Monday, 7 November 2005
Issue
1
ANTON COLELLA, SQA's Chief Executive welcomes you to our new monthly
e-zine:
I am delighted to welcome you to the first issue of
Connecting with SQA. In our last Customer Satisfaction Survey, you
highlighted our need to improve electronic communication with you. I hope you
find our new e-zine an invaluable resource that will help you in your work,
bringing you the latest news and developments from SQA. But effective
communication is a two-way process and we would really value your comments to
develop and improve the e-zine. Let us have your views, comments and ideas for
future issues by using this feedback
link.
The Understanding Standards website gives you online access to assessment guidelines for your subjects and the opportunity to develop your marking skills. It describes the fundamental ‘assessment principles’ for each subject that inform the marking instructions that our marking teams use to standardise assessment.
You can also test your understanding of the principles by applying them
to examples from real candidate scriptbooks and comparing your judgements with
the Examining Team’s.
We are pleased to announce the recent launch of DIVA — our Digital Media and Information and Communications Technology Vendor Alliance Programme, which will update and expand the range of ICT and digital media qualifications we offer, to meet the vocational skill demands of the growing digital economy.
We are working with a number of global industry partners: Apple, Avid, Cisco, CompTIA, Macromedia, Microsoft and Oracle on this very exciting project.
New Higher National Guidance Documents
We have revised some of our Higher National Guidance documents:
Writing Higher National Units gives useful advice on planning each Unit and writing the Unit specification, using the revised format. It includes exemplars and checklists.
» Download
the Writing Higher National Units guide
Guidance on Core
Skills has been revised and updated and includes enhanced guidance on
signposting of Core Skills in Higher National Certificates and Higher National
Diplomas.
Our latest monthly report containing information on progress with the Higher
National Modernisation Programme is now available to download from our
website.
» Download
the latest Higher National Modernisation Report
We are working with our stakeholders to carry forward a number of developments in National Qualifications. We aim to ensure the best possible fit among our portfolio of qualifications and the needs of Scottish learners, the economy and society.
The work includes a Review of National Courses, which will reduce the volume
of assessment to make Courses more manageable for candidates, teachers and
lecturers. Update seminars for revised Courses are being held this
month.
» Find out more about all aspects of our National Qualifications Developments
We are delighted to announce that cash grants, of up to £2,000, are being
made available to classroom teachers to support innovative projects that use ICT
in its widest sense. Examples include: using midi keyboards to support music
projects or using GPS devices in geography field projects to aid
mapping.
The grants are being made through a partnership between
Microsoft and SQA under Microsoft's Partners in Learning
initiative.
Projects will be selected by an expert panel and will be
evaluated by an independent consultant.
» Find out more about this exciting
new opportunity
Late last year, we carried out a review and consultation on our entire portfolio of qualifications. We want to establish a coherent system of qualifications which is fit for purpose for the range of Scottish learners.
We are pleased to launch a range of new PC Passport Course Notes, which have
been developed in partnership with the publisher, Leckie & Leckie. The first
of these, for Intermediate level, is now available. We are distributing a free
copy to every secondary school.
The Course Notes are competitively
priced, starting at just £13.99, and include a companion CD-ROM.
» Download
order form for new Course Notes
The Beginner level edition is due for
release in early January. The Advanced level edition is due for release later in
2006.
We recently attended the Offshore Europe 2005 Conference for the Oil and Gas
industries, which attracted 30,000 visitors, including a large number of
schoolchildren eager to find out what a career in oil and gas could mean to
them.
The SQA stand and presentations created a great deal of
interest.
» Find
out more about the day
The Scottish Vocational Qualifications Accreditation Committee, which sits
each month, oversees changes, additions and deletions to the range of available
Vocational Qualifications. The reports from each meeting are available to
download.
» Click
here to download the reports
SQA.net, the Data Management software system, has been improved and made more accessible. You now only need to input your username and password once. You will also be able to opt to receive an e-mail reminder when we send you files to download, making the process more efficient for you.
We are delighted to announce that, as of 1 November, the Management SVQs have been updated. The four qualifications in this new suite are: Team Leading — level 2, Management — level 3, Management — level 4 and Management — level 5.
SQA Co-ordinators will have access to further details on the secure area of SQA's website.
Our External Development Team liaise with key partners in the UK and abroad. They lead and manage our involvement in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF), maintain and enhance strategic links with the Skills for Business network and Higher Education Institutions, and represent Scottish education and training in Europe and internationally. More updates will follow in future issues.
In 2006, candidates taking the Intermediate 2 or Higher Biotechnology external assessment will have the opportunity to sit the objective test part of the examination using a computer, instead of completing the traditional paper answer sheet. The project is currently in start-up phase — requirements are being documented and an invitation to tender for the development work will be issued very shortly.
To date, eight of the 10 centres currently planning to present candidates for these examinations have agreed to adopt this on-line testing. Candidates will be able to get hands-on experience of the system before their live examination, via a trial examination which is scheduled to take place before the Easter holidays. Further updates on this exciting project will follow in future issues.The Board recently held their November meeting at the Highlands and Islands Enterprise Headquarters in Inverness. This is part of the Board’s strategy of visiting areas of Scotland and listening to local issues and concerns.
One of the outcomes of the meeting was an agreement that SQA produces a
Highlands and Islands Strategy, to set out the way forward for how we deliver
qualifications and support candidates, education establishments and businesses
in the area.
» Read
more about the meeting here
Professional Development Workshops We have expanded the range of workshops, which are aimed at
teaching professionals. Each workshop provides an opportunity to clarify issues
to improve delivery of subjects and increase knowledge of SQA processes and
procedures. Places are going quickly on these very popular events, so book now
to avoid disappointment.» Book PDW Event
Quality Networks Quality Networks are designed to support centres and staff in all aspects of subject-specific quality assurance. External Verifiers/Moderators and SQA staff lead the workshops in a range of discussions, including the sufficiency of evidence, the interpretation of specific Units and updates on award developments. Places are going quickly on these very popular events, so book now to avoid disappointment.
» Book Quality Network Event
Higher National Partnership Team Workshops We are running workshops for centre staff who are involved in specialist developments. Workshop topics include: Chairing a Qualification Design Team, Unit Writing, and Validation and Implementation.
Full details are being sent to each college. If you are involved in a specific development and wish training for your team, please contact your Higher National Development Manager.
Blogging with SQA Have you paid a visit
to SQA's computing blog — it is packed
with useful information and news about our Computing related
developments.
2006 National Qualifications Examinations Timetable Did you know you can now download the 2006 NQ Examination Timetable from SQA's website?
SQA sponsors Scottish Further Education Unit Award Find out about the SFEU Annual Conference and Awards for 2005, being held on 30 November at the Radisson SAS Hotel, Glasgow. SQA has sponsored the Award for External Customer Service.
SQA Annual Awards 2005 The judging of this year's finalists, for our Annual Awards is currently underway. The Ceremony will take place in Glasgow's Hilton Hotel on Monday 21 November. Full details of the winners will appear in next month's issue of the e-zine.
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