Qualifications Update:Engineering Science

Qualifications Update:Engineering Science

Developing qualifications Developing qualifications - drivers- drivers• Progression – provide progression from Es & Os and maximise

continuity between levels • More open and flexible requirements – fewer, broader

outcomes, more focus on skills• Assessment which supports learning - open evidence

requirements – choice of assessment approaches – opportunities for combined assessment

• Refreshed and relevant contexts for learning, providing challenge and enjoyment

• Personalisation and Choice – in content/contexts for Units - Added Value Unit at National 4 – coursework assessment at National 5

• Robust and credible – current high standards in qualifications will be maintained

CfE Levels

early years

1

2

3

4 SCQFLevels

12

3

4

Continues to 12

≈

Relationship between CfE and SCQF LevelsRelationship between CfE and SCQF Levels

Key pointsKey points• a new Course which builds on some aspects of

Technological Studies• provides, in the ‘Engineering Contexts and Challenges’

Unit, flexibility in content and therefore opportunities for tailoring to local situations

• provides an insight into the opportunities and challenges in engineering

• brings together elements of science, technology, and mathematics, and applies these to real-world challenges

• provides a strong basis for further study or a career in any branch of engineering

Key pointsKey points• has added value assessments that provide personalisation

and choice in assignments at National 4, National 5 and Higher, with question papers also providing added value at National 5 and Higher

• has a hierarchical Unit structure that provides progression from National 4 to Higher

• Successful completion of all the Units of the National 4 Engineering Science Course can be used to contribute to a National 3 Design and Technology Course award

Unit StructureUnit StructureNational 3

(Design and Technology)

National 4(Engineering

Science)

National 5(Engineering

Science)Graphics for Design Engineering Contexts

and ChallengesEngineering Contexts

and Challenges

Designing and Modelling

Electronics and Control Electronics and Control

Constructing and Testing

Mechanisms and Structures

Mechanisms and Structures

New Quality Assurance arrangementsNew Quality Assurance arrangements• Will cover new National 1 to National 5 from 2013/14

• New arrangements will promote shared understanding of national standards through a collaborative and partnership approach

• New ‘Nominee’ role - provides a pool of nationally trained experts

• Intense verification in the first 3 years, then an intelligence led approach will be adopted

• Verification in Nov/Dec, Feb and Apr/May - allows for early identification of issues and support/guidance to be given

Assessment Support Schedule 2012/13 Assessment Support Schedule 2012/13

Oct 12 N3 to N5 Unit Assessment Support (Package 1)

Feb 13 N3 to N5 Unit Assessment Support (Package 2)

Feb 13 N5 Specimen Question Paper

Apr 13 N3 to N5 Unit Assessment Support (Package 3)

Apr 13 N5 Specimen Coursework

Apr 13 N4 Added Value Assessment Support

Engineering ScienceUnit Assessment

National 4 and National 5

Engineering ScienceUnit Assessment

National 4 and National 5

Unit assessmentUnit assessment• Flexible and open Assessment Standards and Evidence

Requirements in Units

• Greater range of techniques and methodologies for assessment – encouraged through Unit assessment support packages

• Assessments can be designed to provide evidence across more than one outcome or Unit – combined assessments

• More opportunities to gather naturally occurring evidence – assessment as part of learning and teaching

Unit Assessment Support Unit Assessment Support packages – purpose packages – purpose

Assessment support packages will be provided which you can use to:

•assess your candidates

•adapt for your own assessment programmes

•help you develop your own assessments

Unit Assessment Support Unit Assessment Support packages – key featurespackages – key features

• Valid from August 2013

• Designed to encourage professional judgement

• Provide broad-based tasks – allow assessors to choose appropriate context and forms of evidence

• Show range of approaches to generating assessment evidence

• Give information on the type of evidence which could be gathered and how this is to be judged against Assessment Standards

Unit assessment support Unit assessment support packages - approachespackages - approaches

for N4/N5 Engineering Science ….Package 1 (now)• Portfolio approach – naturally occurring evidencePackage 2 (Feb 2013) • Unit by Unit approach – discrete assessment tasks

for each UnitPackage 3 (Apr 2013) • Combined approach – groups Outcomes and

Assessment Standards from different Units

Assessment Package 1Assessment Package 1• covers all 3 Units at each level• “portfolio” approach• use of naturally occurring evidence• independent work, with support• describes appropriate evidence and success criteria

for each assessment standard• re-assessment by assessment standard is possible• examples of “candidate” responses with

commentary

Engineering ScienceAdded Value Assessments:

- National 5 Course Assessment- National 4 Added Value Unit

Engineering ScienceAdded Value Assessments:

- National 5 Course Assessment- National 4 Added Value Unit

Adding Value – National 4, Adding Value – National 4, National 5National 5

• Each Course at National 4 and National 5 includes assessment of Added Value

• For National 4, the added value is in an Added Value Unit - not graded

• For National 5, the added value is in the Course Assessment - graded A - D (as at present)

Added ValueAdded Value• Makes the Course more than the sum of its parts• Builds on current Course assessment and Group

Award approaches • Defined as breadth, challenge and/or application as

outlined in Building the Curriculum 5• May involve accumulation, assimilation, integration

and/or application of skills, knowledge and understanding

• May use 7 defined assessment methods (usually two of these)

Controlled AssessmentControlled Assessment• Where the assessment method is not a question paper,

SQA has introduced the concept of controlled assessment to ensure fairness and reliability

• 3 stages of assessment: Setting, Conducting, Marking the assessment

• Each will have a defined level of control: SQA-led activity, Shared responsibility between SQA and centres, Centre-led

• Subject-specific decisions, but mostly SQA-led activity in initial years

Added Value for Engineering ScienceAdded Value for Engineering Science

National 5•Question paper (90) + Assignment (60)

National 4•Assignment (pass/fail)

National 5 – National 5 – Question Paper• 90 marks (60% of award)• section 1 - 20 marks – short answer (KU)• section 2 – 70 marks – structured (applied)• roughly equal marks to each Unit• integrated questions• 30-40% mathematical• data booklet

National 5 – National 5 – Assignment• 60 marks (40% of award)• set by SQA (choice from bank)• supervised conditions• internally marked• applying M&S and E&C Unit skills and

knowledge• application and challenge

National 4 Added Value Unit National 4 Added Value Unit Engineering Science AssignmentEngineering Science Assignment

• criterion-based marking• similar to N5 Assignment• less complex task, and more structured support• supervised conditions• internally marked• applying M&S and E&C Unit skills and

knowledge• application and challenge