Graded Unit 1 – Practical Exercise Iain Walker

Graded Unit 1 – The Purpose of Graded Units Provide the competencies required by employers and universities Develop and apply a range of vocational knowledge and skills in an integrated manner to the analysis of business situations Build on previously acquired transferable skills 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 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 1 For HND Business:

Graded Unit 1 – Spot the ball Exercise 1

Graded Unit 1 – Spot the ball answer

The answer is to know where the ball is! Graded Unit 1 – A markers standardisation meeting Why do we have a meeting? How to mark the paper To interpret the meaning of the questions To examine the suggested answers To look at the grade criteria table To identify any obstacles/problems 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 Questions Exercise 3 Study the case Stagecoach Plc case study for approximately 5 minutes Individually mark each of the three responses for question 1. You should award 1 mark at a time Total you marks for each response For each response write one sentence to explain/justify why you have awarded the number of marks awarded. 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 2 Approximately 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 Hold a standardisation meeting and discuss the paper and suggested solutions and record decisions Mark one question at a time Allocate single marks clearly showing where they are gained Differentiate between basic content and development marks Cross marking and checking Check marks close to grade boundaries Look at the grading table in the Unit specification and reflect on the candidate responses Hold another standardisation meeting and agree marks and record the rationale for decisions

‘How to deliver Business Graded Unit 1’ Janet Strain SIM ‘How to deliver Business Graded Unit 1’

Integration of Delivery Janet Strain

Integration of learning and teaching and assessment Several topics in the HND framework appear in more than one unit Integration of learning and teaching can be good for learners

Levels of Integration Light touch Part Full 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

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

Sources of information to identify overlapping content Unit Specification Assessment Support Packs Course Tutor Guide

Possible integration involving Communication: Business Communication) HND Business Example of Integration – Year 1 Possible integration involving Communication: Business Communication) Unit Title Unit Title This Unit requires a written report: Communication: Business Communication Outcome 3 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 Economics Issues Outcome 3 (check suggested word count in both Unit Specifications)

Example of Integration – Year 2 HND Business Example of Integration – Year 2 Possible integration involving Graded Unit 2, ICT in Business, Presentation Skills and Research Skills Where students plan a project:- Information and Communication Technology in Business Outcome 4 Where students prepare a presentation:- Information and Communication Technology in Business Outcome 5 Where students require to demonstrate Research Skills Research Skills – all outcomes Both 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 Economy Outcomes 1, 2 & 3 Presentation Skills Outcomes 2 and 3 Where students require to demonstrate Research Skills Graded Unit 2 - Project Unit Title Unit Title

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

Integration of Assessment The level of integration cannot be such that it makes the assessment task more difficult. Point 1 = You need to ensure that integration of assessment does not create higher levels of demand on candidates than would be required for a Unit or Outcome if integration did not occur. Point 2 = For example, an external exam or Graded Unit may assess a candidate’s ability to integrate and apply knowledge and skills from across a number of subject Units. If subject Units are being used to assess the attribution of this skill, then this skill must be an assessed part of one of the Units, eg you could not formally assess project skills in an integrated assessment unless one of the Units specifically required project skills to be assessed.

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

Beware! 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

Any questions?

Qualifications Manager Humanities, Arts and Business Sharon McDowall Qualifications 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

What do you know already about Internal Verification? Quiz What do you know already about Internal Verification?

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 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

Cross Marking and Internal Verification 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

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

Cross Marking and Professional Judgement Have the evidence requirements been met?

Activity Extract from Unit Specification You will be provided with the following information: Extract from Unit Specification Extract from Assessment Support Pack 3 candidate responses to the question

Have the evidence requirements been met?

Workshops available for your Centre via SIM support

Any questions?

Q & A Session

Neil MacGowan Head of Operations and Corporate Social Responsibility