World Backup Day
Today is World Backup Day.
Launch events for NPAs
I attended a meeting on Friday to discuss our plans to launch three important new or revised awards. These are: NPA Digital Passport NPA PC Passport NPA Cyber Security. We plan to launch Cyber Security around September time, perhaps to coincide with the Scottish Learning Festival. This award will be available to centres from August. We plan to have a combined event for Digital Passport and PC Passport since these awards are “cousins”. Digital Passport will be available to all…
HNC/D Computer Games Development
Some time ago, we asked Gillian Flockart, of Dundee & Angus College, to scope the changes needed to the current HNC/D Computer Games Development award. Me and Caroline met with Gillian this morning to discuss her findings. Gillian reported that centres are pretty happy with the existing qualification, and that most of the changes should be small, such as the addition of some new units and minor changes to some existing units. We discussed, at some length, the role of…
Resource lists
We’ve made two recent changes to the way that we develop new qualifications. We now produce FAQs for all new awards, which evolve as the qualification itself develops. And we also produce resource lists for new awards. A resource list is a list of online and offline resources that can be used to deliver the new qualification. There is normally one resource list per unit. Each list will contain: YouTube videos, websites, Wikipedia articles, podcasts, online quizes, e-books and other…
Computational thinking
“Computational thinking” is an important part of the new Computing Science qualifications with the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE). But it’s not something that is (overtly) prominent in vocational awards. So I am researching the various definitions of the term to come up with something that can be used by my Qualification Development Teams (QDTs) when they are designing new qualifications. There are lots of similar, but different, definitions around. One of the best is the one from the Royal Society/BCS…
New unit on cyber security
As you may know, we’re currently developing a suite of awards in cyber security. We recently received a request from Police Scotland to develop an introductory unit to cover the fundamentals of the subject, suitable for everyone. Unsurprisingly, we’re calling the new National Unit: Cyber Security Fundamentals. It will be a single credit unit at SCQF Level 4, covering the basic knowledge and skills that everyone should know about the subject area. The contents will include: online safety, data security,…
Qualifications Support Team
The Qualifications Support Team (QST) for vocational Computing awards met this morning. The QST is responsible for ensuring that centres are supported when they deliver SQA awards. The remit includes: delivery issues assessment issues revisions to awards support materials monitoring uptake monitoring quality issues. It was a good meeting, with over 10 people in attendance. One of the most important jobs it carries out is to consider requests for changes to qualifications structures. This usually comes from suggestions from colleges…
NPA Cyber Security
The Qualification Development Team (QDT) for the new National Progression Award (NPA) in Cyber Security met yesterday for an all-day event to discuss the contents of the new awards. There was a good attendance (over 10 people attended), which allowed us to break into teams to look at each “strand” in the awards (data security, ethical hacking and digital forensics). We focussed on the purpose and outcomes in each unit, and made a lot of progress. We have already decided…
New Senior External Verifier for Computing
I am pleased to let you know that Gillian Leitch of Clyde College has been appointed Senior External Verifier (SEV) for Computing. Many of you will know Gillian who has been teaching Computing, and serving as an EV, for many years. Gillian will replace David Drennan as SEV. I will be sorry to lose David who has done a great job over a long period of time. The SEV role is changing too, becoming more of a leadership role than…
NPA Computer Refurbishment
Some time ago, we received a request to develop a new National Progression Award based on refurbishing and recycling computers. It was an interesting idea so we decided to take it forward. Me and Helen had our first meeting with the lead developer this morning. Many of you will know June McCamlie from her teaching days (she is currently an External Verifier). I’ve asked June to lead this work. The NPA will consist of two (new) single credit National Units…
HNC/HND Interactive Media – Consultation Survey
As you are aware, we are in the process of reviewing HNC/D Interactive Media and we are now at the stage to consult with the sector on the proposed changes to the awards. I would be grateful if you could take a few minutes to complete the questionnaire by clicking here You can find out more information relating to the development from a previous blog posting here If you would like to discuss any aspect of the proposed revised awards,…
New HN Digital Skills unit
I have recently had a number of requests from other subject areas about a good, general purpose Higher National Unit in the area of digital skills. This reflects the growing importance of digital skills across all sectors. There are some general purpose IT units in my portfolio (such as IT Applications) but they a little long in the tooth and don’t cover areas such as social media and information literacy. As a result of those requests, I commissioned a new…
PC Passport review
The QDT for PC Passport met for the second time on Saturday in the SQA offices in Glasgow. We got down to discussing the contents of the new award and managed to (mostly) compose the outcomes for all of the units. I’ve updated the FAQ in the light of the meeting. We’ve now decided on the qualification title, structure and outcomes. The next stage is to write the Group Award Specification and the component units. As you’ll see (from the…
Lead developers
One of the strengths of the way SQA develops awards is the involvement of practitioners in the qualification development process. We use practising teachers and lecturers to contribute to the contents of the new or revised qualifications. A key role in this process is that of lead developer. This person is responsible for, effectively, devising the qualification (in consultation with other QDT members). We usually select a teacher or lecturer for this role. Right now, we have David McDade (Kelvin…
About this Blog
The web log of the qualification team for Computing within SQA. Look out for news about Computing qualifications and related information.
