Glossary
Conferencing
Conferencing describes the process of providing one-to-one feedback and feed-forward to students, through in-class dialogue, in order to affirm achievement and provide next steps for learning.
Diagnostic assessment (see Formative assessment)
Diagnostic assessment provides information for teachers on what or how students are achieving at a particular time. Diagnostic tools give detailed information about students' learning needs; and prompt reflection on appropriate teaching strategies to meet these. Diagnostic assessment also informs future programme planning, and gives valuable information to teachers on how they may scaffold the learning to meet the individual learning needs of students.
Elements
These describe specific learning outcomes in unit standards. They are the competencies/achievements that must be demonstrated for the awarding of a standard.
Evaluation
An evaluation considers all the factors that influence the learning process such as curriculum objectives, programme design, materials, methodology, student and teacher interests, and expertise.
Evidence
Typically, evidence is a series of statements that identifies the performance/evidence expected of students, or provides expected responses in relation to criteria for assessment purposes. In an achievement or unit standard assessment schedule, evidence statements must include a description of the measure that performance will be assessed against. Evidence may be in written, oral, or visual forms.
Exemplars
These are samples of authentic student work, often annotated, to illustrate levels of achievement. These could be examples of written work, or designed tasks, art works, or recordings of dance, drama, or musical works.
Explanatory notes
These notes, which form part of the achievement standards, give more information about each particular standard. Explanatory notes often include pre-requisite recommendations and define key terminology. Unit standards contain similar notes and these are termed 'special notes'.
External verification
External verification is the process of assessment for level one and two visual arts external achievement standards. Teachers assess candidates' folio submissions within their school, but send a sample to be nationally assessed. Teachers are required to adjust candidates' final grades based on the verified grades.