Wednesday, August 22, 2012

On-line Tool for Skills Assessment

The Australian Computer Society (ACS) offers its members free use of an on-line tools to help self assess their current skills and identify areas for improvement. This might be a good model for universities, particularly for postgraduate students and especially those undertaking research, where the program offers little structure for career development.

The ACS tool is called MySFIA with the name derived from the UK based Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA). However, the ACS should have chosen a name which does not tie it so closely to the one framework.

The MySFIA tool was produced by PSARN International. The tool guides the member through a series of steps:

  1. Self-Assessment
  2. Identify Competencies
  3. Documentary Evidence
  4. Submit for Assessment
  5. Certification and Resume

A status panel shows where the member their progress with the assessments, with the stages: Submitted for Assessment, Assessed, Self Assessments Complete and Suggested competencies completed.

At the end of the process the system helps the member identify courses to help with skills development and preparation of a resume.

MySFIA is a standalone system. For students undertaking study, it would be useful if this process was integrated with the e-portfolio system of their institution (ACS uses the Mahara e-Portfolio package). Integration with popular business social networking tools, particaurly LinkedIn would also be useful (LinkedIn has an on-line resume tool).

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