Updating Resources for New Frameworks Workshop B Iain Walker - Senior Verifier Business Management/Economics/Business Graded Unit

Recap - Why have changes been made? Ensure techniques, knowledge and skills keep pace with a rapidly changing world To ensure the awards remain an important and credible entry mechanism to employment and further study To continue to meet the needs of employers To keep the awards in line with the expectations of all stakeholders The changes are important and are based on feedback

Recap - Scope of the changes To better exemplify standards To retain the standard and quality Increase flexibility of assessment Reduce the assessment load Improve Core Skills Guidance

What are the implications of the changes regarding resources? There are some obvious implications: Materials may need to be updated regarding content New materials may need to be sourced Existing exercises and practice assessments are likely to need alteration Materials will need new Unit codes and guidance regarding assessment

What are the implications of the changes regarding resources? To answer the question above properly, we need to answer a new question: Are the changes large or small? The answer is that across each framework the changes are significant, but within each Unit the changes are subtle, rather than being large or small.

Assessing the changes A good way to demonstrate the likely implications of the changes on resources is to look at three Units from the old frameworks, and the three new Units that replace them.

Spot the difference – Activity.... The sheets show a selection of outcomes from the three Units. The outcomes from the old units are on the left and the corresponding outcomes for the new units on the right. I would like each of you to study the sheets. On the right hand side mark where you have identified a change in the new unit on the right, compared to the old unit on the left. You may wish to indicate whether you feel the change is either a small change or a significant change. Discussion with your colleagues is encouraged during this activity. Spot the difference - Activity

Spot the changes activity – Answers…. You will have managed to identify many changes, some of which are small whilst others are more significant. The more significant ones include: –More flexibility in the form of assessment (in some cases) –More out of class assessment is allowed –The removal of cut-off scores Spot the difference –Answers

What are the implications of the changes regarding resources? The new units are different and materials must relate to the new units. But the differences in content are often minor. Where new knowledge is required additional resources may be required. –Updated course guides –Internet sources –Books –Magazines –New exercises

Remember…. The Course Tutor Guides are a vital source of information and guidance The website is also vital Unit specifications and the evidence requirements are critical (these set the standards) There are assessment exemplars, but alternative methods of assessment may be possible Sufficiency of alternative assessments and prior verification

Finally... Build up resources for each subject, with each having its own folder to act as a resource Regularly update and add to the folders Check for plagiarism Security of exemplars is essential Check for updates as unit specifications and exemplars do change