As Internal Verifier my role would entails working closely with Assessors and ensures that they understand;-

-          The Teaching and assessing context of a Class, this includes checking qualifications aims and objectives according to qualifying standards, as well as looking at pre-requisites for a set of qualifications. I would particularly looking at pre-requisites if I come to work as an Internal Verifier in an open learning environment (where learning is opened to all), because it can help setting teaching and catching up sessions for learners who might enrol on a course without pre-requisites. Apart from looking for the above I will look with the assessors at Internal teaching and Assessing Policies set by managers, to ensure that standard are taken into accounts when planning for a course of study (delivery, teaching and assessing methods), this will help in highlighting the timing, delivery methods, constrains in planning the teaching and assessing a course of study.

-          The learning environment, meaning looking at the resources available to effectively deliver and assess a course of study. I would also take into account the technological equipment made available for teaching and assessing and look at how they can be used to enforce good teaching and assessing practices with assessors.

-          The External factors that have to be considered when planning a course of study (government and other organisations such as funding, qualification etc…)

Once the above is clear and understood by assessors we can then enter the planning and delivery stage, which is giving assessor sometime to implement their own teaching and assessing strategies.

The assessor then would meet with me for just before the delivery stage, for an internal verification of assessing methods for a single or all units within a course of study. The meeting might invite other teachers/assessors with specialist skills within a course of study who would help moderate and support the assessor’s decision in assessment practise and methods. This would also help identify if assessor has taken care of;

-          Teaching and assessing plans (this includes looking at how teachers will deliver initial students’ assessment phase as well as if assessor has implemented monitoring plans, and included form of interaction where the students can give their input on teaching and assessment).

-          The validity of the assessment according to the set criteria (with clear and accessible objectives for learning and assessing, fairness, qualification content, resources etc…)

-          The methods for collecting evidence from students (using technology or other methods)

-          The stakeholders and their needs (Qualifying body, students, Quality assurance team, managers etc…)

-          Opportunities such as stretching learners skills, or matching criteria with other related unit taught by other assessors

The second meeting above has no judging goals, it is giving the whole team an opportunity to identify both issues and good practice in teaching and assessing. Issues can be remedied by giving assessors extra support.

The third meeting is learner centred; this meeting is an IV because the whole team look at an assessor’s ability to work closely with students in view of achieving qualification benchmarks. In this meeting the Internal Verifier looks at the work of the assessor in practice and his ability to;-

-          Understand a set of qualification internal and external demands

-          Effectively Plan assessments with schedules, clear assessment methods, and fair assessment briefs which must include set criteria for reference for students

-          Include all learner in the assessment process irrespective of their issues

-          Interact with students – this looks at an assessor’s ability to monitor students effectively and make amends to assessments and ensure that all learners are included in the assessing process giving them a chance to achieve.

-          Give feedback to students which are not comparative but constructive and individualised giving the opportunity to students to improve, get support, or find resources to stretch their skills.

-          Get feedback from students and giving them a say the teaching and learning process

-          Keep good standards in monitoring the assessment process as internal and external Quality Assurance Team will be looking (attendance monitoring, assessment plan, individual learner review plan, sample assessment, sample of student work and comments on the course of the study).

The above meeting has for goal to prepare to External Verification and ensure that an organisation is satisfying the Quality Standards benchmarks. This give a Quality assurance team in finding issues with the learning and teaching process and make amendments if necessary.

Based upon the above, I understand that my role as an Internal Verifier would be one of support in helping and teaching and assessing team in achieving very good standards in assessing. I understand that I would have to help develop and facilitate good practice. When my role is not about judging, but looking at;

-          What national standards and awarding body are expecting, including external verifiers (to relate the information to tutors/assessors)

-          How assessors interpret national standards and awarding body requirements (particularly assessment standards)

-          How assessors are planning and monitoring registrations, assessments and certifications records, and making resources available for check-up

-          How assessors are setting assessments which are clear, accessible, valid, and inclusive of all learners ( even learners with special requirements)

-          How assessors are identifying gaps in the assessment process or learning process and offer alternative (this can be with students or other issues encounter within the delivery and assessment process)

-          How assessors are assessing students work against qualifying body criteria, with clear feedback, which gives opportunities to students to give their own input

-          How assessors are selecting and sampling students ensuring that a broad spectrum is sampled not just the best work, and that the work presented is appropriate and meets standards, including students statements

-          How assessors are taking opportunities for training and development

-          How assessors are making documentation for all the above for on the spot information needs