KEY CHANGES TO HNC AND HND SOCIAL SCIENCES AWARDS Carolyn Laird, Motherwell College, Senior External Verifier & QDT member

No Change....  No change to mandatory section of either award – awards still have to fit with Design Principles  Will still have 12 credit HNC and 30 credit HND awards  Still have to achieve mandatory 6 credits including one Graded Unit for HNC  Still have to achieve mandatory 12 credits including 3 Graded Units for HND

Main change  Units: reduction of load throughout  More time to focus on skills for a Social Scientist  Includes suggestions to develop particular Core Skills signposted in each  Includes where the 4 capacities of Curriculum for Excellence are developed in each Unit  More detail in support notes

 A Unit - the aim of the unit should be to introduce the candidate to the social science discipline in an interesting and engaging way  B Unit - the aim of the unit should be to look at substantive topics within the discipline and highlight relevance to today  C Unit - the aim of this unit should be to look at more substantive topics within the discipline and highlight relevance to today  D Unit - a specialist study of particular relevance to the social science discipline. Creativity and independent learning are important

Unit Assessment Strategy A Units  In response to feedback, assessment for A units has changed to open book  1500 words or oral presentation (10-12 mins) or podcast, poster presentation, blog etc etc etc.  Or any other method that would capture the evidence required  There must be a bibliography supplied  Recommend Prior Verification

B Units  2 instruments of assessment  One closed book – 1000 words which can be essay, structured questions, or 8 mins oral presentation (no PPT or notes) or oral answers  The other assessment is open book – 2000 words or 15 mins oral presentation with PPT or poster exhibition, podcast, blog etc.  Or any other method that fits with evidence requirements as before  There must be a bibliography supplied

C Units (similar to B)  2 instruments of assessment – wording should reflect SCQF level 8  One closed book – 1000 words which can be essay, structured questions, or 8 mins oral presentation (no PPT or notes) or oral answers  The other assessment is open book – 2000 words or 15 mins oral presentation with PPT or poster exhibition, podcast, blog etc.  Or any other method that fits with evidence requirements as before  There must be a bibliography supplied

D Units  Open book  Currently words or oral presentation (10-15 mins) or podcast, poster presentation, blog etc etc etc.  Or any other method that would capture the evidence required  There must be a bibliography supplied  Recommend Prior Verification for all A, B C or D Units

Remediation and reassessment  Closed book –Oral clarification for minor errors or omissions –Addition of 100 words approx –New assessment or presentation where errors are more major  Open book –Review of original work with any amendment incorporated in context –Oral clarification of minor detail

Core Skills developed  Communication at SCQF Level 6  ICT at SCQF Level 5  Numeracy at SCQF Level 5 (may be embedded in Research and Methodology)  Working with Others at SCQF Level 6  Problem Solving at SCQF Level 6

Structure  Mandatory section  Social Science options – must do 2 x A and B for HNC  Must do 2 x A, B, C and D for HND  Similar list of optional Units as now  No need to do A before B or C or B before C or D – self standing Units and easier to transfer from one college HNC to another’s HND yr 2