Assessing students for workplace readiness

This issue of ‘Centerfocus’ focuses on the need for schools to develop ways of translating students’ academic achievement into a measure of their workplace readiness and, ultimately, their ability to succeed in their chosen career. The author argues that the generic and specific skills and knowledge required in workplaces must be integrated with ongoing assessment practices in schools. In this way, students can be given specific feedback on how well they are prepared for the workplace. The paper looks at how schools can identify methods of assessing workplace readiness, both generally and for specific occupations, referring to some national taxonomies that identify generic workplace readiness skills and knowledge. Types of assessment are then outlined, such as selected and constructed responses tests, performance-based assessments, and portfolios, with a final comment on the importance of matching assessments with purposes. Show less