I updated the portfolio diagram to illustrate what’s currently going on in my area. You can download it here. It’s definitely worth downloading and printing if you want to keep a list of vocational Computing awards at hand. The diagram illustrates what’s available (including recently devised/revised awards) and what’s currently being developed. We’re currently working on the following developments. NPA Digital Media Basics (SCQF Level 4) NPA Digital Media Editing (SCQF Level 5) NPA Web Design Fundamentals (SCQF Level 5)…
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Regular readers will know that the team was recently expanded (to cope with workload) with the addition of Hilary. That arrangement was temporary and we have now reverted to the standard team – consisting of me, Emma and Helen. I’ve updated the team diagram to illustrate this and show who-does-what. Please also note the contact information for the team.
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The validation event for the replacement to HNC/D Information Technology took place on Friday. The new award – called HNC/D Technologies in Business – was validated with conditions. The purpose of validation is to permit new and revised qualifications to be peer reviewed. The validation panel consisted of representatives of education and industry (and SQA) who discussed various aspects of the proposed award with members of the Qualification Development Team (QDT). It was a good, positive and thorough examination of…
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I’m pleased to let you know that the Scottish Government, via the UK’s Cyber Security Funding Programme, has approved two bids from SQA for special funding to develop and support cyber security qualifications. The bids relate to the existing NPA in Cyber Security and a new HNC/D in Cyber Security. Some of the funding will be used to develop dedicated support materials for the NPAs. This will mean that Scottish teachers will have high quality teaching and learning materials to…
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June 22, 2017 - sqablogs -
SQA is committed to skills development. Our Core Skills Framework forms the basis of the broad generic skills that learners develop when studying for our qualifications. These are the skills that learners will need in their everyday lives and in the workplace, so it is important that our skills framework remains relevant and up to date. Our colleagues in the RPSS (Research, Policy, Standards and Statistics) team have been carrying out a survey on the development of generic skills in…
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The Qualifications Support Team (QST) for Computing met today in the SQA offices in Glasgow. The purpose of the QST is, among other things, to ensure that Computing awards are adequately supported in terms of assessments and other support materials. It’s not a talk-shop. We made a lot of decisions today. The QST also makes recommendations about changes to awards – for example, whether or not specific units should be added to specific qualifications. It can also recommend the development…
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The Qualification Development Team (QDT) for the review of HND Computer Science met for the first time on Friday. We made a lot of progress, mostly due to the good work done as part of the scoping exercise carried out previously. We also decided on a lead developer, a retired university lecturer, who will lead the development. We discussed various aspects of the current award, including the role of maths within computer science and how the revised award should be…
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Me and Helen attended a meeting today with the SQA Academy team. We’re in the process of moving the HNC/D Computing e-learning material in-house. It’s currently available on a public URL. The material was devised to support the 2012 frameworks and is popular with teachers and learners. At the time when it was developed, we didn’t have the capability of hosting it internally but we do now so the Academy team will begin the process of moving the material to…
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SQA has recently produced a number of videos to promote digital skills. The main video is about digital skills in general and there are three linked videos that show how centres use SQA awards. The centres featured are: Kyle Academy (NPA Cyber Security), CodeClan (PDA Software Development) and Dundee & Angus College (various awards). According to Emma, you can see the “best bit” here. Contact Emma for more information about NPA Cyber Security and contact Helen for more information about PDA Software…
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The review of HNC/D Information Technology commenced some time ago but the development was badly affected by staffing issues during 2016. However, once the team was back to full strength, we made a lot of progress in a short period of time. The current award has been significantly changed – including its title. The QDT is proposing to call the new award “Technologies in Business” to reflect its new contents, which focus on how technology is used in business. The…
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