Gaps when mapping technical skills in courses and assessments: Can we explain the gaps?

In order to map the graduate attributes of courses (or subjects, papers or units) Prismatic Architectural Research developed the APMap prototype tool which mapped the graduate attributes of courses which aggregate into a degree Program (or Course). In a further development, the research was extended to encompass mapping of assessments of any type against courses. Gaps were revealed between the extent to which Course Coordinators believed they were assessing any given attribute in their evaluation of the constituent parts of the course, when considering the course at course level, and at assessment level. This paper explores that assessment vs coursework difference in the dimension of technical skills acquisition and demonstration. Shannon (2010) has shown that employers of M Arch (formerly B Arch) graduates highly value the demonstration of technical skills at graduation. APMap may assist in stakeholders (employers) understanding where students acquire and demonstrate the acquisition of these skills, and as an aid to reflection for academic staff and University management.