Over the years, we have produced a range of e-learning material to support the IT awards at HN level. Most of the funding for this has came from ESF. Although many of these developments were ad hoc, there are now sufficient units covered by online learning that entire group awards can now be delivered this way. The entire HNC Computing can now be delivered online; as can the new HNC Interactive Media; most of the HNC IT award is also…
I get frequent requests for my Guide to Writing Objective Tests from centres (and individuals) who are tasked with creating a test (usually for online delivery). Many of the new awards in my portfolio using multiple choice questions and the Guide is a good source of advice on writing this type of question. The latest version of the Guide is maintained on Scrib and can be downloaded from that site (in various formats including PDF and Word). Read this doc…
I attended a training event on Saturday along with the Computing External Verifier (EV) team. It covered new guidance on the Graded Unit that was recently sent to centres (I would link to the PDF but I can’t find it on the SQA website – in spite of our “new, site wide search facility”). It was an interesting event that gave us the opportunity to discuss standards relating to Project-based Graded Units – of which there are many in my…
We are looking for an FE & HE representative to take part in a Monitoring of Standards exercise focussing on a selection of HN Computing Units sampled from candidates over a selection of centres. This work will take place during the summer break and will be paid work lasting approximately 2-3 days. If you are interested in taking part, please get in touch with me direct (caroline.douglas@sqa.org.uk).
The subject of Computing goes through peaks and troughs. I remember fighting off students for my HNC Computing day-release class in the early 1990’s, whereas today most day-release classes have vanished. So the subject is going through a lull in popularity. But I’m confident that it is only a lull and it will return to its former popularity in a few years time. I attended another meeting of the Schools Computing group this morning at Jordanhill College. The group has…
As you might be aware, in September Microsoft launched ‘The Ultimate Steal’ where students can save over £500 off the cost of Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 at www.theultimatesteal.co.uk . This has been fantastically received, and by popular demand, we’ve now managed to open up this offer to staff. That means if you are a member of staff and you fulfil the following criteria: 1. You must hold a valid email address at a UK, Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man…
Interesting article in today’s Herald.
I’ve had lots of enquiries about the availability of the assessment exemplars for the new HNC Interactive Media. The award itself was validated last June so the packs have taken a long time. I won’t bore you with the reasons – but they were the usual delays that can happen. Anyway, they are coming now. Some are available right now from the SQA secure website. Others are just about there. As I wrote in my recent update letter, they will…
Some of the most exciting developments in ICT are taking place in the library sector. We devised a couple of PDAs a few years ago for librarians called ICT for Librarians at Diploma (SCQF 7) and Advanced Diploma (SCQF 8) levels. We’re in the process of updating these awards and, as part of that update, we are considering the development of a new series of units entitled Digital Culture, which would embrace the “digital lifestyle” of blogs, wikis, virtual worlds,…
Interesting front page story in this week’s TESS.
Caroline and I met with Cally Beck and Linda Grigoleit of IBM this morning to discuss ways of incorporating IBM-curricula into SQA qualifications. It was a productive meeting and we agreed to identify existing HN units than could be used to deliver IBM skills. IBM has a new qualification relating to their System I and we were confident that we would be able to map this into existing (or new) HN unit(s). Cally talked about a number of ways IBM…
The SQA has created a guide to credit arrangements for PC Passport. These arrangements cover centres and candidates who may be undertaking the existing version of PC Passport, who wish to obtain credit for units in the refreshed version of PC Passport. It is recommended that centres note that registration of candidates for the existing version of PC Passport will only be accepted by the SQA only until July 2008. Candidates cannot be registered for the existing version of PC…
This is a final reminder that there is a dedicated blog for this development. You can keep up-to-date with everything that’s going on via this link. Please bookmark it (if you’re interested) and visit regularly. But no complaining that you didn’t know!
Thought you might like to see this example of a blog that a Computing teacher uses with his students. Are there any other examples of teacher blogs?
An HNC Computer Games Development has been available to centres for some time. We didn’t develop a corresponding HND award because there were question marks about likely uptake. Nearly all of the HNC students progress to university degree courses (in a related area). But I have received a small number of requests to develop an HND. Although not large in number, these requests are regular. So I plan to arrange a meeting of interested parties later this academic year (probably…
The web log of the qualification team for Computing within SQA. Look out for news about Computing qualifications and related information.
