Student assessment in exemplary work‐based education programs
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the assessment practices reported by Canadian educators and workplace supervisors involved in exemplary work‐based education (WBE) programs for high‐school students.
Design/methodology/approach
Six focus groups were conducted, four with teachers and coordinators and two with workplace supervisors from exemplary WBE programs, to identify the features of these exemplary programs that prepare adolescents to participate in WBE, that prepare workplace supervisors to mentor WBE students, and that characterize the day‐to‐day interactions in the workplace through which adolescents learn. Surprisingly, in the absence of any questions directly focused on assessment, participants spoke at length and with passion about the purpose and nature of assessment in their outstanding WBE programs.
Findings
Analyses of these interviews revealed six themes that describe the range of assessment practices associated with these three features of exemplary programs: identification of student interests and abilities; student self‐assessment; communication of expectations and responsibilities; contextualized assessment; collaboration between school and workplace; and connections between assessment and instruction.
Originality/value
The findings highlight practical assessment procedures, for teachers and workplace supervisors, which facilitate the meaningful participation and learning of students in WBE programs and of workers in the workplace.
Keywords
Citation
Berg, D.H., Taylor, J., Hutchinson, N.L., Munby, H., Versnel, J. and Chin, P. (2007), "Student assessment in exemplary work‐based education programs", Journal of Workplace Learning, Vol. 19 No. 4, pp. 209-221. https://doi.org/10.1108/13665620710747906
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited