Collaborating for coherence in CPD: Developing the SQA Academy Presenter: Dr Brendan Tierney, SQA

The context for CPD in SQA 6,000 are teachers 15,000 appointees 560 SQA staff 160,000 candidates 750, 000 exam scripts

6,000 are teachers

15,000 appointees

560 SQA staff

160,000 candidates

750, 000 exam scripts

The context Pace and nature of change e.g. AifL, Curriculum for Excellence, CAA Recognition of the need for better training of staff and appointees Demand from teachers for more/better understanding of what SQA do Anticipation of enhanced role for teachers in future assessment regimes Current views on assessment

Pace and nature of change e.g. AifL, Curriculum for Excellence, CAA

Recognition of the need for better training of staff and appointees

Demand from teachers for more/better understanding of what SQA do

Anticipation of enhanced role for teachers in future assessment regimes

Current views on assessment

“ The basic premise underlying any good assessment system is that it should do no harm and as much good as possible” (Paul Black, House of Commons Seminar, April 2007) Assessment can be harmful

“ The basic premise underlying any good assessment system is that it should do no harm and as much good as possible”

(Paul Black, House of Commons Seminar, April 2007)

“ When decisions need to be made about when and how assessment techniques can be used the lack of fundamental understanding of the purposes may lead to confusion and ultimately to rejection of the techniques” Changing Assessment Practice. Assessment Reform Group 2008 Assessment is confusing

“ When decisions need to be made about when and how assessment techniques can be used the lack of fundamental understanding of the purposes may lead to confusion and ultimately to rejection of the techniques”

Changing Assessment Practice. Assessment Reform Group 2008

Assessment as it is carried out is a barrier to learning “ I didn’t say SQA is the forces of darkness, I said it is one of the forces of darkness” ( Professor X at the Faculty of Education at the University of Strathclyde )

“ I didn’t say SQA is the forces of darkness, I said it is one of the forces of darkness”

( Professor X at the Faculty of Education at the University of Strathclyde )

Assessment is all about memorisation

Activity 1 How well do the following statements reflect your views and experiences? Assessment is harmful to learning Because assessment is confusing teachers are wary of being flexible with it. It’s the way SQA operates assessment that creates problems for learners and teachers Assessment is all about memorisation

How well do the following statements reflect

your views and experiences?

Assessment is harmful to learning

Because assessment is confusing teachers are wary of being flexible with it.

It’s the way SQA operates assessment that creates problems for learners and teachers

Assessment is all about memorisation

Aim of the SQA Academy To extend and enhance the training and development opportunities available to all those that contribute to the SQA assessment process, including SQA staff, appointees and teachers

To extend and enhance the training and development opportunities available to all those that contribute to the SQA assessment process, including SQA staff, appointees and teachers

The SQA Academy How we decide what courses to develop: Relates to general assessment issues Relates to appointee training Reflects the stated needs of others groups

How we decide what courses to develop:

Relates to general assessment issues

Relates to appointee training

Reflects the stated needs of others groups

Coherence Linking what we offer to appointees with what we offer to teachers Linking appointee training to the GTCS Professional Recognition framework Developing joint courses with other national agencies: Scotland's Colleges, LT Scotland, GTCS (Learning Connections) Participating in national CPD Network Linking summative assessment to learning Promoting good assessment practices Encouraging discussion about assessment on online forums

Linking what we offer to appointees with what we offer to teachers

Linking appointee training to the GTCS Professional Recognition framework

Developing joint courses with other national agencies: Scotland's Colleges, LT Scotland, GTCS (Learning Connections)

Participating in national CPD Network

Linking summative assessment to learning

Promoting good assessment practices

Encouraging discussion about assessment on online forums

How do we create courses?

SQA Academy Approach Face-to-face workshop activities Online reflective tasks Online introductory coursework

Circle 1 – Online tasks

Circle 2 – face to face tasks

Circle 3 – online reflective discussion

Course Creation Content Authors are requested to provide: Content for online section Content for face-to-face activities Guidance for Course Tutors.

Content Authors are requested

to provide:

Content for online section

Content for face-to-face activities

Guidance for Course Tutors.

Course creation and delivery Face to Face Workshop Materials Notes for Tutors Designated Course Tutors Course Participants Hosted on SQA Academy Have access Have access No access No access Deliver Training Create Create Online Training Materials SQA Business Area SQA Academy Team Discuss Course Needs Nominate Subject Specialist Issues Contract Create Author Have access Have access

Course Delivery Designated Course Tutors are: Selected by Local Authorities Trained in “effective online course delivery” Have access to hidden “activity library” Able to set up groups and deliver without SQA staff.

Designated Course Tutors are:

Selected by Local Authorities

Trained in “effective online course delivery”

Have access to hidden “activity library”

Able to set up groups and deliver without SQA staff.

Discussion Have we got it right?

Have we got it right?

Contact details Dr Brendan Tierney Email: [email_address] Phone: 0131 561 6926 SQA Academy Website: www.sqaacademy.org.uk Email: [email_address]

Dr Brendan Tierney

Email: [email_address]

Phone: 0131 561 6926

SQA Academy

Website: www.sqaacademy.org.uk

Email: [email_address]