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Computing & Digital Blog

April 25, 2024

NPA Computing validation

This development is progressing well and the validation will take place on Friday, 24 May. The purpose of a validation event is for an independent group of experts to review the proposed qualification to ensure that it’s fit for purpose. The validation panel will ensure that the title of the qualification is appropriate, its aims and entry requirements are sensible, the contents are correct, and progression pathways have been considered. The outcome of validation is either that the qualification is…

Categories: Computing

Bobby 0

April 5, 2024

Changes to NPA Data Science

It’s been a while since I posted an update about NPA Data Science and this seems a good time to let you know what’s been happening. The NPA was first introduced in 2019 and has been popular, with almost 3,000 learners undertaking the qualification since then. The current review was initiated because of feedback from centres that the assessment was burdensome. We took the opportunity to tidy the contents and, of course, modernise the units so that they include the…

Categories: Computing

Bobby 0

March 11, 2024

Review of Word Processing, Presentations and Spreadsheets units

Following recent scoping of our NPA PC Passport awards we are looking for feedback on the content of the units – Web Apps: Word Processing; Presentations and Spreadsheets at SCQF levels 4, 5 and 6. As these units are included in several other qualifications including the NPA Business Skills (part of the Foundation Apprenticeship) we need the input of practitioners from Admin/IT/Business and Computing departments/training providers to make sure we consider a range of opinions. Your responses and feedback will…

Categories: Digital Skills

hilaryweir 0

March 4, 2024

External Verifier (Quality Assurer)

One of the most important roles served by SQA is to check the quality of delivery in centres. This role is carried out by External Verifiers, who work within cognate groups. There are three cognate groups in Computing: Computer Science Digital Literacy Information Technology There’s a team of verifiers for each cognate group (membership often overlaps). An External Verifier (EV) is typically an experienced teacher, lecturer or trainer. The role is paid and contracts last for one year. The work…

Categories: Computing

Bobby 0

February 29, 2024

NPA Computing: unit writing underway

I’m pleased to let you know that a large team of educators has commenced work on writing (vetting and verifying) the new units that will feature in NPA Computing. This is a large development, which will result in 12 new National Units covering a wide range of topics from AI to computing fundamentals. The units will be written between now and the end of March, after which they will be validated and published on the SQA website at the beginning…

Categories: Computing

Bobby 0