SCOTTISH QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY WELCOME TO THE HNC/D SOCIAL SCIENCES ANNUAL STAFF DEVELOPMENT EVENT 9 NOVEMBER 2016 Welcome to the annual staff development event for Social Sciences. Carol Hunter, QM for Social Sciences Fiona MacKinnon, QO for Social Science

PROGRAMME FOR THE DAY 10.00 am Coffee & Registration 10.30 am Welcome & SQA Update Carol Hunter, SQA 10.45 am Social Anthropology Joy Hendry, Professor Emerita, Oxford Brookes University and Honorary Fellow, Edinburgh University 11.30 am Good Practice Colin Ross, Curriculum Manager, Social Sciences, Ayrshire College and Brian Dunn, Faculty Manager, Social Sciences, North East Scotland College 12 noon Break 12.15 pm Meet your External Verifier and Social Sciences Secure Site 1.15 pm Plenary 1.30 pm Lunch

Work Undertaken Since November 2015 Published a Psychology Lab Workbook Published a promotional brochure for students, teaching staff and parents Have begun to publish a suite of co operative learning sessions – Development of Sociology Social Class & Education This is just to remind you of key dates in relation to the lifespan of awards. This will be the last year for the old HNC.

Work Undertaken Since November 2015 Added two new IT units within optional section of frameworks: HF85 34 Emerging Technologies & Experiences (SCQF 7) x1 credit H9DE 34 Digital Skills (SCQF 7) x1credit An update of where we are at in terms of producing exemplars is included in your pack.

Work Undertaken Since November 2015 Commissioned an Assessment Support Pack for the unit Communication: Practical Skills in the context of Social Sciences Initiated scoping exercise for the National Certificates in Social Sciences

Work Undertaken Since November 2015 Developed and published units in Social Anthropology: Social Anthropology: Understanding our Place in the World (SCQF 5) x1 Social Anthropology: Who does it and how to do it (SCQF 6) x 1 Social Anthropology: The Body and its Life Course (SCQF 7) x 1 Social Anthropology (SCQF 8) x 1: Ethnology of Scottish Peoples List of resources to accompany units

Work Undertaken Since November 2015 Undertook consultation for Politics Units Recommendations: Review Politics A, B and C units A Unit - possibly change to introduction to political concepts and their application B Unit – possibly political theory and an analysis of the UK situation C Unit – have more of an emphasis on international relations; Outcome 1 – institutions and how they work; Outcome 2 – relationships between any 2 political systems/countries Contact universities to ask what will be required for progression in the future

Work to be undertaken in 2016/17 Completed scoping exercise for HNC/D Social Sciences leading to plans for the following development work: Revision of the assessment requirements of all C units; revising Evidence Requirements Review of Research & Methodology and Research Issues Units: Research Issues – make more practical; one Outcome theoretical; one Outcome practical; move ethics into Research & Methodology Research & Methodology – make more practical; include a practical task using one of the methods; change numerical part to open book; aim is to understand research, ethics, quantitative methods and ability to analyse these

Work to be undertaken in 2016/17 Update topics for History units Review topics for Psychology B & C Develop a Criminology unit at SCQF level 7 – one that connects the level 6 unit to the level 8 unit Produce a Skills Profile for the group awards Hold event for universities or visit universities to promote awards As above.

Requests for developments in 2017/18 Training event for Graded Unit Assessment Support Pack for Investigation in the Social Sciences Any other requests?

Internal Assessment Reports (IARs) http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/26082.html Strongly recommend prior verification of all Graded Unit assessments and reassessments submitted with marking guidelines Marking guidelines for each question should be subdivided into Knowledge & Understanding and Evaluation & Conclusion Look at developing a diverse assessment strategy across the awards Provide minutes of verification meetings

Ushare A new online community which allows you to share links to relevant resources that support the HNC/D Social Sciences It allows you to submit links to resources and comment on and rate links submitted by other teaching professionals and learners Available via the following: http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/72948.html

CURRENT QST MEMBERS North East Scotland College New College Lanarkshire Ayrshire College University of Highlands & Islands City of Glasgow College This is the current membership of the QDT.

Seeking New QST Members To represent: Glasgow Clyde College: Anniesland; Cardonald; Langside Glasgow Kelvin College: Stow; John Wheatley, North Glasgow West College Scotland: Reid Kerr; Clydebank; James Watt Inverclyde Forth Valley College West Lothian College Fife College Dundee and Angus Edinburgh College

Seeking New External Verifiers Currently seeking new External Verifiers for: Philosophy

NQ Developments Removal of internal unit assessment for courses at request of Scottish Government Course assessments being reviewed May be changes to both exams and assignments Exams will sample more course content N5 Course assessment specifications to be ready by April N5 Specimen Question Paper to be ready by September

To Finish Please share the information from today with your colleagues. Key contact details: Carol.hunter@sqa.org.uk Tel: 0345 213 5449 Fiona.mackinnon@sqa.org.uk Tel: 0345 213 5450 Presentations from today on Social Sciences web page http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/26069.html Please complete evaluation which will be conducted via Survey Monkey; link to be sent out next week As above.