What is the role of the instructor during a skills assessment?

• A. Observe against criteria, provide feedback, ensure safety, and determine whether the learner meets the objective.
• B. Administer a written test and assign a grade.
• C. Schedule the assessment and approve attendance.
• D. Teach new material during the assessment.

Answer: (A)

During a skills assessment, the focus is on practical performance. The instructor watches the learner perform defined tasks, evaluating each action against established criteria or a rubric. Safety is a priority, so any unsafe behavior is addressed immediately, and the assessment can be paused if necessary. The instructor then provides constructive feedback to help the learner improve and makes a determination about whether the learner has met the objective or standard for the skill, resulting in a pass or other competency rating based on the evidence observed. This differs from administering a written test, which measures knowledge rather than hands-on ability; scheduling and attendance are administrative tasks; and teaching new material during the assessment would contaminate the evaluation by mixing instruction with assessment.