Qualifications Update: Practical Electronics Qualifications Update: Practical Electronics

Developing qualifications - drivers Progression – provide progression from Es & Os and maximise continuity between levels More open and flexible requirements – fewer, broader outcomes, more focus on skills Assessment which supports learning - open evidence requirements – choice of assessment approaches – opportunities for combined assessment Refreshed and relevant contexts for learning, providing challenge and enjoyment Personalisation and Choice – in content/contexts for Units - Added Value Unit at National 4 – coursework assessment at National 5 Robust and credible – current high standards in qualifications will be maintained

CfE Levels early years SCQF Levels Continues to 12 Relationship between CfE and SCQF Levels

replaces and builds on the current Applied Practical Electronics (Intermediate 1) Course is practical and experiential in nature, and provides skills in, and an understanding of, electronics and its impact on society and environment provides a solid foundation for those considering further study, or a career, in electrical engineering and related disciplines provides a valuable complementary practical experience for those studying Engineering Science, Physics or other science Courses Key points

hierarchical Unit structure that provides progression from National 4 to National 5 added value assessments that provide personalisation and choice in Practical Activities at National 4 and National 5

Unit Structure National 4National 5 Practical Electronics: Circuit design Practical Electronics: Circuit simulation Practical Electronics: Circuit construction

Assessment Support Schedule 2012/13 Oct 12 N3 to N5 Unit Assessment Support (Package 1) Feb 13 N3 to N5 Unit Assessment Support (Package 2) Feb 13 N5 Specimen Question Paper Apr 13 N3 to N5 Unit Assessment Support (Package 3) Apr 13 N5 Specimen Coursework Apr 13 N4 Added Value Assessment Support

Practical Electronics Unit Assessment National 4 andNational 5

Unit assessment Flexible and open Assessment Standards and Evidence Requirements in Units Greater range of techniques and methodologies for assessment – encouraged through Unit assessment support packages Assessments can be designed to provide evidence across more than one outcome or Unit – combined assessments More opportunities to gather naturally occurring evidence – assessment as part of learning and teaching

Unit Assessment Support packages – purpose Assessment support packages will be provided which you can use to: assess your candidates adapt for your own assessment programmes help you develop your own assessments

Unit Assessment Support packages – key features Valid from August 2013 Designed to encourage professional judgement Provide broad-based tasks – allow assessors to choose appropriate context and forms of evidence Show range of approaches to generating assessment evidence Give information on the type of evidence which could be gathered and how this is to be judged against Assessment Standards

Unit assessment support packages - approaches for N4/N5 Practical Electronics…. Package 1 (Oct 2012) Portfolio approach – naturally occurring evidence Package 2 (Feb 2013) Unit by Unit approach – discrete assessment tasks for each Unit Package 3 (Apr 2013) Combined approach – groups Outcomes and Assessment Standards from different Units

Assessment Package 1 covers all 3 Units at each level portfolio approach use of naturally occurring evidence independent work, with support describes appropriate evidence and success criteria for each assessment standard re-assessment by assessment standard is possible examples of candidate responses with commentary

Assessment Package 2 1 package per Unit at each level short assessment tasks for each Outcome or Assessment Standard independent work, with support re-assessment by assessment standard is possible some examples of candidate responses with commentary

Assessment Package 3 1 package per level course structure with assessment windows suggested combined assessment tasks, each covering several outcomes or assessment standards independent work, with support re-assessment by assessment standard is possible some examples of candidate responses with commentary

Practical Electronics Added Value Assessments: - National 5 Course Assessment - National 4 Added Value Unit

Adding Value – National 4, National 5 Each Course at National 4 and National 5 includes assessment of Added Value For National 4, the added value is in an Added Value Unit - not graded For National 5, the added value is in the Course Assessment - graded A - D (as at present)

Added Value Makes the Course more than the sum of its parts Builds on current Course assessment and Group Award approaches Defined as breadth, challenge and/or application as outlined in Building the Curriculum 5 May involve accumulation, assimilation, integration and/or application of skills, knowledge and understanding May use 7 defined assessment methods (usually two of these)

Controlled Assessment Where the assessment method is not a question paper, SQA has introduced the concept of controlled assessment to ensure fairness and reliability 3 stages of assessment: Setting, Conducting, Marking the assessment Each will have a defined level of control: SQA-led activity, Shared responsibility between SQA and centres, Centre-led Subject-specific decisions, but mostly SQA-led activity in initial years

Added Value for Practical Electronics National 5 Practical activity (80 marks) National 4 Practical activity (pass/fail)

National 5 – National 5 – Practical Activity 80 marks (100% of award) set by SQA (choice from bank) supervised conditions internally marked applying skills and knowledge from all 3 Units to design and construct an electronic solution to a problem application and challenge

National 4 Added Value Unit Practical Electronics Activity criterion-based marking similar to N5 Practical Activity less complex task, and more structured support supervised conditions internally marked applying skills and knowledge from all 3 units application and challenge