Computing – Page 175 – Computing & Digital Blog

LTS support for new HNs

October 12, 2004 - Bobby - 0

I attended a meeting at Learning & Teaching Scotland this morning to discuss how LTS can support the new HN awards in Computing/IT. Mohammed Asif of LTS is keen to work with SQA to develop training programmes to help Scottish colleges deliver the new (or revised) qualifications. There has been lots of changes in the last year. There are new awards (such as HNC/D Computer Networking) and updated awards (such as HNC/D Computing). Some of the units within these awards…

New HNC/D Information Technology planned

October 11, 2004 - Bobby - 0

HN IT development team Originally uploaded by bobbyelliott. Last November, at a conference in Stirling, it was agreed to develop a new Higher National Award in Information Technology. The Qualification Development Team met today to take this forward. The team are hoping to produce a new HNC/D Information Technology within the next 12-18 months. It’s a consortium development, led by George Johnson of Reid Kerr College, supported by Robert Quinn of SQA. The team is planning to create its own…

Meeting with Microsoft

October 7, 2004 - Bobby - 0

I met with Bob McGonigle of Microsoft this morning to discuss the possibility of creating a range of Professional Development Awards (PDAs) within the HNC/D Computing and HNC/D Computer Networking awards. These PDAs could be taught and assessed “normally” – or taught and assessed using Microsoft materials and assessments. This would permit centres to deliver Microsoft qualifications while contributing to Higher National qualifications. I think that these PDAs could be attractive to part-time students who would like the national recognition…

IT User SVQ registrations are now OK

October 5, 2004 - Bobby - 0

Good news for centres offering the new IT User SVQs – from today you can enter trainees for the new awards. Although the awards were available from 1 August, the SQA system was not able to accept registrations. The problem was caused by the flexibility of the new awards and the difficulty in programming the conditions of award on the SQA system. This problem has now been resolved. We recently submitted the IT Practitioner awards for accreditation. We’re hoping that…

Moderators update event

October 4, 2004 - Bobby - 0

Moderators update event Originally uploaded by bobbyelliott. An update event was held on Saturday for HN moderators and SVQ verifiers at the Dunblane Hilton Hydro. Most Computing moderators/verifiers managed to attend. The purpose of these events (which are held once a year) is to bring moderators (for a wide range of subjects) up-to-date with quality assurance issues. The focus of this year’s meeting was the new “V” units which replace the “D” units as means of certificating the knowledge and…

E-Qualifications validation event

September 29, 2004 - Bobby - 0

E-Qualifications validation Originally uploaded by bobbyelliott. The validation event for the E-Qualifications suite of awardstook place today. The awards were validated subject to a couple of conditions (and a number of recommendations). The awards are: * Diploma in E-Learning Production * Diploma in E-Assessment * Advanced Diploma in E-Learning. The development team are delighted with this outcome. The conditions will improve the awards and are simple to address. We’re hoping to have the awards fully validated by mid-October and available…

TESS article on SQA and vendors

September 24, 2004 - Bobby - 1

Today’s edition of the Times Education Supplement (Scotland) includes an item on SQA’s links with Oracle – specifically the Oracle Academy programme. There’s a full page article in the newspaper and a small excerpt here. More details from Jane Richardson of Oracle.

21Publish

September 23, 2004 - Bobby - 0

Many schools and colleges are experimenting with blogs. But some teachers are a little concerned about their students using commercial blog sites (such as Blogger) since they have no control over what they do with their blogs. A new service can resolve this problem by giving teachers control over blogs. 21Publish allows teachers to become a blog portal. You control who can create a blog, what the blog can do, what’s in the blog – even what the blog looks…

Home Computer 2004

September 19, 2004 - Bobby - 0

HomeComputer Originally uploaded by bobbyelliott. Nothing really to do with this blog but couldn’t resist posting this picture. The caption is classic. Come to think of it, it looks a bit like my old BBC Model A.

Oracle Academy seminar

September 13, 2004 - Bobby - 1

IMGP0951 Originally uploaded by bobbyelliott. I attended an Oracle seminar this morning at their HQ in Edinburgh. Around 20 people attended including Head Teachers, Local Authority representatives and practicing teachers. Oracle is presently promoting its Oracle Academy programme in Scotland. There are currently five Scottish teachers involved in the initiative. These teachers have just completed a 10 week training programme (in Oracle technologies) – including a two week, hands-on training programme in UCLA. I’m working with Oracle to forge links…