Job Aids & Support Materials
De-escalation Communication Performance Assessment
A performance-based assessment designed to measure how law enforcement trainees communicate, make decisions, and maintain control during realistic de-escalation scenarios.
Project Overview
This project was designed to assess law enforcement trainees during realistic de-escalation scenarios where a written test alone would not show how well they could communicate and make decisions under pressure. I created a four-point performance rubric that gives instructors clear criteria for observing communication, emotional control, decision-making, and scene management.
Audience
Law enforcement trainees
Role
Instructional Designer
Format
Performance-Based Assessment
Focus
De-escalation Communication and Decision-Making
Challenge
The challenge was to measure skills that are difficult to evaluate with a traditional written test. De-escalation requires trainees to communicate clearly, manage their emotions, listen, make decisions, and respond appropriately while a situation is developing.
Solution
I developed a four-point analytic rubric that gives instructors observable criteria for evaluating trainee performance during realistic scenarios. The assessment focuses on emotional control, active listening and empathy, verbal and nonverbal communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and scene management.
Featured Artifact
The performance rubric gives instructors a clear and consistent way to observe and score trainee behavior during de-escalation scenarios. It can also be used to support coaching, learner reflection, and discussion after the scenario.
Design Process
I started with the behaviors trainees needed to demonstrate, then built the assessment around clear, observable performance.
Performance Need
Identified the de-escalation behaviors that needed to be observed during realistic scenarios.
Criteria Development
Defined clear performance criteria for communication, emotional control, decision-making, and scene management.
Rubric Design
Created a four-point analytic rubric with observable performance levels.
Observation & Reflection
Included direct observation, video review, and learner self-reflection to support feedback.
Review & Refinement
Reviewed the assessment for clarity, consistency, and usefulness during scenario-based training.
The Approach
I focused on measuring what trainees actually do during a realistic scenario rather than relying only on what they can recall on a written test. Clear performance criteria, observation, feedback, and reflection give instructors a better picture of what the learner can do and where additional coaching may be needed.
Tools Used
Microsoft Word
Performance Rubric Design
Scenario-Based Assessment
Direct Observation
Video Review
Evaluator Calibration
Learner Self-Reflection
Performance Evaluation
Reflection
This project reinforced for me that assessment should match the skill being measured. If the goal is to see how someone communicates and makes decisions under pressure, the assessment needs to give them a chance to actually perform those skills.