment Validation Assessor Leaders. This group was formed from the Community Services faculty, South Western Sydney institute TAFE NSW to further develop assessment validation across the Faculty. The group represents Children’s Services, Nursing, Welfare, Sport and Recreation, Hairdressing, Beauty Care and Aged Care.

The group identified three main priorities:
• A consistent assessment validation process
• Development of an assessment bank
• Training of staff

An action plan was developed for the period 2005-2006 which identified strategies, resource implications, measures, performance results and review tools incorporating reporting and communication strategies.

Monthly meetings have agreed standing items. These include:
• Review of processes including discussions to ensure continual improvement
• Discussion and development of tools that are easily accessed and customised
• Training which utilises CD resources (eg. ANTA TAA certificate IV Toolbox) internet resources (eg. Flexible Learning Framework) and relevant training materials (eg The Assessor DVD Training package)

NAVAL participants are the lead assessors for sections throughout the Faculty. This includes mentoring, provide advice and assistance to staff of the section and ensure an effective monitoring and reporting system to the Faculty, Community Services. The lead assessors develop and implement continual evaluation of assessment validation processes and procedures. NAVAL has a combination of Head Teachers and teachers from the sections but most importantly participants are motivated and interested in assessment validation.

The restructure of SWSI has provided a Faculty structure that incorporates a position of Teaching and Learning Manager who is responsible for the development and monitoring of the assessment validation process. This provides ownership and provides support to the continuation of the processes.

Assessment validation has been implemented and adapted in many ways to suit the local needs of sections within the Faculty. Sections were at differing stages of implementation of the assessment validation process. On investigation a wide selection of forms and processes were being used and it became evident that a needs analysis was needed. Issues that were identified included:
• Time versus effort; was the level of effort producing desired outcomes?
• Resources were limited or non existent. So how do you keep staff motivated?
• Record keeping: how many forms are enough?

NAVAL formed from a common need and interest in developing a sustainable and user friendly system that can be developed to provide a process that is embedded within the practices of the teaching sections.

Key Themes

Current Project
NAVAL has been in existence since May2005 and the interest and participation has meant the progress of the group has far surpassed anyone’s expectations. NAVAL has been well supported by sections and in some circumstances there are 2 section representatives. The Assessment Validation Action Plan has provided clear direction and purpose to the meetings and gives the Network an opportunity to measure success or the opportunity to refine the outcomes.

Strategy
NAVAL is a network of Assessors that participate in the assessment validation process. The philosophy behind the group is to motivate and encourage creative ideas and strategies to effectively manage assessment validation and build a self sustaining process. The leaders have an opportunity to share and discuss issues whilst supporting each other in the challenges that they may face in monitoring the assessment validation process in their sections. The group has direct input into all facets of the process and therefore members have an understanding of the way decisions are made and can take ownership for the continual evaluation and improvement systems used.

Challenges
Challenges for NAVAL occur on two levels. Resources support can often mean the Leaders take on additional duties within their teaching load to participate at meetings, mentor and monitor the section’s activities. This can lead to burnout or being overworked to the point that members may become disillusioned. Important that the network be supportive at all times.

Successes
The Faculty Community Services providing a Staff Development Day later in the year to officially launch the Faculty’s assessment validation training package. This training package will inform staff of the processes and demonstrate the effort and commitment of the NAVAL group.

Future directions
Sustainability is the long term aim of this network to ensure teachers have the support and encouragement to assist in making professional judgements when assessing students. This ensures an equitable and reliable process for all. Systems are being developed to provide an assessment bank of tools, exemplars and marking guides that will further assist teaching sections and help the Faculty and the sections meet the standards required by the Australian Qualifications Training Framework.