We are looking for volunteers to write and vet the following units as part of the HNC Cyber Security development. No. Unit title SCQF Level New/ Rev. Mand./ Opt. 1 Data Security 7 New M 2 Computer Programming 7 New M 3 Penetration Testing 7 New O 4 Internet of Things 7 New O 5 Scripting for Security 7 New O 6 Securing networking devices 7 New O 7 Social Engineering 7 New O 8 Digital Forensic Case Studies…
Read moreRead more about HNC Cyber Security unit writingAs part of the qualification development process, SQA seeks feedback on qualifications as they are being developed. This questionnaire relates to the development of HNC Cyber Security. Your feedback will be used by the Qualification Development Team (QDT) to refine the qualification. The Group Award Specification (GAS) provides information about the proposed qualification. It would be beneficial for you to have this available before answering the questions. However, you will be able to answer most of the questions without this…
Read moreRead more about HNC Cyber Security qualification surveyThe team met this morning to discuss this year’s Computing Conference. We’ve been running an annual conference for around 20 years now. Last year we changed things a little and made it a conference for the lead person in each college but this year we will revert to an open conference so that anyone can attend. The focus, as always, will be vocational qualifications but we hope to have interesting keynotes about contemporary issues in computing. The event will be…
Read moreRead more about Computing Conference 2018As part of the review of NC Computer Games Development, we plan to create a suite of programming units. These new units – entitled Computer Programming – will be available at SCQF Levels 4, 5 and 6 (National 4, National 5 and Higher). The motivation for creating them is to give learners time to focus on coding. Existing qualifications tend to cover the whole software development process (design, implementation, testing), leaving little time for learners to actually code. These units…
Read moreRead more about Coding units are comingThe Qualification Development Team (QDT) for HNC Cyber Security met yesterday. This was the second meeting of the team, the first meeting having taken place in September. A QDT is responsible for developing new qualifications. There are representatives from Police Scotland, the University of Dundee and cyber security specialists on this particular team. It was a good meeting. The Lead Developer (a lecturer from West College Scotland) gave an update on progress, which provided an opportunity to discuss the evolving…
Read moreRead more about HNC Cyber Security – second meeting of the development teamThis seems like a good time to remind readers of the various ways that you can keep up-to-date with what the team is doing. I’m aware that many schools and colleges begin their planning (for next year) around this time. The best way to follow the team is via this blog, which provides the most detailed information about qualifications. You can follow this blog by simply booking marking the page or adding the RSS feed to your favourite reader or…
Read moreRead more about Keeping up with newsIt’s been a while since I last wrote anything about the support materials for NPA Cyber Security. So far, we’ve assembled a development team, discussed the sorts of materials needed, and researched what’s already available. The team consists of experienced teachers and lecturers, most of whom currently deliver the award in schools and colleges. We have agreed to develop the following materials for each of the units in the award. Teacher’s guide. Notes for learners. Worksheets. Practical activities. Formative assessments.…
Read moreRead more about NPA Cyber Security support materialsEmma and I met with the two Lead Developers for the review of NC Computer Games Development and NPA Computer Games Development. One of the leads (for the NC) is an experienced college lecturer and the other (for the NPA) is an experienced school teacher. The QDT met last month and today’s meeting was to ensure that the leads were clear about their roles. As previously noted, the NPA is not going to change structurally (at all). But we will…
Read moreRead more about NC/NPA Computer Games Development meeting with LeadsAs part of the HNC Cyber Security development, we will also create a new suite of Professional Development Awards (PDAs) in Cyber Security. PDAs are like NPAs – but higher level. They have flexible design rules (for example, they can consist of anything from two credits to 12 credits) and are intended for people in employment who want to update their professional skills. We plan to create three new qualifications: PDA Cyber Security at SCQF Level 7 PDA Cyber Security…
Read moreRead more about Professional Development Award in Cyber SecurityI recently updated the portfolio diagram, which illustrates the range of vocational qualifications available to schools, colleges and training centres. You can download it here. I know that many schools (and some colleges) do their curriculum planning for next year around this time, so it seems like a good time to remind you of the choices available to centres. Schools may be particularly interested in Cyber Security (SCQF Levels 4, 5 and 6), Digital Passport (SCQF Levels 4, 5 and…
Read moreRead more about Development planning