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Computing & Digital Blog

March 25, 2015

HNC/D Computer Games Development

Some time ago, we asked Gillian Flockart, of Dundee & Angus College, to scope the changes needed to the current HNC/D Computer Games Development award. Me and Caroline met with Gillian this morning to discuss her findings. Gillian reported that centres are pretty happy with the existing qualification, and that most of the changes should be small, such as the addition of some new units and minor changes to some existing units. We discussed, at some length, the role of…

Categories: Computing

Bobby 0

March 25, 2015

Resource lists

We’ve made two recent changes to the way that we develop new qualifications. We now produce FAQs for all new awards, which evolve as the qualification itself develops. And we also produce resource lists for new awards. A resource list is a list of online and offline resources that can be used to deliver the new qualification. There is normally one resource list per unit. Each list will contain: YouTube videos, websites, Wikipedia articles, podcasts, online quizes, e-books and other…

Categories: Computing

Bobby 0

March 24, 2015

Computational thinking

“Computational thinking” is an important part of the new Computing Science qualifications with the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE). But it’s not something that is (overtly) prominent in vocational awards. So I am researching the various definitions of the term to come up with something that can be used by my Qualification Development Teams (QDTs) when they are designing new qualifications. There are lots of similar, but different, definitions around. One of the best is the one from the Royal Society/BCS…

Categories: Computing

Bobby 2

March 20, 2015

New unit on cyber security

As you may know, we’re currently developing a suite of awards in cyber security. We recently received a request from Police Scotland to develop an introductory unit to cover the fundamentals of the subject, suitable for everyone. Unsurprisingly, we’re calling the new National Unit: Cyber Security Fundamentals. It will be a single credit unit at SCQF Level 4, covering the basic knowledge and skills that everyone should know about the subject area. The contents will include: online safety, data security,…

Categories: Computing

Bobby 1

March 19, 2015

Qualifications Support Team

The Qualifications Support Team (QST) for vocational Computing awards met this morning. The QST is responsible for ensuring that centres are supported when they deliver SQA awards. The remit includes: delivery issues assessment issues revisions to awards support materials monitoring uptake monitoring quality issues. It was a good meeting, with over 10 people in attendance. One of the most important jobs it carries out is to consider requests for changes to qualifications structures. This usually comes from suggestions from colleges…

Categories: Computing

Bobby 0