sqa unit assessment update sath november 8 th nov 2014
TRANSCRIPT
EXTERNAL VERIFICATION SCHEDULE
Revised verification schedule in response to feedback from schools and LEAs.
Reduction of workload; less events more training.
First external verification event: N3-Higher in February.
Second external verification event: N4 AVU in May.
Accepted verification last year should mean not being selected this year.
Nominee reviews AS for appropriate
unit
Nominee reviews centre evidence, makes provisonal
verification decision
Nominee completes Verification Worksheet
Quality assurance of provisonal verification
decision with 'buddy' Nominee
Quality assurance of verification decision by TL
Nominee drafts Verification
Report
TL/STL/PV quality assures
Verification Report
Nominee and TL/STL/PV confirm
Verification Report
STL/PV submits Verification
Report
EXTERNAL VERIFICATION ACTIVITY
Role of Nominee Verifiers
During verification: Carry out evidence-based verification of unit
assessment Approaches and Judgement, N3-Higher. Draft External Verification Report for return to centre
giving verification decision for each level submitted; Accepted, Accepted* and Not Accepted.
Collaborate with fellow Nominees/TL/STL/PV in the quality assurance of verification decisions and Report writing.
Advise TL on Key Messages report at the close of verification event.
Role of Nominee Verifiers
After verification events: Local area mentoring role. Subject Leader. LEAs will be facilitating Nominees sharing
their expertise.
NQ QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK
Unit assessment at all levels represent milestones between course assessment (N3, N4, N5, Higher and AH).
They support the coherent skills framework in Secondary (3-18).
Aim of unit assessment is to assess the component skills of History.
Assessment standards relate to but are not intended as practice course assessment.
Verification Event Key Messages
Issues: Very brief internal verification information Fixed use of end-of-unit, written ‘tests’. Unreliable and inconsistent assessment
decisions.
Verification Event Key Messages
Solutions: Concise but clear verification processes. Training for internal verifier required. Annotation of unit assessment with AS eg: 1.3/2.1. Assessors crediting evidence to meet more than one
assessment standard where valid. Assessors crediting valid evidence wherever locate
in the unit assessment evidence. Cross-marking and independent check by internal
verifier. ‘Marker’s meeting’
Verification Event Key Messages
N4 Added Value Assignment issues: AS: 1.3 and 1.5. Advice and support from centres. Evidence from candidates; mainly written
‘essay-style’. Assessment judgements.
Verification Event Key Messages
N4 Added Value Assignment Solutions: Track and monitor learners closely to offer them
appropriate advice and support. Remember that they are N4 pupils! Consider using digital, multi-media approaches. Ensure that there is clear evidence of the pupils
demonstrating the skills required. Annotate (please!) Be flexible; validity of evidence will be guided by
the pupil’s choice of question.
HIGHER KEY MESSAGES
Support for Higher unit assessment in your local area from Nominees after the Higher training event, 12th November.
HIGHER KEY MESSAGES
Approaches to Assessment:
A mixture of Portfolio/Combined approaches offer the best prospect for reducing workload and integrating unit assessment into learning and teaching.
Consider the aims and purposes of the respective units carefully; assess the component skills as part of the 3-18 skills framework:
Consider the assessment task and timing of assessment tasks in a one-year course.
Offer flexibility and choice; cornerstone of the CfE skills and assessment framework.
HIGHER KEY MESSAGES
Approaches to Assessment:
Use unit assessment to prepare for course assessment.
More detail on using unit assessment to prepare for course assessment from your Nominee verifier (Assessment Standards)
HIGHER KEY MESSAGES
Assessment Task:
UASP tasks not the only possible way of generating evidence to meet the assessment standards.
Scottish unit assessment: aim to evaluate and analyse sources.
No specific source length.
See UASPs for sources of appropriate length and complexity.
Suitable sources.
HIGHER KEY MESSAGES
JET:
Curb your enthusiasm!
JETs: follow the advice in the UASPs on possible responses that meet the minimum requirements for assessment standards.
Don’t adjust Columns 1-3.
Column 4 is flexible.