We've been busy recently preparing for the forthcoming validation event for the revised HNDs, which takes place next week.
Since we are validating four awards (HND Computing, HND Computing: Networking, HND Computing: Software Development and HND Computing: Technical Support) we are doing the validation over two days. It will take place next Thursday and Friday (6 and 7 December). The qualifications will be split as follows:
Day 1: HND Computing and HND Computing: Software Development
Day 2: HND Computing: Networking and HND Computing: Technical Support.
This seemed the most logical split due to the links between the awards.
A validation event is a meeting of equals -- it's not the panel "inspecting" the development team. It's an opportunity to have an open and frank and positive discussion about the proposals.
These particular proposals are the most talked-about and considered qualifications I have ever been involved with. The development process goes back almost two years, during which time there have been a huge number of meetings and discussions about their contents. That doesn't mean that they're perfect, but it does mean that we believe that they are well thought through.
It was pleasing that the proposals had wide support at the recent Heads of Computing event, when each of the Qualification Leaders went over their draft awards.
Look out for more news on this blog about the validation once it's over.
Wednesday, 28 November 2012
Tuesday, 18 September 2012
HND Computing Awards - Structures
The Qualification Leaders are currently writing the Group Award Specifications (previously known as Validation Proposal Documents) for the following HND awards:
1. HND Computing
2. HND Computing: Networking
3. HND Computing: Software Development
4. HND Computing: Technical Support
There have been some additional units added to the award strucutres over the past couple of months so the versions that were previously available have been updated. These structures can be accessed here and replace any versions you may have saved before.
These versions will go forward for validation as part of each of the awards in December.
1. HND Computing
2. HND Computing: Networking
3. HND Computing: Software Development
4. HND Computing: Technical Support
There have been some additional units added to the award strucutres over the past couple of months so the versions that were previously available have been updated. These structures can be accessed here and replace any versions you may have saved before.
These versions will go forward for validation as part of each of the awards in December.
Monday, 17 September 2012
Validation Panel
As you know, we are preparing for the forthcoming validation event (the date is still to be decided). One of the key stages in that process is selecting the members of the Validation Panel. We try to get a good mix of educational and industrial representatives who are independent of the development.
Our job for the HNDs was easy since we asked the members of the HNC Validation Panel if they would be willing to serve on the HND validations. They all did. So the Panel for the HND validations will be:
SQA's collaborative, peer created and reviewed, qualification development process has stood the test of time, and proven to be a rigorous, fair but thorough process, which produces high quality qualifications.
Contact Caroline if you have any queries about the validation event.
Our job for the HNDs was easy since we asked the members of the HNC Validation Panel if they would be willing to serve on the HND validations. They all did. So the Panel for the HND validations will be:
- Cameron Walker (Aberdeen College): FE representative (Convenor)
- Debbie McHarg (Stevenson College): FE representative
- Alan Gannon (Adam Smith College): FE representative
- Brian McGhee (University of the West of Scotland): University representative
- Genny Dixon (consultant, previously E-Skills UK): Employer representative
- Sharon O'Neil (SQA).
SQA's collaborative, peer created and reviewed, qualification development process has stood the test of time, and proven to be a rigorous, fair but thorough process, which produces high quality qualifications.
Contact Caroline if you have any queries about the validation event.
Preparing for the validation
Me and Caroline met with the Qualification Leaders on Saturday to discuss the forthcoming validation event. The Qualification Leaders are:
Evidence of support for new awards remains a crucial part of the validation process so don't forget to complete the appropriate online survey if you haven't done so already.
- HND Computing: Derek Summer (Perth College)
- HND Computing: Networking: Chris Deegan (City of Glasgow College)
- HND Computing: Software Development: Pete Ainsworth (Motherwell College)
- HND Computing: Technical Support: Sean Miller (Telford College).
Evidence of support for new awards remains a crucial part of the validation process so don't forget to complete the appropriate online survey if you haven't done so already.
Friday, 7 September 2012
Stakeholder surveys
The QDT has engaged with stakeholders since the start of this development. There are 32 members, representing more than 20 centres, on the QDT itself, and the members of the QDT have formally and informally consulted with their contacts throughout the development process.
But we have recently created more formal means of getting stakeholder feedback via a number of online surveys. There are surveys for college lecturers, university lecturers and employers.
If you haven't done so already, I would appreciate if you would complete the appropriate survey. If you've already completed one, you could encourage colleagues to complete it or forward links to your own contacts. Thanks in anticipation.
Please contact Caroline if you have any problems.
But we have recently created more formal means of getting stakeholder feedback via a number of online surveys. There are surveys for college lecturers, university lecturers and employers.
If you haven't done so already, I would appreciate if you would complete the appropriate survey. If you've already completed one, you could encourage colleagues to complete it or forward links to your own contacts. Thanks in anticipation.
Please contact Caroline if you have any problems.
Thursday, 30 August 2012
QDT meeting
The eighth meeting of the QDT took place yesterday morning. The QDT consists of 32 "extended" members and 15 "core" members. Most colleges in Scotland are represented in one capacity or another.
The agenda included a number of important items, including an update on progress, a discussion about timescales, and the contents of the proposed HNDs. I also took the opportunity to tell members about the new Qualification Review Teams.
There was a particularly interesting discussion about progression to degree courses. Members emphasised the importance of designing HNDs that articulate with degrees. The Qualification Leaders agreed to carefully look at this aspect of their frameworks in discussion with university representatives.
The HNC has been available for a few months, and we hope to have the HNDs available to centres from early 2013. The awards are progressing OK, with the focus on the creation of the validation proposal documents (VPDs), which is being done by the Qualification Leaders.
The validation event will take place in December.
Contact Caroline if you want to know more about the new HNDs.
The agenda included a number of important items, including an update on progress, a discussion about timescales, and the contents of the proposed HNDs. I also took the opportunity to tell members about the new Qualification Review Teams.
There was a particularly interesting discussion about progression to degree courses. Members emphasised the importance of designing HNDs that articulate with degrees. The Qualification Leaders agreed to carefully look at this aspect of their frameworks in discussion with university representatives.
The HNC has been available for a few months, and we hope to have the HNDs available to centres from early 2013. The awards are progressing OK, with the focus on the creation of the validation proposal documents (VPDs), which is being done by the Qualification Leaders.
The validation event will take place in December.
Contact Caroline if you want to know more about the new HNDs.
Friday, 20 July 2012
Reducing assessment
One of the key goals of the HN Review was to reduce the amount of assessment in the awards. So the unit writers were under strict instructions to minimise assessment, while maintaining national standards. I think that we achieved that with the HNC. The number of assessments in the mandatory units of the new award is 55% lower than the existing award. We have also significantly reduced assessment in the optional units.
We are also looking at some radical solutions to this problem. The HN 2.0 project is looking at how we can use social software for summative assessment in the new HNC. The project has coined two new terms: social assessment and smart assessment. Social assessment is how social media can be used for summative assessment. Smart assessment is how smartphones can be used to generate evidence. We hope that combining social assessment and smart assessment we can hugely decrease the time spent on assessment, and make assessment a more natural part of the learning process. For example, we are exploring ways of integrating all of the assessment in the mandatory units of the HNC into a couple of activities using social/smart assessment techniques. This represents a radical departure from the traditional approach.
The HN 2.0 project will produce a report that will describe these ideas in more detail, and a new assessment exemplar that will turn the theory into a practical assessment. The traditional assessments will still be available to use, although much reduced, but this more radical approach will also be an option.
Look out for more details shortly.
We are also looking at some radical solutions to this problem. The HN 2.0 project is looking at how we can use social software for summative assessment in the new HNC. The project has coined two new terms: social assessment and smart assessment. Social assessment is how social media can be used for summative assessment. Smart assessment is how smartphones can be used to generate evidence. We hope that combining social assessment and smart assessment we can hugely decrease the time spent on assessment, and make assessment a more natural part of the learning process. For example, we are exploring ways of integrating all of the assessment in the mandatory units of the HNC into a couple of activities using social/smart assessment techniques. This represents a radical departure from the traditional approach.
The HN 2.0 project will produce a report that will describe these ideas in more detail, and a new assessment exemplar that will turn the theory into a practical assessment. The traditional assessments will still be available to use, although much reduced, but this more radical approach will also be an option.
Look out for more details shortly.
Thursday, 5 July 2012
HND frameworks
The QDT has been working hard on the HND frameworks over the last couple of months. We are developing four HNDs - one is new (HND Computing) and three are revisions to existing awards, although very major revisions. The HNDs are:
The frameworks are pretty mature now, so I am not expecting them to change a great deal prior to the validation event. You can download the frameworks here.
The HND Computing award is new, and is designed as a general qualification for students who don't want to specialise in any one aspect of the subject.
- HND Computing (new)
- HND Computing: Networking
- HND Computing: Technical Support
- HND Computing: Software Development.
The frameworks are pretty mature now, so I am not expecting them to change a great deal prior to the validation event. You can download the frameworks here.
The HND Computing award is new, and is designed as a general qualification for students who don't want to specialise in any one aspect of the subject.
Tuesday, 3 July 2012
HNC Arrangements are now available
Caroline posted a message on the SQA Computing blog last week to let everyone know that the HNC Arrangements have now been published. You can download them here [PDF].
This is an important milestone in the project. It's great to see one of the awards put to bed. It took longer than planned to finalise the HNC, but we got there eventually.
The new HNC includes many improvements over the existing award, such as a more up-to-date structure (which includes professionalism and ethics), core skills in context (now delivered as part of vocational units), and a new way of recognising vendor awards. The optional units include a huge range of exciting new topics, such as Cloud Computing [PDF] and Mobile Technology [PDF].
I know that some centres plan to offer the new HNC from August, and we will work with those centres to ensure a smooth transition from the current award to the new one.
Some support material is already available for the new HNC, and a great deal more is coming. The award will be supported by traditional learning material and e-learning material.
Contact Caroline for more information about the new HNC, including information about current or planned support materials.
This is an important milestone in the project. It's great to see one of the awards put to bed. It took longer than planned to finalise the HNC, but we got there eventually.
The new HNC includes many improvements over the existing award, such as a more up-to-date structure (which includes professionalism and ethics), core skills in context (now delivered as part of vocational units), and a new way of recognising vendor awards. The optional units include a huge range of exciting new topics, such as Cloud Computing [PDF] and Mobile Technology [PDF].
I know that some centres plan to offer the new HNC from August, and we will work with those centres to ensure a smooth transition from the current award to the new one.
Some support material is already available for the new HNC, and a great deal more is coming. The award will be supported by traditional learning material and e-learning material.
Contact Caroline for more information about the new HNC, including information about current or planned support materials.
Monday, 18 June 2012
Qualification Leader meeting
I met with the qualification leaders (QLs) for each of the HNDs on Friday morning. Each HND has a lead developer:
The purpose of the meeting was to get a progress report on how the frameworks for each award were coming along, and also to discuss any issues.
The frameworks are coming along well. The HND Computing and HND Software Development ones are pretty much agreed, but there are some issues surrounding the Technical Support and Networking frameworks.
It was a good meeting. We had useful discussions, and resolved several issues. Caroline will update all four frameworks and share these when the agreed changes have been added. I would value your comments. I am hoping that the HND frameworks can be finalised by the end of this month. The new HNDs will be available to centres from January 2013.
Contact Caroline if you want to know more about the new HN awards.
- HND Computing: Derek Summer (Perth College)
- HND Computing: Networking: Chris Deegan (City of Glasgow College)
- HND Computing: Software Development: Pete Ainsworth (Motherwell College)
- HND Computing: Technical Support: Sean Miller (Telford College).
The purpose of the meeting was to get a progress report on how the frameworks for each award were coming along, and also to discuss any issues.
The frameworks are coming along well. The HND Computing and HND Software Development ones are pretty much agreed, but there are some issues surrounding the Technical Support and Networking frameworks.
It was a good meeting. We had useful discussions, and resolved several issues. Caroline will update all four frameworks and share these when the agreed changes have been added. I would value your comments. I am hoping that the HND frameworks can be finalised by the end of this month. The new HNDs will be available to centres from January 2013.
Contact Caroline if you want to know more about the new HN awards.
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