Abstract
This paper explores ten common themes concerning assessment practice in Australian education across the six states and two territories. The themes are: (1) a strong curriculum base influencing assessment, (2) the incorporation of school‐based assessment in all certification, (3) preference for standards‐referenced assessment, (4) respect for teacher judgement, (5) increasing vocational education delivery within schooling, (6) multiple pathways to future study and careers, (7) school‐based assessment in the compulsory years of schooling, (8) moves towards outcomes‐based frameworks, (9) issues relating to national benchmark data, and (10) equity issues.
Notes
* Corresponding author: School of Cognition, Language and Special Education, Faculty of Education, Griffith University, Nathan QLD 4111 Australia. Email: [email protected]
The terminology of ‘moderation’ is used here as it appears in the literature. However, in Queensland the term ‘moderation’ is used to refer only to a process whereby student performance is moderated against expressed standards.
www.qsa.qld.edu.au/yrs11_12/assessment/index.html
www.qsa.qld.edu.au/yrs11_12/mod/index.html
www.qsa.qld.edu.au/yrs11_12/assessment/index.html
Random sampling is an after‐the‐fact quality check resulting in a report. The yearly reports are available at www.qsa.qld.edu.au/yrs11_12/mod/Review.html
See ModerationOfAchievements.pdf at www.qsa.qld.edu.au/yrs11_12/mod/index.html
Australian Quality Training Framework, see www.anta.gov.au/aqtfWhat.asp
www.acaca.org.au/guide.htm
See www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/acaca/
www.education.qld.gov.au/etrf/
www.qsa.qld.edu.au/yrs1_10/kla/hpe/syllabus.html
Board of Studies (New South Wales) K‐6 Outcomes. (k6–outcomes.pdf http://www.bosnsw‐k6.nsw.edu.au/english/english_index.html ).
www.education.tas.gov.au/ocll/currcons/publications/values.htm
www.education.tas.gov.au/ooe/curriculumconsultation/publications/values.htm
www.education.qld.gov.au/corporate/newbasics
www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/csf/GeneralInfo/csfII/overview.htm
see www.discover.tased.edu.au/netlearn/courselst.htm for teacher‐developed modules; www.education.tas.gov.au/ooe/curriculumconsultation/publications/values.htm#LearningTeaching for Learning, Teaching and Assessment Principles.
www.education.qld.gov.au/corporate/newbasics
see www.qsa.qld.edu.au/publications/1to10/index.html#kla, ‘Assessing and Reporting Issues’ for a discussion paper on the differences between the two.
Similarly, league tables for school performance on end of Year 12 results are not consistently available. According to The Australian (Citation2002) in South Australia, New South Wales and Tasmania, the names of top students are released. In ACT a performance index for each school is published. In Western Australia, results are provided for a fee to newspapers which can publish the information. In Queensland, no data are made publicly available. From December 2003, Victoria will publish Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) performance of schools.
www.acaca.org.au