Skills for Work e-Portfolios

News

Funding announcement!

SQA are pleased to announce that further funding has been secured, from the European Social Fund, to enable the continuation of Skills for Work initiatives such as Deskspace. Delivery of Deskspace (free to all Skills for Work candidates) is therefore secured for the next academic year.

What do you think of Deskspace?

SQA has commissioned Inspire Research Ltd. to conduct an independant survey of Deskspace. Skills for Work tutors and candidates are being asked what they do like and what they don't like about Deskspace. Alison Muirhead from Inspire Research Ltd. is leading this study. Alison will be contacting your learners at the start of May with details of how they can take part. If you have any queries about the survey, please contact Alison at inspire-research.co.uk.

e-Portfolios Background

In diet 2008, a small pilot project was undertaken under the auspices of the larger Skills for Work (SfW) Development programme exploring the possibility of providing computer assisted assessment in Skills for Work courses. Materials, comprising electronic checklists and tests, were produced in three subjects (Financial Services; Early Education and Childcare, and Construction Crafts) and released through an e-portfolio system.

Following a successful bid for European Social Fund investment, we now have the resources to significantly expand the project in the coming financial year, with the possibility of two further years funding should the outcomes be successful. SQA are now offering training to SfW practitioners who plan to use an e-portfolio in diet 2009 – see below for details of the training and a booking form.

Phase 1 Completed materials

The first phase of the electronic assessment materials has now been completed and covers the following areas:

Guide to storage options for multimedia files (Creative Digital Media). This guide highlights issues and solutions in storing e-portfolio evidence for the Units in the Skills for Work Creative Digital Media Course - particularly media elements with large storage requirements such as video and audio
Construction Crafts Intermediate 1 (online checklists)
Early Education and Childcare Intermediate 1 (e-assessments and online checklists)
Early Education and Childcare Intermediate 2 (e-assessments and online checklists)
Energy Intermediate 2 (online checklists)
Engineering Skills Intermediate 1 (online checklists)
Financial Services Intermediate 2 (e-assessments and online checklists)
Hospitality Intermediate 2 (online checklists)
Rural Skills Intermediate 1 (online checklists)

These materials will automatically be made available to new users of the e-portfolio for the relevant Skills for Work course undertaken.

Details of materials developed in Phase 2 (January 2009) and Phase 3 (March 2009) will be published here on completion.

New SFEU Skills for Work support packs are now available from the SFEU website ( http://www.sfeu.ac.uk/skills_for_work ) in the following areas:

Hospitality
Hairdressing
Engineering
Retail
Uniformed and Emergency Services
Energy

Plan for diet 2009

SQA will provide centres running Skills for Work courses with suitable computer based tools for assessment, packaged through a common interface.

The objectives are:

To provide all SfW centres with access to an e-portfolio system
To provide electronic versions of checklists for all suitable SfW courses
To provide e-assessment for all suitable SfW course
To provide a method of games based assessment for two SfW courses
To provide support materials for all SfW courses
To explore itembanking for two SfW courses
To explore other technologies for assessment in SfW courses.
To evaluate the take up, support and impact of the development.
To encourage take-up of the tools provided.

The project will produce:

An e-portfolio system made available to any candidate in a SfW course
e-assessment versions of all paper based tests in a range of Skills for Work courses
Electronic checklists of all mandatory units in a range of SfW courses
An itembank in a chosen SfW qualification
A games based assessment in the SfW Retailing qualification.

The project will also aim to deliver:

An itembank in a further SfW qualification
A second games based assessment in a SfW qualification still to be determined
Electronic checklists in all units (including optional) in a range of SfW courses.

The first release will be available in September 2008, with a phased delivery of additional features throughout the year.

Training Events

New training dates for the e-portfolio have now been confirmed. The training events will take place at SQA. Optima, 78 Robertson Street, Glasgow G2 8DQ on:

Thursday 21 May afternoon session 1pm - 3.30pm (morning session on Solar e-assessments is also available)
Thursday 28 May afternoon session 1pm - 3.30pm (morning session on Solar e-assessments is also available)

Please contact Derek McFarlane on 0845 213 5406 or e-mail Derek.McFarlane@sqa.org.uk to book a place on either of these days.

For future training events please register your interest by e-mailing esf@sqa.org.uk and you will be contacted as soon a date is confirmed.

If there are 10 or more tutors at your centre interested in receiving training for using the e-portfolio to deliver a Skills for Work course, you can e-mail a request for a training session at your centre to the above address and SQA will consider your request.

Register your interest

To register your interest in piloting the use of the e-portfolio and future training events please complete this booking form or e-mail esf@sqa.org.uk