Moderation Arrangements

Introduction

The credibility of any form of certification depends on the reliability that clearly defined minimum standards have been achieved by those learners awarded the certificate. External Moderators (EM) are requested to ensure that all reasonable steps have been taken to ensure the minimum standard has been achieved by learners in order to authorize the award. This requires EMs to sample learners’ work and consider internal verification/moderation records of tutors’ assessment decisions in order to satisfy themselves that assessment decisions are sufficiently similar to meet the minimum standard.

On-line learning should be treated no differently from face-to-face or any other mode of delivery. An acceptable difference is that on-line learners may produce different evidence of achievement as a result of the teaching medium e.g. discussions may be virtual, reports may be electronic and a portfolio of evidence may be a working file.

Electronic Portfolios for online learning

Based on experience with TUC online learning courses to date, the preferred approach is a ‘simple’ electronic portfolio. The important aspect of the electronic portfolio is that it provides a means to link evidence of achievement clearly to the assessment criteria that the evidence relates to.

The electronic portfolio may be implemented as a Word file or other format depending on the Virtual Learning Environment in use.

Email discussions between tutors and students should be cross-referenced to the electronic portfolios.

Managing the moderation process

Preparation

On-line course design should take into account electronic portfolio approach and the role of the Internal and External Moderator.  Although the structure of the electronic portfolio is defined in a unit/module specification, the way in which the student build the portfolio, and hence the moderation activity, is integral to the design. See Section 2.3 on Accreditation for further details of steps to ensure design takes account of these considerations.

Consider a training/familiarization session for the whole project team early on. A well developed and effective moderation system already exists for face-to-face learners on the TUC Education Programme and project team members may not be aware of the system.

Agree a calendar for internal and external moderator visits.

Internal moderation

Identify an Internal Moderator (IM) who is familiar with TUC online learning, but independent of the tutors who are delivering the course in question.

The IM should mirror the functions of the External Moderator (EM), but working before the EM gets involved to check that processes and records are in order.

External moderation

Again it is very helpful to find a moderator who knows something about on-line learning, TUC education and OCN accreditation!