Why does ACCM use Role Plays and other interactive Skills Checks?
ACCM College uses a range of learning and assessment materials to meet a wide range of learning styles.
As a distance/online provider, determining competence for specific "performance evidence" requires direct interaction with our learners in ways that don't include face to face learning in a classroom.
Performance Evidence means we need to "see" or "hear" the student actually performing the skills under assessment.
For example, if the Unit of Competence requirement is to "demonstrate your ability to manage a difficult conversation", then simply writing out what the learner "would" do as a narrative is far different then the requirements of actually "showing" they can perform that task.
ACCM College has been working in the distance learning space for over 25 years.
In that time, we have found that Role Plays and other Skills Checks, allow us to obtain that critical evidence without needing to be face to face with the learner.
Finally, a Role Play allows us guaranteed opportunities to interact with learners and witness their skills and personal participation, which is a required element of Authenticity, as part of the Rules of Evidence.
Does my staff member have to do these Skills Checks?
ACCM College is required to fully satisfy the requirements of each Unit of Competency as part of a nationally recognised qualification.
There is no option to not demonstrate the required skills in some way. It cannot be a written dialogue or script (although can be a very useful tool to help learners prepare).
We recognise that some staff may be nervous about completing their first Role Play. After the first, they almost always realise it is not even close to as bad as they imagined.
Additionally, our staff have been trained to help students prepare for Role Plays and to also help them overcome the nerves or "stage fright" of a role play.
We have found that building a relationship with our students helps overcome these concerns and leads to good outcomes.
Finally, if for some reason a Role Play is not deemed competent, the learner will receive valuable feedback and given additional opportunities (there is no set limit on re-attempts).
Can my staff member use workplace evidence instead of doing the Role Play?
ACCM College is able to accept workplace evidence that provides direct evidence of a particular skill being used, however this is much harder than it sounds.
The key is the evidence must demonstrate or "show" their ability in a way our Assessors can confirm competence.
This means that workplace evidence such as customer surveys, minutes from team meetings, performance reviews and other documentation, cannot be used as direct evidence of performance.
In most cases optional performance evidence would involve a video (or potentially audio) recording of the student performing the required skill(s).
This would still need to be assessed to ensure the performance of the skill meets the assessment criteria.
ACCM College would then use that evidence in place of the Role Play.
However, if you are considering this approach, please discuss your concerns or ideas with ACCM prior to submission, so the alternate method can be considered fully.
Can my staff member use a letter from me instead of doing the Role Play?
While a letter from a Supervisor stating the learner has the Role Play's required skill is a great piece of evidence, it is considered supplementary or a "third party report", and cannot be used in place of Direct Evidence (seeing the performance of competency displayed).
To help explain this requirement, an ACCM Assessor must see/hear the learner perform the skill(s) as they have been trained and qualified on applying the requirements of the Units of Competency.
While an employer can certainly determine the learners skills meet organisational requirements, those can be quite different then the Unit requirements.
