Overall Assessment Process

The LBS Program supports an assessment approach that combines multiple assessments into a comprehensive and organized process. This process is meant to produce sufficient information about progress so that learners can make and continue to make critical decisions about their goals. The overall assessment process includes initial, ongoing and exit assessment. While the assessment process can include several types of assessments, authentic assessment is particularly suited to the LBS Program. Authentic assessment requires learners to actively construct responses rather than merely choose ones that are presented to them. It also addresses multidisciplinary understanding and critical thinking skills.

Demonstrations occupy a special place in the overall assessment process of LBS agencies. Demonstrations require learners to perform complex, significant and meaningful tasks using prior and recent ly acquired knowledge/skills to solve realistic problems related to their goals. Simply stated, demonstrations are broad, integrated activities performed by learners to show progress toward their goals. Demonstrations can also help learners see how well they apply their knowledge and skills in different contexts. i.e., transfer their knowledge and skills to new settings or situations. LBS programs have encountered many challenges trying to incorporate demonstrations into their overall assessment process. Although demonstrations appear to be widely used by LBS college programs, there has been to date no large scale evaluation to determine their effectiveness. This will be something to keep in mind when gathering information about your program’s assessment process.

Common assessment is intended to help learners move among LBS agencies as well as into other training and employment opportunities in Ontario. It supports the learnercentred, goal-directed, outcomes-based approach to learning, while recognizing that there are different ways for learners to demonstrate attainment of outcomes. Because common assessment encourages the use of a variety of assessment tools, it is critical for LBS agencies understand and accept each other’s assessment results.