reliability


 * __Demonstration of Reliability in the task__**


 * Reliability**
 * Consistent
 * Predictable
 * Dependable
 * Trustworthy
 * Stable
 * Generalised

__Consistent__ According to the VCAA's current assessment handbook for VCE Biology a number of of School-Assessed Coursework (SAC) are to be undertaken throughout Unit 3 & 4 Biology. This piece of assessment is a SAC taken from Unit 4 Biology, which is built on two 'Outcomes'. Two SACs are to be undertaken by each year 12 biology student per outcome. The SACs for the two outcomes in Unit 4 contribute to 17% to the student's Study Score for Biology. This Assessment piece is consistent to the description provided in the Assessment Handbook - Unit 4, Outcome 1, Task 2 - which all year 12 Biology teachers are to aim toward when putting together their assessment piece for this outcome of work.

This Task was also completed by two year 12 Biology class, whom share the same teacher and science lab/classroom during class-time week-in and week-out.

__Predictable__ Students were provided with the marking/criteria sheet a week before the SAC so that they were able to look at and set goals for their study. At this time they were also advised my their teacher that the assessment would be based on gel electrophoresis, which had been the content they had been covering in the previous week. From this, the task would be predictable due to the specific use of gel electrophoresis to do with determining similarities in DNA from one individual to another. Year 12 students may have also be able to access the VCAA assessment handbook online if they wished to read the standard marking rubric to enable to set goals for the SAC.

__Dependable__ The application of undertaking a gel electrophoresis in this SAC is supported by the text books advised by the VCAA for year 12 Biology. Through lessons, reading the text book and completing chapter questions, students are given all the knowledge they need to complete the SAC. The design of the assessment is to test the application of their knowledge to a real-life scenario. The dependability of this assessment task is supported by the 5th Principle of Leaning and Teaching (5.1), which shows that the design of the assessment practices and reflects a full range of learning program objectives.

__Trustworthy__ The assessment task shows the use of current technology and relates back to real life scenario which is highly likely to happen withing the wider community. This is an activity which is supported by the 6th Principle of Learning and Teaching from prep all the way up to year 12.

__Stable__ The assessment task clearly states a scenario that sets the scene and clearly sets out the tasks method and questions. Its standard scientific report set-up is easy to understand and to follow. The marking/criteria sheet used to mark the assessment followed the set up of the task and appropriately shared marks depending on time given to complete each section. This assessment piece is easily undertaken during any period of the day. However, between the two year 12 biology classes whom completeed this assessment, the two classes undertook the SAC during the first lesson of the day (one on Tuesday morning and one on Wednesday). They all completed the task in the same peiod of time and in the same science classroom, which they were also taught in. This Assessment was performed in this manner to not allow one year 12 Biology class an advantage over the other, which relates back to the fairness of the task. __Generalised__ Following the description of the task to be determined in the Assessment Handbook, is an example of a marking rubric in which teachers are to follow when marking, which "provides a guide to the standards expected when setting and marking assessment tasks" (VCAA, 2010 pp.11).

This assessment demonstrates that there are no external inhibiting factors, like rescorce accessability or time allocation, which would negatively impact on a student's ability to fairly demonstrate their ability to complete the task. (Churchill et al, 2011)
 * __Improving Reliability__**