This free online tool allows you to practise making assessor judgements for internal standards on real student samples. The APT is available in Pūtake, NZQA's learning management system. You can access it using your Education Sector Logon (ESL).
Video transcript
[Host begins speaking]
Kia ora,
As part of our Assessor Support suite, NZQA has launched the Assessor Practice Tool, known as the APT.
[Title appears]
This tool will allow you to look at samples of student work for internally assessed standards, grade the samples, and then view the grade that has been awarded by a panel of moderators, along with moderator annotations or commentary, which explain that grade.
[Laptop opens to show the NZQA website assessor support page]
You can access this resource on Pūtake, the NZQA Learning Management System.
The Assessor Support page on the NZQA website will guide you through the process of accessing Pūtake.
[Screen shows the Learning Management System landing webpage]
Once you are in Pūtake, click on Assessor Practice Tool in the top toolbar or either of the pictures in the dashboard.
[Screen shows the navigation to the Assessor Practice Tool home page]
On the APT home page, there is an explanation of the tool.
It is important to note that all the student work is covered by copyright and the Privacy Act, and the samples you see must not be downloaded or shown to students.
You can use the Assessor Practice Tool within your department or with your colleagues for the purpose of professional development.
[Shows the navigation of selecting a subject, level, and standard]
Once you are ready to begin, click on the subject you wish to practise.
A box will appear with the levels available.
Choose the level you wish to practise.
Currently, most subjects have some standards available for level 3.
Level 1 standards will appear as work becomes available.
Level 2 will appear for some subjects.
Once you've chosen the level, the available standards will appear.
More internal standards will be added over time.
Select the standard you wish to practise, then click ‘Start’.
A pop up will ask you for your confidence level for that particular standard.
The first randomised sample of work will appear.
[Shows an example APT sample]
You can view the standard at any time via the link on the right, and this link is available on every sample page.
Some of the samples are written and some are videos.
[Shows the navigation of the process of working through an APT sample]
Read or watch the sample, then from the drop down box, choose the grade that you believe is correct for the work you have seen.
You can change your confidence level to indicate how confident you feel at any time.
Once you are ready, click on the ‘Submit’ button to enter your grade.
[Explanation addresses common FAQs about using the APT]
Once your grade is submitted, you will be shown whether or not your decision was the same as the moderation panel's decision.
You will also see a link to the moderator commentary or an embedded video.
Click on the link or press play to view the commentary, which may be oral or written.
You can provide feedback on the sample you have seen.
When you are ready, move to the next sample by simply clicking on the ‘Select New Sample’ button.
If you move to a new sample without reviewing your grade, a pop up box will appear.
You can choose to change your grade or continue to the next sample.
If you continue without changing your grade, you can choose from a number of options explaining your reason for this.
If you choose not to change your grade, click on ‘Continue’ and you will be taken to the next sample of work.
At any stage, you can choose to view a different piece of work by clicking on ‘Select New Sample’.
You can grade as many pieces of work as you have time for, and your previous decisions will be saved.
You can come back at any stage.
When finished, simply click on ‘Exit’.
When you have exited the tool, you will be taken back to the home page.
[Shows the navigation of how to access and manage progress of samples]
From here, you will be able to access a report which summarises your work.
Scroll down and you will see your unique report summary.
Your work in the APT annual results report cannot be seen by others.
However, you may wish to use this report as proof of professional development.
To download the report, select ‘Export’ and choose the type of file you would like to download.
At any time, if you wish to view the student work again, click on the sample number and it will take you back to that sample.
When you're finished, simply exit the file and your work will be saved.
Remember, this is a safe place to practice your assessment decisions as your grades are not recorded or reported and only you can access the tool with your unique username and password.
If you have completed all the samples for a standard, you can actually reset the grades and complete them again.
Select the subject and the standard where you have completed all the samples.
Then select ‘Start’.
You will see a message that you have completed all the samples for the standard.
Select the hyperlink, ‘Delete your grading history’.
Now when you select the standard, you can go back and complete grading for all those samples again.
[Shows the feedback section on the APT home page]
It would be greatly appreciated if you could complete the feedback section so that NZQA can continue to improve these teacher support resources.
Ka kite anō.