Feature №10
A typical level framework defines one or more sets of levels that can be applied to learning outcomes or competences. Within such a defining framework, every level has to be defined.
Examples of level frameworks
The EQF
The European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning (EQF) provides a common reference framework which assists in comparing the national qualifications systems, frameworks and their levels. It serves as a translation device to make qualifications more readable and understandable across different countries and systems in Europe, and thus promote lifelong and life-wide learning, and the mobility of European citizens whether for studying or working abroad.
The EQF has 8 levels in each of three areas: Knowledge, Skill, and Competence. There are 24 corresponding descriptors, which give anyone a generic idea of what is meant by assessing someone's ability as being at that level. For example in the area of knowledge, level 7 is given in English as "highly specialised knowledge, some of which is at the forefront of knowledge in a field of work or study, as the basis for original thinking and/or research; critical awareness of knowledge issues in a field and at the interface between different fields". Within skills, level 2 is given as "basic cognitive and practical skills required to use relevant information in order to carry out tasks and to solve routine problems using simple rules and tools". For competence, level 5 is "exercise management and supervision in contexts of work or study activities where there is unpredictable change; review and develop performance of self and others".
CEFR
Similar in the concept to EQF but simpler, The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is designed to allow assessment (including self-assessment) of an individual's language abilities.
There are 6 levels defined (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2). These are not the easiest to compare automatically, and would be helped by being given a single number. There is, for example, a proposal from the eCOTOOL project to assign a numeric level value to these levels. A1 would be given the number 10, and so on in steps of 10 to C2 at 60. This also allows the assignment of a convenient number to A, B and C by themselves. "A" by itself signifies "basic user", "B" signifies "independent user" and C signifies "proficient user". People may want to use these by themselves, in which case they could be given the values A = 15, B = 35, C = 55.
How levels are defined
When considered in conjunction with a particular domain (or language) of application, each of these level descriptors could in principle be seen as indicating a particular level of knowledge or ability which anyone either has or does not have. That is, each descriptor here is a partial definition in its own right.
Level definitions can be generic or specific. Generic level definitions are ones like the EQF and the CEFR. They need more information in order to be fully assessable. The CEFR levels are only meaningful when a language is added. The EQF levels can only be assessed for a particular, defined area of knowledge, skill or competence. On the other hand, there are frameworks that have fully specified levels. Examples are listed below.
In each case, a level is a level of some LOCdefinition.
- In the case of the CEFR, the unlevelled LOCdefinition is assumed to be ability in a particular human language.
- In the case of the EQF, the unlevelled LOCdefinition is assumed to be anything that can be put on a scale.
- In the case of the e-CF, the unlevelled LOCdefinitions are each of the e-CF competences.
Then, InLOC defines a special relationship between the unlevelled LOCdefinition and the levelled one.
InLOC examples
Fully specified levels
- the e-CF defines their own levels
- see the example e-CF A.2
- Vitae RDF define what they call "stages"
- see the example Researcher Development Framework
Generic levels: only partly specified
- the CEFR (Europass CV or Language Portfolio) defines their own levels
- see the example CEFR-SI-A1
- need to be complemented with a definition of which language is referred to.
Approaches to defining levels
- eCOTOOL suggested an approach to defining levels
InLOC treatment
InLOC represents level definition using the LOCrel LOCassociations with scheme "hasDefinedLevel" and "isDefinedLevelOf".
The LOCassociation structure has a "number" element which takes the level number.