Assessment in Design and Technologies can be challenging due to the open‑ended nature of design problems and the diversity of student solutions. This workshop explores how well‑constructed marking guides can be used not only to support consistent teacher judgment, but also to build student confidence and develop self‑reliant learners.
Participants will examine how clearly articulated marking guides make expectations explicit, enabling students to understand what quality work looks like and how to monitor their own progress. The session focuses on using marking guides to assess both objective and subjective learning tasks, including industrial graphics, practical skills, design processes and production outcomes.

Through practical Design and Technologies examples, teachers will explore how to:

- distinguish between objective and subjective assessment criteria
- design marking guides that support transparency and fairness
- use marking guides as tools for formative feedback
- provide developmental and student-friendly criteria
- support students to self‑assess and refine their work
- strengthen consistency and moderation across classes and year levels

The workshop demonstrates how marking guides can shift assessment from being something done to students to something that actively supports learning, independence and informed decision‑making.

Key Takeaways:
- Strategies for using marking guides to improve assessment confidence
- Approaches that develop student ownership of learning
- Clear methods for assessing diverse design outcomes
- Tools to support feedback, moderation and student self‑monitoring

This session is ideal for Design and Technologies teachers seeking practical approaches to assessment that improve clarity for teachers while empowering students to become confident, self‑reliant designers.