I’ve been updating the organisation chart for the team. Here is the current version. It would be a good idea to print this and keep it handy so you can refer to it when you contact SQA. Contacting the right person will ensure a prompt response.
Read moreRead more about Vocational Computing teamI’ve been working on my development plan for 2009/10. This runs from April 2009 to March 2010 and defines the projects that my team will work on during the next 12 months. Some of the plan writes itself (the projects carried over from the current year such as the HND Computer Games Development and completing the suite of NPAs) but apart from that we are free to include whatever we think is needed (and can be justified). The major new…
Read moreRead more about Development plan for 2009/2010We have offered two specialist awards for library staff since 2004 – both PDAs, one at SCQF Levels 7 and one at Level 8. Last year we revised the Level 7 award and we are currently revising the Level 8 qualification. I met with the development team this morning to discuss progress. Ted Hastings is the lead developer and he is currently finalising the Level 8 award for planned validation in April. I’m hoping that this qualification will be on…
Read moreRead more about ICT for Librarians qualificationsPeople often contact me and my team with comments about unit specifications, assessment packs or other support materials. When they do, we ask them to complete one of two forms depending on the nature of the comment. If the comment relates to assessment, we ask them to complete an Assessment Feedback form: Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io and if it relates to another issue (such as the contents of a unit) then we ask them to complete a QST…
Read moreRead more about Feedback to SQAThe team returned from holiday today – and held the first of our monthly team meetings for 2009. I took the opportunity at that meeting to discuss how we can improve the service to the sector and one of the ways we identified was to increase the use we make of the blog, so that readers have a clear idea about what the team is doing and, more importantly, what is happening in the sector. So that’s our New Year…
Read moreRead more about New Year resolutions and a new paperWe had a meeting this morning about National Progression Awards (NPAs). My team are developing a large suite of NPAs (19 in total). There are currently seven available to centres (such as PC Passport and Digital Literacy) and another 11 under development (with one not yet started). We had hoped to validate three before Christmas but this was delayed due to a last minute hitch (the industry representative on the validation panel was unable to attend). The three delayed awards…
Read moreRead more about NPAsAfter every major event, I organise a survey to gauge attendees’ satisfaction with the event. I did a survey after the recent Heads of Computing event. Nineteen attendees (around 50%) completed the questionnaire. The results can be seen here. Overall, the response was very good, with almost 80% of respondents considering the event “good” or “very good” and 95% expressing overall satisfaction with the event. But we’ll look at the criticisms and try to address these next time.
Read moreRead more about Evaluation of the Heads of Computing eventJacque’s been working on the Internet Safety website, to bring it up to date. I checked it this morning and it’s looking good. It now provides up-to-date information and support materials (including an updated FAQ) on this qualification. Contact Jacque for any queries relating to Internet Safety. The team’s Xmas party is today, and I know many centres stop for the holiday today, so it seems a good time for me and my team to wish everyone a good holiday.…
Read moreRead more about Improved Internet Safety website… and Merry XmasWe held our annual Heads of Computing event on Friday. Over 40 people attended the meeting and there was a busy agenda covering such topics as the new HND developments (Interactive Media and Computer Games Development), SOLAR, and the new IT National Occupational Standards. Two topics seemed to be of particular interest: the report from the Senior External Verifier (David Drennan), who told the audience about the main issues he discovered while visiting centres, and the discussion about recruitment, retention…
Read moreRead more about Heads of Computing eventSome of you may have missed a report, commissioned by SQA, about the user skills required in the next five years. It can be downloaded here [PDF] and it makes interesting reading. We’re in the process of hiring a consultant to review our qualifications to ensure that our portfolio matches these identified skills.
Read moreRead more about Next Generation User Skills report