Graded Unit 1 – Practical Exercise

Iain Walker

Graded Unit 1 – The Purpose of Graded Units

1. Provide the competencies required by employers and universities

2. Develop and apply a range of vocational knowledge and skills in an integrated manner to the analysis of business situations

3. Build on previously acquired transferable skills

4. Adopt an innovative and creative approach to their work and be able to respond quickly to the challenges posed by changes in the business environment

5. Enhance quality

Graded Unit 1 – Scheduling Graded Unit 1

“the Graded Units completed at the end of Years 1 and 2 are based on some of the mandatory Units. The Units being assessed as part of the Graded Unit, must be delivered and assessed to ensure that sufficient learning will have taken place to enable the candidates a fair opportunity at achieving the Graded Unit at an appropriate grade.”

Graded Unit 1 – Scheduling Graded Unit 1For HND Business:

Graded Unit 1 – Spot the ball Exercise 1

Graded Unit 1 – Spot the ball answer

Graded Unit 1 – A markers standardisation meeting

Why do we have a meeting?1.How to mark the paper

2.To interpret the meaning of the questions

3.To examine the suggested answers

4.To look at the grade criteria table

5.To identify any obstacles/problems

6.To decide how best to check the marking

The answer is to know where the ball is!

Graded Unit 1 – Spot the difference!!!!!!!Exercise 2

Graded Unit 1 - Spot the difference!!!!!!!

We assess what is good and what is less good We benchmark against standards We place candidate responses in rank order We mark all candidate responses and assess the

candidates total result as an A, B or C or not achieved.

In effect we are spotting the difference between many responses

Graded Unit 1 – Case Study and QuestionsExercise 3

1. Study the case Stagecoach Plc case study for approximately 5 minutes

2. Individually mark each of the three responses for question 1. You should award 1 mark at a time

3. Total you marks for each response

4. For each response write one sentence to explain/justify why you have awarded the number of marks awarded.

5. At your table discuss your marks and reasons for the marks with your colleagues, and prepare to feedback.

Approximate total time 15 minutes

Graded Unit 1 – Question 1 – Answer 1

Graded Unit 1 – Question 1 – Answer 2

Graded Unit 1 – Question 1 – Answer 3

Graded Unit 1 – Case Study and Questions

Repeat the exercise for question 2Approximately 10 minutes Remember to discuss your findings and be prepared to feedback

Graded Unit 1 – Question 2 – Answer 1

Graded Unit 1 – Question 2 – Answer 2

Graded Unit 1 – Marking Guidelines

1. Hold a standardisation meeting and discuss the paper and suggested solutions and record decisions

2. Mark one question at a time3. Allocate single marks clearly showing where they are gained

4. Differentiate between basic content and development marks

5. Cross marking and checking

6. Check marks close to grade boundaries

7. Look at the grading table in the Unit specification and reflect on the candidate responses

8. Hold another standardisation meeting and agree marks and record the rationale for decisions

Janet Strain SIM

‘How to deliver Business Graded Unit 1’

Integration of Delivery

Janet Strain

• Several topics in the HND framework appear in more than one unit

• Integration of learning and teaching can be good for learners

Integration of learning and teaching and assessment

• Light touch– Reference to topics in different units

• Part– Teachers analyse Unit Specifications for

relevant topics and create Unit teaching plans only delivering the topic once

• Full– Enhancement from part integration, where

assessments are then integrated

Levels of Integration

• Identified at planning of delivery

• Requires the mapping of knowledge and skills and evidence across Units

• Ensures all knowledge and skills are met

• Most suited to units which are being delivered in same semester

• May require timetable amendments

Integration

• Easiest to manage when the same tutor is delivering both units

• Where different tutors are involved then it requires co-operation between tutors

• Where different tutors are involved requires regular monitoring

Integration

• Will require recording on internal verification and standardisation documentation

• Consultation with Course Leader

Integration

Sources of information to identify overlapping content

• Unit Specification

• Assessment Support Packs

• Course Tutor Guide

Possible integration involving Communication: Business Communication)

Unit Title

This Unit requires a written

report:

Communication: Business Communication

Outcome 3

Unit Title

Units requiring a written report:

Business Accounting

Outcomes 4 and 5

Managing People and

Organisations

Outcome 4

Marketing: An Introduction

Outcomes 1 and 2

Customer Care

Outcomes 1 and 2

Economics Issues

Outcome 3

HND Business

Example of Integration – Year 1

Example of Integration – Year 2

HND Business

Unit Title Unit Title

Possible integration involving Graded Unit 2, ICT in Business, Presentation Skills and Research Skills

Where students plan a project:-Information and Communication Technology in BusinessOutcome 4

Where students prepare a presentation:-Information and Communication Technology in BusinessOutcome 5

Where students require to demonstrate Research SkillsResearch Skills – all outcomesBoth units are delivered over the whole of year 2

Where students plan a project:-Graded Unit 2 – Project

Stage 1 Planning

Where students prepare a presentation :-Economics 2: The World EconomyOutcomes 1, 2 & 3Presentation SkillsOutcomes 2 and 3

Where students require to demonstrate Research SkillsGraded Unit 2 - Project

Integration of Assessment

With students studying up to 8 units in a semester, there can be a burden of assessment for both tutors and students

The number of assessment events can be reduced by integration of assessment across units

• The level of integration cannot be such that it makes the assessment task more difficult.

Integration of Assessment

Managing Integration - Student• Students should be advised when integration

is taking place• Students should be advised of the Units the

integration applies to• Students should be advised of the

implications of integration

• Do not assume that existing assessments can be used as they stand

• Integration of assessment may require your Centre to write appropriate instruments of assessment and have them prior verified

• Assessments should cover all evidence requirements

Beware!

Any questions?

Sharon McDowallQualifications Manager

Humanities, Arts and Business

Preparing for Success: SQA Update

New and revised Units•Communication- Communication: Business Communication H7TK34•Financial Services-Investment H9AM 35-Principles of Insurance H9ND 35-Pension Provision H9NC 35

Preparing for Success: SQA Update

• Accounting (Units with Accounting content)

- Recording Financial Transactions F847 33- Business Accounting F84M 34- Cost Accounting F7JR 34- Graded Unit 1for Business frameworks:

Business, Business with Accounting, Business with HRM, Business with IT, Business with Marketing and GTB

Preparing for Success: SQA Update

New CASPs and ASPs•34 new CASPs solely for Chinese market- replace existing AEs/ASPs•new CASPs - Units with Accounting content-including Recording Financial Information F7JV 34-7 new/additional ASPs for Financial Services

Preparing for Success: SQA Update

Course Tutor Guides - Updated:•2 additional Units•New and revised Units•Delivery schedules – recommended•Assessment plans•Opportunities for integration•Error Tolerance Guidance

Preparing for Success: SQA Update

Other useful sources•SQA Coordinator•China website•Subject Implementation Managers•China Country Manager•External Verifiers

If you utilise all of these resources….

Internal Verification

Janet Strain

Internal Verification

• Internal Verification: A Guide for Centres offering SQA Qualifications

Quiz

Duties of an Internal Verifier

In your groups, decide whether the following statements are true or false:

1 An Internal Verifier is appointed because he/she is a subject specialist

2 The Internal Verifier assesses the work of candidates

3 The Internal Verifier does not meet candidates

4 The Internal Verifier can change the assessor’s assessment decisions

5 The Internal Verifier is responsible for carrying out internal standardisation

6 The Internal Verifier has a responsibility to report on resources

7 The Internal Verifier is required to sample evidence covering all assessors, all sites and all class groups

8 The Internal Verifier is responsible for checking the reliability, validity and practicability of an assessment

9 The Internal Verifier is not required to meet the External Verifier during EV visits

10 The Internal Verifier should create a sampling plan when completing Internal Verification

The Process

Internal verification aims to ensure that:

•All assessments are valid, reliable, practicable, equitable and fair

•Assessors apply the standards of assessment uniformly and consistently

•National standards have been correctly identified and applied

Internal verification involves:•Pre delivery, during delivery and post delivery checks

Good internal verification includes discussion and the recording of discussion and decisions

Internal verifier must have subject knowledge

During and After Delivery Decisions

• Sample outcomes to ensure standardisation

• Discuss discrepancies with assessors

• Agree actions

Professional judgement of candidate evidence is based on•The evidence requirements in the Unit Specification•The assessment conditions in the Unit Specification•Valid, reliable and practicable assessment instrument•Subject specialist knowledge

Professional Judgement

• Understanding standards

• Command words commonly found in assessment instruments

Professional Judgement

• Cross marking is an internal verification strategy

• Teachers swap students scripts that have already been marked

• Remarks and discussions should be recorded on IV documentation

Cross Marking and Internal Verification

• For this activity, we are assuming that the complete assessment instrument is valid, reliable, practicable, equitable and fair

Activity

Have the evidence requirements been met?

Cross Marking and Professional Judgement

• You will be provided with the following information:

– Extract from Unit Specification– Extract from Assessment Support Pack– 3 candidate responses to the question

Activity

Have the evidence requirements been met?

Workshops available for your Centre via SIM support

Workshops

Any questions?

Q & A Session

Neil MacGowan

Head of Operations and Corporate Social Responsibility