Learning levels in technical drawing education: Proposal for an assessment grid based on the european qualifications framework (EQF)

For several years the European Commission for Education and Training has been trying to build a translation device to make comparable national qualifications, aiming to promote workers and learners' mobility within EU and to facilitate their lifelong learning. A basis to achieve this goal is to use common assessment grids to certify skills and abilities. The abilities in Technical Drawing seen as a working tool and as a language of communication, despite the existence of a certification, the ECDL CAD, for the ability to use the computer to draw, are not assessed. This paper highlights the consequences of the lack of skills certification in Technical Drawing, with particular reference to the authors' experiences in corporate and academic contexts. Then, the paper introduces a proposal for an assessment grid for the evaluation of Technical Drawing learning levels, based on the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), with separate learning outcomes for knowledge, skills and competences. Finally, it's shown an example of Europass Certificate Supplement, with reference to the proposed grid to certify the learning outcomes of a Technical Drawing course taught in our Faculty. Copyright © 2002-2012 The Design Society. All rights reserved.