The Skill of Verification

The Skill of Verification

"You have been asked to verify someone's capability. What does that actually mean?"

Part of our growth as teachers and designers of learning is to think about how we position ourselves when it comes to assessing someone’s skill or knowledge. Notions of ‘learner centric’ education fall short when our assessment process excludes people because they struggle to put their answers down with a pen on paper.

“When people can not learn the way we teach, we have to teach the way they learn” Rich Allen.

A memorable project from 2025 highlighted this for our About Life team. We were approached by colleagues from The Primary Industry Training Organisation (PITO) who asked us to produce a digital tool outlining the purpose and role of the verification process.  The word itself seems formal – let’s look at it further!

Verification isn't about exam papers or testing people on what they've memorized—it's about confirming that someone can do their job well, in real workplace conditions.

As a verifier, you're the eyes and ears of the assessment process and you're positioned to vouch for someone's genuine competence through observation and conversation.  It is a critical role.

This form of assessment honours how we many of us actually learn – and demonstrate skills and knowledge:

• Hands-on, in the cowshed, sheep yards, or out in the paddock
• In natural, non-threatening environments where people can showcase their skills
• Based on what they do day-to-day, not what they can recall under pressure

Back to our PITO project: Working with Ben Purua (Finalist in Kiwibank Young NZ of the Year 2025) on his farm near Tirau, Central NZ reminded us again of the wonder of multiple intelligences, the gift of learning, and the power of influence.  

As a 16 year old, Ben went to prison for manslaughter.  In a farm work programme his passion for the whenua (land) was ignited.  Through learning to learn, he began to see that his past did not need to determine his future.  With the support of his partner, his tutors, and a couple of farmers who gave him a chance, Bens life is very different to how it could have been. A father of three, who manages a dairy farm, runs a clothing line Kāmu tō Pāmu, has a social media following and works as a mentor at Waikeria Prison.  Bens is one story of capability connecting with opportunity because enablers (in this case tutors and farmers) were able to affirm and verify his growth.

This leads us back to the true spirit of verification – to capture authentic evidence of competence.

Your role as a verifier:

• Observe learners performing tasks to the required standard
• Ask questions that confirm their knowledge and decision-making
• Provide evidence to help assessors make informed judgments
• Support team members toward nationally recognized qualifications

Like a touch judge in sport, you're not making the final call—but you're helping the referee see what they need to see.

Remember: You can't coach and verify at the same time. Coach people until they're ready, then verify when they can demonstrate competence.

Verification is a skill that improves with practice—and it matters. You're not just ticking boxes; you're confirming capability, building confidence, and helping people grow in their mahi.

Thank you for using your expertise to uplift others and strengthen your industry.

About Life Limited | Learning to live life well | Designing disruptive, engaging, memorable learning since 1998