Providing high quality support materials for SQAs qualifications - Our roadmap for China – Update September 2012 Martyn Ware Head of Assessment Development and Delivery BISU, Beijing, Thursday 13 September 2012

Overview What support materials are Why they are valuable SQAs approach to providing support materials Update since September 2011 Discuss our thinking and plans to make sure we will meet your needs

What are support materials? ….all material which SQA produces to support the delivery, assessment and quality assurance of our qualifications

Why support materials are important Enhance centre, lecturer and learner experience Help ensure consistency in delivery and assessment Strengthen quality assurance Benefits to centres, SQA and learners

Purposes of support materials Teaching and learning Designed for learner and/or lecturer Limited assessment content Formative assessment Supports teaching and learning Includes feedback Summative assessment Sets the standard Not designed to support teaching and learning

Types of support materials Traditional Mainly paper based Require most leading from lecturers Limited flexibility in use Traditional /ICT mix Combines strengths of both media Allows for blended approaches Greater flexibilty Fully ICT enabled Paper free Enables greater learner autonomy Fully flexible

Our support materials roadmap – from September 2011 Stage 1 Within 6 months Stage months Stage 3 Longer term

Our roadmap for China – Stage 1 Map existing materials to existing HND Business frameworks Identify other resources that can support delivery e.g. ESoL formative assessments Identify wider resources to support delivery and QA Highlight other resources that can be freely used e.g. Mahara e-portfolio Establish clear understanding of needs and priorities

Stage 1- Update Map existing materials to existing HND Business frameworks Summarised in spreadsheet on website Identify other resources that can support delivery Links from website to e.g. ESoL formative assessments

Identify wider resources to support delivery and QA e.g. SQA Academy courses, SQA guidance documents Highlight other resources that can be freely used e.g. Mahara e-portfolio Summary information and links available through the website Stage 1- Update

Establish clear understanding of needs and priorities Greater focus for SQA over past year and captured in this strategy Dialogue in May on future approaches e.g. blended learning Stage 1- Update

Stage 2 - Update Develop new materials and resources based on understanding of needs and priorities Learner guides being updated: CMEPH update to follow Build capacity in centre staff to develop materials SQA Academy package on developing assessments for prior verification Establish SQA Academy as key source of support Trial provision of e-learning support for one framework

Updating Learner Guides Not part of SQAs original plan Now underway in response to feedback Learner guides are not a textbook: they need to be used in combination with other resources The world keeps changing (so impossible to keep LGs completely up to date…..) Further update on processes and timescales from CMEPH

Blended learning trial Outline SQAs original thinking and plans Summarise feedback from May workshops Propose revised plans in light of this feedback

Defining blended learning....the pedagogic methodology that uses a range of learning and teaching resources. These are: traditional didactic classroom teaching the use of texts from which students learn the use of the internet to access learning the use of online virtual learning environments (VLEs) to host resources that can be used independently by students or in a classroom setting......

Reasons for encouraging use of blended learning Broaden the range of teaching and learning approaches Ensure that graduates are as fully prepared as possible for further study outside China Protect the SQA HNDs reputation as a high quality and forward-thinking international qualification

Rationale for the trial Staff are experienced in delivery of HND and ready for new approaches Greater use of technology generally in life and learning Preparation for further study outside China Greater flexibility in how courses are delivered

Purpose of the trial...to build a clearer understanding of the specific challenges associated with the use of blended learning in our Chinese centres and, importantly, help to inform plans for a larger scale roll out of blended learning approaches.

Feedback from May events General recognition of the need to adopt new approaches Needs strong driver to encourage and motivate learners Strong attachment to paper Practical issues for centres e.g. access to ICT Staff readiness Degree of change during 2012

Revised approach Plans reviewed in light of feedback from May Defer start of trial until Sept 2013 Allows time to become more familiar with new Business framework Develop blended learning and assessment together to encourage learners Offer guidance and support in preparation for the trial

Our support materials roadmap Stage 1 Within 6 months Stage months Stage 3 Longer term

Stage 3 Build on what works from Stages 1 and 2 Roll out e-learning for Business framework and business units in other frameworks Develop new approaches based on emerging needs, priorities and models

Summary We remain committed to providing high quality and up to date support materials Our 2011 strategy remains our framework Elements of our plan have been delivered: others are in progress We have sought feedback and revised our plans in response Our focus remains on enhancing the experience of SQAs qualifications for centres and learners