The perceptions of student counsultants towards The Inital Assessment and Consultation (IAC) model of assessment.

[摘要] In 1982, a new model of psycho-educational assessment, called the Initial Assessment andConsultation Approach (IAC), was introduced into the Education Clinic of the Division ofSpecialised Education at the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS). It has continued to beused in the new Emthonjeni Centre at WITS University. The IAC assessment model wasdeveloped in response to criticisms and limitations of existing assessment practices. Itrepresents an approach that is client oriented, in that it encourages consultants and clients toarrive together at their own decisions. Key to the model is a joint problem-solving approach,where the concept of the client’s control, consent and commitment are imperative.The aim of this study was to explore student consultants’ perceptions of the IAC model ofassessment. More specifically, the study explored the perceptions of the effectiveness of theIAC as a tool for psycho-educational assessment; the student consultants’ opinion regardingthe model and lastly past students’ use of the IAC approach at internship sites or places ofwork. The results of the study were qualitatively examined through the use of thematiccontent analysis, which provided rich description participants’ opinions.The sample consisted of forty respondents. Information letters were distributed to allparticipants and data was gathered through the use of an online questionnaire. Thequestionnaire was structured specifically to elicit the participants’ perceptions of the IACmodel of psycho-educational assessment.The results indicate that the IAC is perceived as an effective approach to psycho-educationalassessment, by student consultants at WITS University, and many of the principles of theapproach are continued to be adopted by past students at their internship sites or places ofwork.

[发布机构] University of the Witwatersrand