I know that schools and colleges have recently returned from the Summer holiday. I hope that you had a nice break from the pressures of teaching and feel ready for the new term. The SQA team has been busy over the Summer. A number of National Units in Cyber Security were published in mid-July. These Units form part of the suite of NPAs that were validated in late July, and made available to centres a short time later. The Units have…
Read moreRead more about Welcome backMe and Helen attended this event yesterday, held in the Erskine Bridge Hotel, organised by West College Scotland. We enjoyed it a great deal. The aim of the event was to show how digital technologies can be used within teaching and learning. SQA was one of the sponsors. Almost the entire staff attended. There were keynotes and workshops throughout the day on topics such as Open Badges, Moodle and social media. It was interesting to hear how some teachers are using…
Read moreRead more about West College Scotland IT SymposiumDon’t forget to register for the forthcoming launch event for Europe’s first national qualification in cyber security.
The NPAs in Digital Passport at SCQF levels 4, 5 and 6 were made available to centres from 1st August this year and today the web page for this qualification is set up: http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/74863.html The FAQ on this web page contains additional information about this qualification. We have set up an online (public) group for centres and practitioners who are delivering or interested in delivering the qualification. You can join the group via the link below: www.groupspaces.com/DigitalPassport We have received a few queries…
Read moreRead more about NPA Digital Passport is now liveMany of you will be aware of the gender problems in Computing, both in the workplace and in education. I’ve posted about this problem previously. It appears to be getting worse. Computing is now the worst subject (from a gender perspective) in the worst sector (STEM), overtaking Engineering as the most male dominated subject area. I completed a survey today, created by the Employment Survey Institute, which aims to discover the root causes of the problem. You may want to complete it…
Read moreRead more about Women in Computing surveyI am meeting with Microsoft later today to discuss the new version of PC Passport (working title PC Passport 2016). So it seemed like a good time to update the FAQ. I know that many of you are interested in how this development is coming along and the FAQ should answer all of your questions at this time. The qualification is on schedule to be available to centres in January 2016. We’re currently working on the Group Award Specification and…
Read moreRead more about PC Passport reviewI took the opportunity today to update the qualification portfolio diagram. Regular readers will know that there is a great deal of development work going on right now, so it seemed a good time to update it. You can see (and download) the diagram here. The diagram summarises the vocational awards available to centres. As you will see, the portfolio is growing, particularly the range of National Progression Awards, which are proving to be popular in the school sector. But…
Read moreRead more about Qualification portfolioWe used to have a private online group for the Qualification Development Team members involved in the development of the NPAs in Cyber Security at SCQF levels 4, 5 and 6. Now the development is completed and I made this online group public today. This public group is for centres who are delivering or interested in delivering the qualification. The group will provide peer support, group discussions, updates and useful information. Some of the QDT members will remain in this group. You can join the…
Read moreRead more about NPA Cyber Security online groupA few months ago, I was approached by the University of Strathclyde and a group of colleges to ask if SQA would develop qualifications for the Digital Academy. I am delighted to let you know that I have been given approval to proceed with this development. This development will produce two new HNCs: 1. HNC Computer Science 2. HNC Data Analytics. These qualifications will articulate with the University’s existing degree in Computer Science and new degree in Data Analytics (2016). The…
Read moreRead more about New HNCsI’m pleased to let you know that the NPAs in Cyber Security went live today. A webpage is now available, where you will find the Group Award Specification [PDF] and other information about the suite of qualifications. The awards are auto approved so any Scottish school or college can deliver them. A number of centres have already expressed an interest in delivering the awards in the coming session and I expect several schools and colleges to offer them in session 2015-16. The component…
Read moreRead more about NPA Cyber Security now available to centres