Fundacja MY PS | Obserwacja w warunkach symulowanych

Observation in simulated conditions consist in performing practical professional tasks, that imitates real professional situation, by the validation participant. It requires preparing a special workshop appropriately equipped with gear, software, machines or devices. It enables accurate, reliable and credible assessment of the participant’s skills, both in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences

Characteristics

Evaluation

Necessary resources

Quality policy

Characteristics of the method

Observation in simulated conditions consist in verifying the degree of achieving the assumed learning outcomes, while the participants performs the validation of specific tasks in conditions that imitates the real situation. Simulation is used in particular, when there is no possibility to perform validation in real conditions, it could be dangerous, time consuming or may raise ethical doubts. The advantages of this method are: possibility of obtaining high reliability of the validation results, and possibility to check the skill in the unusual or crisis situations. The disadvantage in turn is the high cost of validation, which results from the necessity of preparing special machinery, tools, devices or software, depending on the specifics of a given skill.

Why it is worth to select observation in simulated conditions?

it gives possibility of obtaining high reliability of the validation results

it allows to check the skills in unusual or crisis situations

it enables the verification of learning outcomes from different fields and specializations

it can be used to verify both knowledge, skills and social competences

Evaluation

The role of the assessor is to observe the way of performing activities by the validation participant and its effects, and to gather evidences that confirms meeting the evaluation criteria of the particular learning outcomes. For this purpose he can in particular prepare notes, record image/sound, make measurements, take work samples or use other methods, depending on the specificity of the verificated skill. Each candidate is being evaluated in the same conditions and according to the same criteria. The following may be assessed: the way of performing the task, the participant’s behavior or the products of his work.

For every participant the assessor makes an evaluation card, indicating the evidences that confirms obtaining individual learning outcomes. There is a protocol made after each validation session as well. All documents are filled in electronical form, using the dedicated application.

Correlation with other methods: the simulation may be supplemented with the analysis of evidence and declarations confirming the achievement of selected learning outcomes (e.g. diplomas, certificates, certificates of completed courses, trainings, etc.)

Necessary resources

Staff

Certified validation assessor, validation counsellor, who if needed provides the appropriate guidelines and explanation to the validation participant

Technical

a properly prepared room, equipped with devices used at workstations appropriate for the verified skills, materials and equipment that enable observation by the assessor

Quality policy

validation should be reported to MY PS Foundation min. 3 days before the planned date of conducting it

if the validation is conducted after the training ends, it is necessary to maintain the separation of the training process and the verification of the learning outcomes

recordings from the exam can be a subject to the random inspection by the expert from a given field, who represents the MY PS Foundation

the exam can be visited by an authorized employee of the MY PS Foundation or another authorized person. The visitation may be announced or unannounced

By optimizing the validation process with the use of free interview method, recommendations were formulated that should be met, including in particular:

the assessor should inform the candidate about the conduct of the validation process, gain his acceptance to register the interview process and provide the appropriate organization and material conditions

in order to minimize the feeling of discomfort and stress of the person with whom the interview will be conducted, the assessor should take care to create possibly friendly conditions for its course