As our world becomes increasingly automated, the way in which we engage with work and
demonstrate competence has changed. This includes the way in which we learn. There is an influx of e-Learning platforms.
This and the fact that COVID-19 has thrust us headlong into automated and virtual meetings there is now an urgent need to digitize assessment.
Assessment in its broadest terms is the judgement of an individual’s competence – their skill, ability and knowledge. "Assessment is conducted in all areas where there is human interaction." Therefore, the profession of assessment is very broad. Despite the scope of assessment being so broad there are accepted principles of assessment which span each area of the profession. This is what we as Assessment Gurus refer to as VACS. Validity, Authenticity; Currency and Sufficiency. This acronym has many permutations to include Reliability and Cost effectiveness.
If we accept that our role as an assessor is to make a judgement of an individual’s competence, then we by default accept that we are responsible for the outcome of an individual’s success. This poses an ethical burden to ensure that we are developmental and not punitive. To ethically ensure there are no adverse consequences to our assessment decision, we need to follow the principles of VACS.
Assessment in all its forms needs to be strictly guided by the principles of validity; authenticity; reliability and sufficiency. These principles drive assessors to maintain a standard of professionalism and continuous professional development. These are professional values espoused by the Digital League of Assessment Professionals (DLAP).
DLAP as a professional body provides the standard and ethical framework for assessment
professionals across all scopes of assessment. This includes but not limited to:
Education Training and Development
Workplace/Performance Assessment
Competency Assessment
Recruitment Assessment
Personality/Behavior Assessment practices
Medical and Insurance Claims Assessment
In each discipline, the requirements for validity; authenticity; reliability; currency and sufficiency are promoted. This provides the standard for professional assessment.
The context for assessment may therefore differ but the standard for assessment is maintained. This forms the basis for a code of conduct and ethics to which the assessor should always adhere.
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