Assessment of Prior Learning in Adult Vocational Education and Training

Vibe Aarkrog and Bjarne Wahlgren

International Journal for Research in Vocational Education and Training (IJRVET), 2015, vol. 2, issue 1, 39-58

Abstract: The article deals about the results of a study of school-based Assessment of Prior Learning of adults who have enrolled as students in a VET college in order to qualify for occupations as skilled workers. Based on examples of VET teachers’ methods for assessing the students’ prior learning in the programs for gastronomes, respectively child care assistants the article discusses two issues in relation to Assessment of Prior Learing: the encounter of practical experience and school-based knowledge and the validity and reliability of the assessment procedures. Through focusing on the students’ knowing that and knowing why the assessment is based on a scholastic perception of the students’ needs for training, reflecting one of the most important challenges in Assessment of Prior Learning: how can practical experience be transformed into credits for the knowledge parts of the programs? The study shows that by combining several Assessment of Prior Learning methods and comparing the teachers’ assessments the teachers respond to the issues of validity and reliability. However, validity and reliability might be even further strengthened, if the competencies are well defined, if the education system is aware of securing a reasonable balance between knowing how, knowing that, and knowing why, and if the teachers are adequately trained for the assessment procedures.

Keywords: adults; skilled qualification; school-based assessment of prior learning; knowing how; knowing that; assessor qualifications (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:ijrvet:142441

DOI: 10.13152/IJRVET.2.1.3

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International Journal for Research in Vocational Education and Training (IJRVET) is currently edited by Karen Evans, Michael Gessler, Johanna Lasonen, Margaret Malloch, and Martin Mulder

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