[Advisory] 2010 Debate

[Ray Tolley]

Ian wrote:
"Is the expectation at KS3 in IT for high attainers unrealistically high? Or
is level 2 in the National Qualifications Framework/QCF too low?"

For many years I have regularly had a small handful of pupils at Levels 7/8
at KS3 so I feel that given the right circumstances, the right kids (and the
right teachers) the levels at KS3 are right.   So, my response is that the
levels for NQF/QCF are seriously too low (although they might have been a
reasonable starting point 5 years ago!)

In one school that I worked in for 7 years (as Director of Technology) I
expected ALL staff to be competent up to Level 2 by the end of their first
year of teaching and all HoDs should be working towards Level 3.  I also had
a few staff working towards Level 4 and one (a technician) went on to gain
his Teaching Diploma through the OU.

I feel that it is high time that Headteachers made NVQ qualifications in ICT
mandatory, as illustrated above, and some recognition given in staff CPD.
Also the work of the ICT-Mark or study through EPICT should be as much a
part of any teacher's armoury as the ability to spell or speak articulately.


BW

Ray Tolley  FEIDCT, NAACE Fellow, ACQI, MBILD
ICT Education Consultant
Maximise ICT Ltd
P:  http://raytolley.v2efolioworld.mnscu.edu/
B:  http://www.efoliointheuk.blogspot.com/
W:  http://www.maximise-ict.co.uk/eFolio-01.htm
Winner of the IMS 'Leadership Regional Award 2009'

-----Original Message-----
From: Ian Lynch [mailto:ianrlynch@googlemail.com] 
Sent: 03 January 2010 19:59
To: Ray Tolley
Subject: Re: [Advisory] 2010 Debate

It's still there. We support on demand testing and there is an
intention to do so stated by quite a few Awarding Organisations for
Functional Skills. It's largely down to the support systems and
traditions associated with examining. To be credible, any personalised
learning strategy has to have associated personalised assessment.
However, I think the issue is wider than that. In ICT, the March 2009
OFSTED report highlighted considerable marking of time for high
attainers in KS4. The demands at level 8 and exceptional performance
in KS3 are very much greater than for level 2 in the national
occupational standards and A*-C is level 2 and firmly targeted at the
top half of KS4. This begs a couple of questions. Is the expectation
at KS3 in IT for high attainers unrealistically high? Or is level 2 in
the National Qualifications Framework/QCF too low? One of the problems
is interpretation of language, What does complex mean as in complex
problems? Simply multi-faceted or intellectually demanding? Solving a
complex problem is a bit of a meaningless statement because complex to
one learner could be straightforward  to another.

So here is a solution. When a learner is a solid level 5 in KS3 let
them start doing level 2 course work as long as it covers the POS and
leads to an accredited qualification. Of course that is possible now
but fairly rare and hardly encouraged.

On Sat, Jan 2, 2010 at 5:43 PM, Ray Tolley <rjt@maximise-ict.co.uk> wrote:
> Yes, I thought that there was a move for taking tests 'as and when ready'.
 What has happened to this movement?
>
> Ray Tolley  FEIDCT, NAACE Fellow, ACQI, MBILD
> ICT Education Consultant
> Maximise ICT Ltd
> P:  http://raytolley.v2efolioworld.mnscu.edu/
> B:  http://www.efoliointheuk.blogspot.com/
> W:  http://www.maximise-ict.co.uk/eFolio-01.htm
> Winner of the IMS 'Leadership Regional Award 2009'
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: advisory-admin@talk.naace.org [mailto:advisory-admin@talk.naace.org]
On Behalf Of Ian
> Sent: 02 January 2010 15:33
> To: advisory@talk.naace.org
> Subject: [Advisory] 2010 Debate
>
> "Key Stages are statutory structures but they are an anachronism in a
> world of personalised learning because they make the assumption that
> most people will be broadly at the same point at the same time and
> clearly this is not the case. This can limit high attainers who could
> easily achieve QCF Level 3 attainment by age 16 and can also demoralise
> those with special needs."
>
> Discuss
>
> --
> Ian
> Ofqual Accredited IT Qualifications
> A new approach to assessment for learning
> www.theINGOTs.org - 01827 305940
>
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