The York AwardJane Grenville

PVC for Students and Heather Richardson

York Award & PDP Manager

Overview• Introduction to The York Award

• Evaluating Careers Development Learning

• The York Award assessment process

• The future …

• Institutionally distinctive and comprehensive

• Attractive to students and employers• Skills developed through:

• Curriculum• Supplementary training• Extra-curricular activities • Work experience

• Holistic• Impelling• Assessed by portfolio

1998: the vision

• c. 700 students participating in supplementary training courses

• c. 10% of graduating cohort completing award• Employer involvement in training and

assessment• Flexible framework

– Experiential learning– Course programme

• Holistic• Assessment by written application and

interview

2010: the reality

First Contact

InductionSkills audit /Action Plan

One to oneappointment

Application process

Applying for The York Award

Reflecting onwork experience

Summer ReviewActivity log & points review

Summer ReviewActivity log & points review

Work experienceEnterprise

Volunteering York Award

CoursesClubs & Societies

Self reflection

Action planning

Information

PDP

The course programmeOver 30 different courses, designed and delivered in partnership with employers

Personal Effectiveness

•Team development

•Perfecting presentations

•Meeting the mark

•Counselling

•Assertiveness in the workplace

•Time challenge

•The art of leadership

•Getting to yes

The recruitment process

•Preparing for the workplace

•Cracking the case study

•Interview skills

Specialist areas

•The law of ideas

•Creative industries

•York enterprise scheme

•Court in the act

•Fast forward to the fast stream

•Pizza, paper & profit

•British sign language

Evaluating CDL – The assessment processOverview• Students apply in their final year• Application form

• Points claim• 3 long questions• 8 shorter questions (150 words)

• Panel interview• Academic, Employer & York Award representative• 10 minutes, 4 questions + supplementary

• Feedback & resubmission

Criteria• an analytical and reflective approach to

learning • the development of a broad range of skills • a sound appreciation of the employment

market and what you have to offer• responsible and proactive approach to

citizenship• the ability to be self-analytical and express

what you have gained from your experiences• the ability to present your experiences

concisely, clearly and appropriately

Evaluating CDL – The assessment process

Evaluating CDL – The assessment processDesigning the questionsOne is assessing student reflection on skills learnt or

inherent, not the skills themselves. This requires a value judgement – what is important is the distance travelled by the individual and how they articulate their skills development in an appropriate manner for the workplace (hence the importance of an employer on the interview panel).

Questions are modified each year and checked for appropriateness. They are approved by the Careers Service Management Group.

Evaluating CDL – The assessment processMaintaining quality• The forms

• Training• Marking statements • Examples

• The interviews• The panel chairs• Training & observation• External assessors – the employers

Evaluating CDL – The assessment process

Things to consider• Summative & formative at the same

time• An award of excellence & a

programme of personal development• Maintaining standards vs. distance travelled

• Interviews are not realistic• Maintaining equity• Scalability• Unseen questions or a bank of questions?

The future: The course programme

Things to consider• Evaluation

• At the end of each course• At the end of each term• Annually?

• Audience• What do students want?• What do employers want?

• Changes on modes of engagement• Charging for courses/deposits

The future: Things to consider• Effectiveness

• How do we measure?

• Scalability• Valuing the assessment• 10% vs. the masses

• Level• Credit bearing?• An enhanced York Award

• Accrediting existing activity?• Better marketing