Qualifications Update: Practical Technology Qualifications Update: Practical Technology

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

build on success of current Woodworking and Engineering Craft Skills Courses develop practical skills, practical creativity and problem solving develop learners’ understanding of safe working practices in a workshop environment develop learners’ understanding of sustainability issues in a practical workshop context Key points Practical Woodworking/Metalworking

open and flexible to allow for personalisation and choice and for learners to demonstrate practical creativity 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 *Successful completion of all the Units of the National 4 Practical Metalworking Course can be used to contribute to a National 3 Practical Craft Skills Course award.

Key points Practical Craft Skills (N3) experiential in nature and provides opportunities to develop and enhance practical creativity develops practical problem-solving skills, and allows learners to gain an appreciation of safe working practices in a workshop or similar environment develops skills in the use of materials and equipment, preparation techniques and manufacturing items

Key points Practical Craft Skills (N3) provides flexibility in the choice of materials to be used provides progression from the National 2 Practical Craft Skills Course and progression to National 4 Practical Woodworking and Practical Metalworking Courses

Unit Structure National 3 (Practical Craft Skills) National 4 (Practical Woodworking) National 5 (Practical Woodworking) Working with tools Practical Woodworking: Flat-frame construction Working with materials Practical Woodworking: Carcase construction Making an itemPractical Woodworking: Machining and finishing

Unit Structure National 3 (Practical Craft Skills) National 4 (Practical Metalworking) National 5 (Practical Metalworking) Working with tools Practical Metalworking: Bench skills Working with materials Practical Metalworking: Machine Processes Making an itemPractical Metalworking: Fabrication and Thermal Joining

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 Technology Unit Assessment National 3 to National 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 Practical Woodworking/Metalworking/Craft Skills Package 1 Unit by Unit approach – discrete assessment tasks for each Unit Package 2 Portfolio approach – naturally occurring evidence Package 3 Combined approach – groups Outcomes and Assessment Standards from different Units

Assessment Package 1 1 package per Unit at each level mixture of set tasks, naturally occurring evidence worksheets and practical activities independent work, with support re-assessment by assessment standard is possible

Assessment Package 2 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

Assessment Package 3 1 package per level combined assessment tasks, each covering several outcomes or assessment standards independent work, with support re-assessment by assessment standard is possible

General Update

New Quality Assurance arrangements Will cover new National 1 to National 5 from 2013/14 New arrangements will promote shared understanding of national standards through a collaborative and partnership approach New ‘Nominee’ role - provides a pool of nationally trained experts Intense verification in the first 3 years, then an intelligence led approach will be adopted

New Quality Assurance arrangements Will cover new National 1 to National 5 from 2013/14 New arrangements will promote shared understanding of national standards through a collaborative and partnership approach New ‘Nominee’ role - provides a pool of nationally trained experts Intense verification in the first 3 years, then an intelligence led approach will be adopted

Prior-Verification Can amend SQA Unit Assessment Support Packs, maintaining the standard. If developing assessments, advised to use SQA Prior Verification Service. First prior verification window opens 3 rd June 2013, response in August. Thereafter, 6 week turnaround on submissions

Recognising Positive Achievement Opportunities for candidates who have achieved Units at National 5, but failed the Course Assessment, to achieve the Course at National 4 “Fallback” based on hierarchical structures No Compensatory Awards Must have an entry and a ‘Pass’ result for the N4 Added Value Unit (English, Gaidhlig and Maths also require Literacy and Numeracy Units) Pre and post certification models A guide on these arrangements is now available

Practical Technology 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 Uses 7 defined assessment methods (there 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

National 5 – Course Assessment Practical Woodworking Practical Activity (80 marks) Practical Metalworking Practical Activity (80 marks)

National 4 Added Value Unit Practical Woodworking: Making a finished product from wood Practical Activity (Pass/Fail) Practical Metalworking: Making a finished product from metal 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 application and challenge

National 4 Added Value Unit Practical Activity criterion-based marking similar to N5 Practical Activity differences in tolerances/skills supervised conditions internally marked applying skills and knowledge from all 3 units application and challenge