Assessment in the Work Place

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Need for Assessment
   1. Methods of Assessment
   2. Performance assessment
   3. Portfolio reviews
   4. Learning contracts
3. When to use a Particular Assessment?
4. Giving and Getting Feedback
   1. Useful tips on giving feedback
   2. Positive feedback
   3. Examples of good feedback
5. Skills for Effective Assessment
6. How to avoid failing
7. References

Positive feedback

Positive feedback improves confidence, it feels good and increases motivation. It may help the receiver to have the confidence to deal with the more negative aspects of their performance.

• Negative feedback, when given in a constructive way, has the greatest impact on changing behaviour and improving performance. They also need to know what they've done wrong, or poorly, or performed in some other way which is inappropriate. And, immediately and always, they need to know in what respects it was wrong or poor or inappropriate, and they need suggestions on ways in which it could have been correct or better.
• Think of the language you are using - use questions initially rather than accusations.
• For example: "how do you think reacting like that appeared to the client? Rather than "that was unprofessional behaviour"
• Offer support and challenge.
• There are two dimensions to feedback: support and challenge. The most constructive feedback is high on support and high on challenge.
• Explore alternatives.
• Note how the feedback is received.
• Anticipate an emotional response.

Make time for the feedback and consider when is a good time to give feedback. Ensure privacy, be supportive but don't get distracted from your aims

• End on a positive note.

Finally, always end of a positive note of encouragement. Round off your feedback with a high note and encouragement. "You really seem to be getting to grips with this"; "Your analytic skills are improving steadily"; "You're making good use of evidence". Say whatever you can that's encouraging and truthful.

The majority of feedback that is given is verbal. However, there will be times when you are required to give written feedback. This may be when you are giving a student feedback on their performance as part of a formal or final (formative) assessment of the student's performance or as evidence in their assessment documentation. The previous guidance still applies. It is helpful if written feedback is specific, constructive and owned. It is also most helpful if it is given regularly rather than only at the end of a placement when the student has little opportunity to respond to it.

Feedback may need to be about specific achievements or generally regarding the student's qualities. Try and write your feedback to the student rather then about them and ensure you use 'judgement' and evaluative words rather than just stating what the student has done or what they have achieved. It is important to get across 'how well' they performed.