What is the Institute's TPMA Service?

The IITT's Trainer Performance Monitoring & Assessment service is a collection of processes, associated guides and records, designed for Training Managers and trainers. It provides a framework for the objective assessment of a trainer's delivery performance and associated signposting of developmental activity.

The Competencies and Behaviours Framework, or standards, which form the governance for this service, are aligned to best practice in training pedagogy. These competencies and behaviours are mapped to the Professional Standards for Trainers, Tutors and Teachers in the Lifelong Learning Sector. They contribute to assessment for the PTLLS qualification which is accepted on the Qualifications & Credit Framework and for IITT Professional membership.

The effective implementation of the TPMA process assumes that users of the tools within the service are familiar with accepted trainer delivery competencies, and that they have an understanding and competence in conducting live assessments. This includes being able to provide face-to-face feedback after assessment in a constructive and sensitive way.

The reviews undertaken using the TPMA service form an integral part of generating an appropriate portfolio of evidence which can then be used by the trainer to achieve Professional membership of the IITT. Note that further evidence is required if you wish to go on to take the PTLLS award. To obtain the PTLLS award you need to attend a PTLLS course - the IITT will be running PTLLS courses as an Authorised Qualifications Centre of City & Guilds.

The TPMA process and successful outcomes are also recognised within the IITT's organisational Accreditation programmes and can lead to an organisation achieving the prestigious Gold Standard Accredited status.

The TPMA service consists of the following core documents:

Service Overview
Process Guide
Competency Framework
Authorised Centre Guide
Assessment Centre Registration Form
Assessor Scoring Method Guide
Assessor Recording Sheet
Assessment Report

THE IITT TPMA ASSESSMENT

Criteria

The Competency Framework underpins the measurement criteria used by the TPMA service and encapsulates industry and educational best practice standards. This framework includes relevant assessment criteria as used for the PTLLS award. Assessment is undertaken by reviewing the trainer's behaviours, effective performance and demonstrable knowledge against this framework.

The core Competency Measures are as follows:

1. Preparation for the learning event
2. Management of the learning environment
3. Understanding and application of appropriate communication techniques
4. Understanding and application of appropriate facilitation techniques
5. Demonstration of effective questioning and listening techniques
6. Establishment and maintenance of personal credibility
7. Understanding and demonstration of an appropriate range of instructional methods
8. Management of practical sessions
9. Assessment of learner development
10. Demonstration and evidence of personal CPD (Continuing Professional Development)

Coaching your Assessors

The TPMA coaching service is primarily designed to coach and register one or more Assessors in the use of the processes, empowering the organisation to carry out objective and measurable trainer assessments on its trainers.
The process by which an organisation becomes able to run the TPMA process primarily centres around learning to use the IITT's TPMA Toolkit as the underlying soft skills are assumed.

A Consultancy Meeting between the IITT Consultant and the organisation is the first key step and ensures that the training management and nominated Assessor(s) understand the structure, resource implications, core aims and deliverables, ongoing commitment and, of course, the range of benefits which should be expected.

The preparation for the Coaching Session will include arranging the logistics and resources to best structure the session, and setting up an agreed agenda for what is typically a day's session.

The Coaching Session will include coverage of the process and documentation, and will involve a series of short sessions to enable the Assessor(s) to practise assessing using the components of the service.

Subsequently, over a short period, the Assessor(s) will have the opportunity to practise assessing and providing feedback with the recorded results being reviewed and commented upon by the IITT.

The final step is an assessment by the IITT of the Assessor(s) carrying out a live trainer assessment, which is scored and reviewed. Depending on whether further skills development is needed, the Assessor(s) is then registered by the IITT to implement the TPMA process as authorised.

Once the organisation has its registered Assessor(s) and fulfilled the required organisational criteria through becoming an IITT Authorised Assessment Centre, it is empowered to implement the process thereby gaining the quality, feedback and developmental benefits to both trainers and the organisation.

To retain the quality and integrity of the process the IITT provide both a structured verification and a review service.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

For Training Providers and Training Departments

After being authorised by the IITT to become an IITT Authorised Assessment Centre or an IITT Authorised Qualification and Assessment Centre, you will be able to:

Assess and benchmark your own trainers to National Standards
This will provide you with a full set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) against the relevant Competency Measures, which will provide key data so that you can measure each trainer's performance and development, set a benchmark for your trainers and use the KPIs to highlight areas for development. Additionally, this data will allow you to upgrade, maintain and control the high standards that you require of your training team.

Reduce training costs
You can now reduce your training development costs as you will control the ongoing performance standards of your training staff.
Create a revenue stream
By offering IITT Authorised Assessment Centre services, you can provide Trainer Performance Monitoring and Assessment services to external companies and charge an appropriate fee which, after deducting the IITT Certification and Registration fee, is yours to keep.

For Trainers (including freelance/contract trainers)

The TPMA service enables you to receive a regular assessment of your training delivery performance aligned to the competencies that are required to gain the IITT's ICTP Certificate.

You will receive an Assessor's Report, outlining your individual Key Performance Indicators, which you can use to obtain the IITT's ICTP Certificate. Should you then wish to progress and gain a nationally recognised qualification, you can do so by attending a PTLLS course (see note below on how to apply for the PTLLS Award).

Your regular assessment is also the key to becoming a Professional member of the Institute of IT Training with the right to post nominal letters after your name (eg AIITT, SAIITT).

You will also receive, as part of your Assessor's Report, Key Development Indicators which will outline areas that you may need to develop - and this can be used in your organisation's Appraisal Process.

If you are a Freelance/Contract trainer, you may receive an Assessment from a nationwide network of IITT Authorised Assessment Centres and use the Assessor's Report for evidence when applying for 3rd party projects.

Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS)

This Award is offered through the Institute of IT Training acting as an Authorised Qualification Centre of City and Guilds. The Institute of IT Training provides suitably qualified Tutors and Assessors, and Internal Verification for the award in line with City and Guilds requirements and best practice.

Registration for the award is through the Institute of IT Training. Certification on successful completion of the course will be made by City and Guilds.

TPMA Service Overview Brochure