Author Description

This material provides an initial assessment procedure to help identify the level of basic skills competence of people entering education or training. It is based on Adult Literacy and Basic Skills Unit Standards that describe how and to what level of performance adults should be able to use communication and number skills. The material can be used in basic skills programs, further education, prisons, voluntary organizations, workplace training, and government-funded training programs. Notes for assessors describe the material and steps to take before, during, and after the assessment. Instruction sheets provide a set of instructions for carrying out a series of assessment tasks. Eleven series of tasks are provided: foundation level and stages 1 and 2 reading, foundation level and stages 1 and 2 oral, foundation level and stages 1 and 2 writing, and foundation level and stages 1 and 2 numeracy. The instruction sheets provide performance criteria, assessment guidelines, time allowance for completion of a task, script to use in conducting the assessment, and Next Steps which give suggested routes through the material. Linked to each assessment task is a task sheet to be completed by the student or trainee. Individual assessment charts to be completed during the assessment show how the students/trainee performed each individual task. A summary assessment chart allows the assessor to aggregate assessment results. (YLB)