Assessment strategy and rationale

Assessment extends the case- and inquiry-based learning strategies incorporated into this unit by requiring students to apply knowledge and critical thinking to authentic paediatric case scenarios. In addition, emphasis is placed on application of a range of key practice principles required by Speech Pathology Australia. Students will be provided with a variety of modes through which they can demonstrate their knowledge, application and skills.

The Ungraded Hurdle task is an objective structured clinical exam (OSCE), marked as satisfactory/unsatisfactory, and students must achieve a satisfactory grade on this in order to pass the unit. The OSCE will require students to demonstrate entry-level clinical skills across assessment and analysis and intervention tasks, aligned with competency standards for speech pathology for paediatric clients. The OSCE will allow for an equitable, whole of cohort, independent assessment of students’ knowledge and skills. This is an accreditation requirement of Speech Pathology Australia to ensure that students are assessed to be at entry-level competence across communication and swallowing practice areas.

Assessment 1 and Assessment 2 are Graded Hurdle tasks which students must pass in order to pass the unit. Assessment 1 is an oral viva and Assessment 2 is a written exam. Both will allow students to demonstrate their ability to undertake professional reasoning and resolve clinical dilemmas with paediatric clients; however, they will focus on different communication and/or swallowing practice areas. This is a requirement of the accrediting body, Speech Pathology Australia, to ensure students only pass the unit when they have demonstrated entry-level competencies across paediatric communication and swallowing areas of practice.

OVERVIEW OF ASSESSMENTS

In order to successfully complete this unit, students must submit all assessment tasks and are required to:

• obtain a cumulative mark that is equal to or greater than 50% of the possible unit marks available; AND
• achieve the stipulated pass standard or greater on both Assessment 1 and Assessment 2 (these assessments are graded hurdles which must be passed to pass the unit); AND
• Achieve a satisfactory grade (Pass) on the ungraded hurdle (OSCE)

Re-attempt provisions for Graded Hurdle assessments

A student who does not meet the specified standard on a graded hurdle assessment task on their first attempt will be offered the opportunity to reattempt the assessment if they meet the specified re-sit criteria for that task. The re-attempt assessment task will be of equal complexity and difficulty to the original task. If the assessment task is passed on the second attempt, the student can only receive a maximum final grade of 50% of the total marks available for the assessment task. If the assessment task is failed on the second attempt, the student will not pass the unit.

A student is only permitted to undertake a re-attempt of a graded hurdle task for one assessment item within any given unit. That is, if a student fails a second graded hurdle task within the one unit then they will have failed the unit. The opportunity to re-attempt the graded hurdle assessment will be scheduled by the teaching team at an appropriate time and a students’ final mark will be withheld until the task has been completed.

Re-attempt provisions for Ungraded Hurdle assessment.

A student who does not meet the pass standard required for an OSCE will have the opportunity to re-sit the OSCE task again. Students will be provided with two attempts at the OSCE. Students who do not meet the required standard on the second attempt will fail the task and thus will have failed the unit.