NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS CURRICULUM SUPPORT People & Society Advice and Guidance for Practitioners [NATIONAL 4 (NATIONAL 3)] This advice and guidance has been produced to support the profession with the delivery of courses which are either new or which have aspects of significant change within the new national qualifications (NQ) framework. The advice and guidance provides suggestions on approaches to learning and teaching. Practitioners are encouraged to draw on the materials for their own part of their continuing professional development in introducing new national qualifications in ways that match the needs of learners. Practitioners should also refer to the course and unit specifications and support notes which have been issued by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/34714.html Acknowledgement © Crown copyright 2012. You may re-use this information (excluding logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ or e-mail psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk. Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. Any enquiries regarding this document/publication should be sent to us at enquiries@educationscotland.gov.uk. This document is also available from our website at www.educationscotland.gov.uk. 2 ADDED VALUE UNIT: THE ASSIGNMENT (NATIONAL 4 (ACCESS 3), PEOPLE AND SOCIETY © Crown copyright 2012 Contents Section 1: Advice and Guidance for potential approaches to learning and teaching Introduction 4 Curriculum for Excellence National Qualifications 6 Exemplification of potential approaches to learning and teaching 7 Section 2: Added Value Unit – The Assignment Added Value How learning can be presented for assessment Making use of ICT for recording and presenting learning Considerations for planning 13 15 17 18 ADDED VALUE UNIT: THE ASSIGNMENT (NATIONAL 4 (NATIONAL 3), PEOPLE & SOCIETY) 3 © Crown copyright 2012 ADVICE AND GUIDANCE FOR APPROACHES TO LEARNING AND TEACHING Section 1: People and Society: Advice and Guidance for approaches to learning and teaching 1. Introduction General advice for practitioners People and Society provides an exciting opportunity for learning and teaching within relevant, challenging and enjoyable contexts in a flexible way. With the inter-disciplinary nature of this course, practitioners should consider adopting the perspective and approaches of at least two social subjects/social sciences. It may be advisable to undertake this to create a wider and richer learning experience. This should not, however, be done overtly. This course allows practitioners to respond to the interests of all learners – as well as specific groups. For example, those still to choose an area of specialisation, those for whom discrete subjects may not appropria te for at the time, returners to education and/or those looking for a broad introduction to social subjects/social science. This innovative course promotes a great deal of personalisation and choice for practitioners and learners in providing an open cour se that allows for any appropriate, motivating contexts to be incorporated. People and Society builds upon the principles and approaches likely to be found in the broad, general education. Practitioners may also find it useful to familiarise themselves with advice and guidance documentation for other curricular areas such as RMPS, Geography, History and Modern Studies. These documents are not intended to be prescriptive. Practitioners may wish to adapt the ideas and suggestions to reflect the variety of approaches they wish to develop in their own settings. For assessment requirements, practitioners must refer to the relevant SQA documentation. This advice and guidance gives practitioners a variety of learning and teaching approaches. In planning, it may be worth considering: knowledge and understanding across subject disciplines – by drawing on the social studies, health and wellbeing, and religious and moral education curriculum areas. Learners are not necessarily required to make these 4 ADDED VALUE UNIT: THE ASSIGNMENT (NATIONAL 4, PEOPLE AND SOCIETY) © Crown copyright 2012 ADVICE AND GUIDANCE FOR APPROACHES TO LEARNING AND TEACHING connections however there should also be reference to key ideas. The idea is that the learning should be inter-disciplinary. skills – investigating; comparing and contrasting; deciding. This document outlines some possible ways in which the Added Value Unit of the course can fit with the other Units in a variety of ways. (While there is no Added Value Unit at National 3, some elements of this may be helpful for practitioners planning learning and teaching at National 3 – particularly the aspects focusing on potential appr oaches to skills development. The specimen course grids could be used as contexts to suggest possible assignment topics / issues learners could study.) This advice and guidance provides a foundation that can be adapted and developed to suit each learner. The assignment should provide opportunities to enable learners to work independently and/or as part of a group. Through a variety of learning and teaching approaches, learners can be afforded the chance to establish enterprising skills. Practitioners should always refer to the SQA documentation. Research activities provide an opportunity to further develop literacy skills to an appropriate standard by reading, making notes and presenting findings. Discussion and debate can be facilitated around assignment themes. Numeracy skills may be developed through the interpretation of different types and styles of data. The assignment should help learners to understand why skills are important. They should be encouraged to reflect on how they are developing thei r skills, identifying the next steps in their skills development, and understand how the skills they have acquired can be applied in this interdisciplinary assignment – as well as for life and work. Employability skills can be highlighted through the assignment and could include negotiating with others to take ideas forward; taking the initiative; working with and leading others; being creative, flexibility and resourcefulness with a positive attitude to change; discussing, setting and meeting roles and expectations within a working environment. ADDED VALUE UNIT: THE ASSIGNMENT (NATIONAL 4, PEOPLE AND SOCIETY) © Crown copyright 2012 5 ADVICE AND GUIDANCE FOR APPROACHES TO LEARNING AND TEACHING 2. Curriculum for Excellence National Qualifications Curriculum for Excellence aims to achieve transformational change, allowing flexibility for learners and the development of the four capacities. Throughout the broad general education, learners develop skills and knowledge through programmes of learning and teaching planned using the Experiences and Outcomes, informed by the Principles and Practices. To ensure a smooth progression into and through the senior ph ase, practitioners should reflect upon the principles of curriculum design and ensure that learning experiences reflect these. The National Qualifications have been designed to provide learners with opportunities to continue to develop the attributes and capabilities of the four capacities – as well as skills for learning, skills for life and skills for work. They offer flexibility, provide time for learning and focus on the development of skills and application of learning. They allow for progression from learning that has happened through the broad general education and allow opportunities for learners to develop breadth, challenge and application. From People and Society, progression may be possible to a wide range of social subjects / social sciences. The principles of design are the same; therefore the skills development and learning experiences will support the learning journey. In planning for skills development, practitioners may find it helpful to refer to Bloom’s taxonomy ( www.educationscotland.gov.uk/resources/b/genericresource_tcm4659433.asp ) and the related work of Morag McGinlay (www.educationscotland.gov.uk/video/s/video_tcm4646983.asp). McGinlay’s skills path draws on Bloom’s taxonomy and demonstrates how learners can progress through their learning and develop higher -order thinking skills. Reflective questions Consider your current approaches to learning and teaching in National Qualification courses: - How active is the learning in your current courses? - In what ways are the skills of learners effectively developed? What evidence do you have to support your conclus ions? - What aspects could be improved through increased use of active learning? - What would the impact on learners be? 6 ADDED VALUE UNIT: THE ASSIGNMENT (NATIONAL 4, PEOPLE AND SOCIETY) © Crown copyright 2012 ADVICE AND GUIDANCE FOR APPROACHES TO LEARNING AND TEACHING 3. Exemplification of potential approaches for learning and teaching The following exemplars provide ideas for reflection by practitioners when planning approaches to learning and teaching in the delivery of People and Society. They do not represent an approved, prescribed or suggested model. Rather they are provided to encourage professional dialogue and reflection. Exemplar 1 – Context or overarching theme: Sport Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Title: People in sport Title: Sport and society Common key idea: values Common key idea: values Key idea: ethics or equality Title: Sport and the world Common key idea: values Key idea: cause Key idea: change Key idea: culture Key idea: identity Key idea: cooperation Interdisciplinary links: history, modern studies, philosophy, sociology Application of skills: investigating Interdisciplinary links: geography, modern studies, philosophy Application of skills: comparing and contrasting Possible contexts: local sports facilities – resources, benefits, development needs, links to health and wellbeing ethics in sport –: cheating, corruption, drug abuse identity – nationalism sectarianism Interdisciplinary links: history, geography, modern studies Application of skills: deciding Possible contexts: historical development of a sport or major sporting event, eg the World Cup, the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games participation by gender racism in sport disability in sport religion in sport world sport and economic/political/cult ural links, eg baseball, basketball, cricket, rugby, football Possible contexts: choose a location for a major world sporting event, eg the World Cup, the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games consider the impact of this event on a region or country – advantages and disadvantages consider the economic consequences – construction, regeneration, employment, tourism, publicity ADDED VALUE UNIT: THE ASSIGNMENT (NATIONAL 4, PEOPLE AND SOCIETY) © Crown copyright 2012 7 ADVICE AND GUIDANCE FOR APPROACHES TO LEARNING AND TEACHING In this exemplar course plan, the overall course is based on t he context or overarching theme of sport, with values as the common key idea. Unit 1 focuses on the key ideas of change and culture and the skills of investigating. Possible contexts could include: the historical development of a sport or major sportin g event, eg the World Cup, the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games participation by gender racism in sport disability in sport religion in sport world sport and economic/political/cultural links, eg baseball, basketball, cricket, rugby, football. People and Society provides the opportunity for interdisciplinary working and delivery through any of the social subjects/social sciences. It is not necessary to make explicit the social subject/social science being drawn upon or to expect detailed specific subject knowledge. This unit could look at change over history or change taking place today. Learners could engage in activities such as collecting information from the media, the local area, planning field trips and carrying out interviews with people in their community, friends, and/or relatives. Unit 2 focuses on the key ideas of ethics or equality and identity and the skills of comparing and contrasting. Possible contexts could include: local sports facilities: resources, benefits, development needs, im pact on health and wellbeing ethics in sport: cheating, corruption, drug abuse identity: nationalism sectarianism. Comparative studies can be made between facilities available in different communities at home and/or abroad, between levels of cheating, cor ruption and/or drug abuse in different sports, between the influence of nationalism and/or sectarianism in different sports at home and/or abroad. 8 ADDED VALUE UNIT: THE ASSIGNMENT (NATIONAL 4, PEOPLE AND SOCIETY) © Crown copyright 2012 ADVICE AND GUIDANCE FOR APPROACHES TO LEARNING AND TEACHING Unit 3 focuses on cause and cooperation and the skill of deciding. Possible contexts could include: choosing a location for a major world sporting event, eg the World Cup, the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games considering the impact of a major sporting event on a region or country, ie advantages and disadvantages considering the economic, political and social impact of hosting a major sporting event, eg construction, regeneration, employment, tourism, publicity. Making decisions can focus on a social policy decision, eg ‘Should …?’, or focus on a more personal aspect of decision making, eg ‘Should I …?’ Skills could be developed through an integrated approach to planning effective learning and teaching. Practitioners will wish to afford learners a variety of opportunities to practice and develop these skills across all the units, eg skills of interviewing to gain information may be developed in one context but re-visited again to gain information for a decision -making activity. Examples of this could be interviewing an elected representative and/or a sportsman/woman. Possible assignment topics could include: Would improved sports facilities have an effect on the people who live in your local area? Is sectarian rivalry a feature of any sports other than football in Scotland? Is drug-taking a problem in Scottish (or British or world) sport today? Is it a good idea for a small country (or a large city) to host a major sporting event? ADDED VALUE UNIT: THE ASSIGNMENT (NATIONAL 4, PEOPLE AND SOCIETY) © Crown copyright 2012 9 ADVICE AND GUIDANCE FOR APPROACHES TO LEARNING AND TEACHING Exemplar 2 – Context or overarching theme: Crime and punishment Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Title: Punishment Title: Law Title: Causes of crime Common key idea: rights and responsibilities Common key idea: rights and responsibilities Common key idea: rights and responsibilities Key idea: consequence Key idea: citizenship Key idea: cause Key idea: change or diversity Interdisciplinary links: history, geography, modern studies, philosophy, sociology Application of skills: investigating (or comparing and contrasting) Possible contexts: punishment through the ages punishment in different countries punishment and human rights custodial vs noncustodial Key idea: need or diversity Interdisciplinary links: geography, modern studies, history Key idea: behaviour Application of skills: comparing and contrasting (or investigating) Possible contexts: laws in different countries, eg comparing laws in Scotland and England the law – rights and responsibilities young people and the law the legal system – sheriff courts the legal system – children’s hearing system Interdisciplinary links: history, geography, modern studies, sociology, psychology Application of skills: deciding (or investigating) Possible contexts: causes of crime – psychological factors; sociological factors; socioeconomic factors deterrence possible methods of reducing crime In this exemplar course plan, the overall course is based on the context or overarching theme of crime and punishment, with rights and responsibilities as the common key idea. Possible topics for the assignment could include: Would the reintroduction of capital punishment reduce serious crime rates? In what ways has the media reporting crime changed? 10 ADDED VALUE UNIT: THE ASSIGNMENT (NATIONAL 4, PEOPLE AND SOCIETY) © Crown copyright 2012 ADVICE AND GUIDANCE FOR APPROACHES TO LEARNING AND TEACHING Are sentences given to criminals today more lenient than they were in the past? Is the Scottish justice system very different to that of another country? What problems does the Scottish criminal justice system face today? What methods of dealing with criminals are most effective? Has there ever been a case for corporal punishment? ADDED VALUE UNIT: THE ASSIGNMENT (NATIONAL 4, PEOPLE AND SOCIETY) © Crown copyright 2012 11 ADVICE AND GUIDANCE FOR APPROACHES TO LEARNING AND TEACHING Exemplar 3 – Context or overarching theme: Medicine Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Title: Medicine in the Past Common key idea: ethics Key idea: change Title: Medicine today Title: Medicine and the world Common key idea: ethics Key idea: cooperation Key idea: interdependence Key idea: cause Interdisciplinary links: history, modern studies, philosophy, sociology Application of skills: comparing and contrasting Possible Contexts: Knowledge of medicine in different historical periods (Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance, Later Modern) Turning points in the history of medicine Improvements in public health over time Improvements in public health in our local area over time Common key idea: ethics Key idea: equality Key idea: rights and responsibilities Interdisciplinary links: geography, modern studies, philosophy Application of skills: deciding Possible Contexts: The NHS today The NHS today in our local area How the Government spend taxes on Health Does the NHS achieve its original aims? Interdisciplinary links: geography, modern studies Application of skills: investigating Possible Contexts: The Rainforest and the medicines found there. How people living in the Rainforest use those medicines A study Malaria and the aid that can be provided. In this exemplar course plan, the overall course is based on the context or overarching theme of medicine, with ethics as the common key idea. Possible topics for the assignment could include: Compare public health in Scotland today with conditions 200 years ago How easily did disease spread in the past and how easily does it spread today? What issues face doctors in Scotland today? What methods of dealing with diseases such as malaria are most e ffective? Should assisted death be legalised? 12 ADDED VALUE UNIT: THE ASSIGNMENT (NATIONAL 4, PEOPLE AND SOCIETY) © Crown copyright 2012 ADDED VALUE UNIT – ASSIGNMENT Section 2: Added Value Unit – Assignment 1. Added Value The Added Value is what makes the course more than simply the sum of its parts. Added Value assessment describes how the breadth, challenge and application of the skills, knowledge and understanding developed by the learner throughout the Course will be assessed. For National 4 courses, the Added Value unit serves as the assessment and is internally assessed on a pass or fail basis. The Added Value Unit for People and Society at National 4 takes the form of an assignment. SQA define an assignment as: a problem-solving exercise with clear guidelines and structure. An assignment is particularly suited to the assessment of outcomes based on applying practical skills and related knowledge and understanding to a situation that involves task management. Assignments are more structured and less open-ended than projects. They differ from practical activities in that they do not have to conform to a prescr ibed procedure and they are not concerned exclusively with technical skills. For further detail on the requirements of the unit, practitioners should refer to the relevant SQA course and unit specifications. Practitioners should note that the Added Valu e assignment is not necessarily an end of course activity, but rather it can be undertaken at any point. It involves selecting appropriate skills, knowledge and understanding and presenting the learning in a chosen format. The topic or issue chosen by the learner may relate to a single unit or may emerge from learning across units. The assignment should be seen as an opportunity for learners to demonstrate their abilities. They should make use of the knowledge, understanding and skills that have been gained during the Broad General Education and that they are gaining through their studies in the National 4 course. It should allow learners the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the topic chosen. The assignment also allows for personalisation an d choice within the curriculum. It gives learners the opportunity to choose the topic or issue for study and the method of presentation. ADDED VALUE UNIT: THE ASSIGNMENT (NATIONAL 4, PEOPLE AND SOCIETY) © Crown copyright 2012 13 ADDED VALUE UNIT – ASSIGNMENT Reflective questions - How will you facilitate for personalisation and choice in topic choice? - What kinds of approaches to learning and teaching will best prepare learners for undertaking the assignment? - How can you support all learners in achieving success in the Added Value Unit? 14 ADDED VALUE UNIT: THE ASSIGNMENT (NATIONAL 4, PEOPLE AND SOCIETY) © Crown copyright 2012 ADDED VALUE UNIT – ASSIGNMENT 2. How learning can be presented for assessment Learners can present their assignment in a way that will allow them to best demonstrate their knowledge and understanding and skills in order to meet the outcomes of the unit. There are many methods available. Practitioners should refer to the relevant SQA documentation regarding the detail of assessment requirements. It should be noted that the assignment presents opportunities for learners to engage with topics of their choice and should be an enjoyable experience of moving into more depth in an area of interest to the learner. Therefore, over assessment should be avoided. The following list of potential presentation methods is in no way prescriptive and simply outlines some of the many possibilities. Learners may demonstrate achievement of the outcomes of the unit in any appropriate form. Digital presentation Video Learners may choose to present their assignment through a presentation to the class, a group or the practitioner. A variety of digital presentation programmes could be used depending on availability and the expertise of the learner. Could be a short film which contains the learner’s response. Could allow the learner to make use of filmed interviews or recorded interviews. Could involve the use of software such as Movie Maker to include a variety of information. Could take the form of a stop–go animation with voiceovers. ADDED VALUE UNIT: THE ASSIGNMENT (NATIONAL 4, PEOPLE AND SOCIETY) © Crown copyright 2012 15 ADDED VALUE UNIT – ASSIGNMENT Written piece Podcast This could be used to record the learner’s talk or presentation. Could take the format of a scripted or unscripted interview with a peer or expert in the subject. Could be presented in the style of a news broadcast. Wall display This could include a range of styles of presentation of learning. May facilitate a creative response that would allow for wider presentation of the learning with others. Displays can be employed in an interactive fashion as questions can be asked by anyone who views this. Oral presentation/ interview with the practitioner 16 A written report could be carried out with a range of possible options, including: - essay (possibly employing writing frames) - newspaper/magazine article - blog/wiki - learning log or journal - Comic Life. This could take the form of a short talk to the class, a group or the practitioner. A talk may be expected to last around 5 minutes. A well-organised talk will be structured in a manner that will satisfy the demands of the Adde d Value Unit. Following any form of presentation, it may be appropriate for the learner to answer some oral questions from peers and/or the practitioner. ADDED VALUE UNIT: THE ASSIGNMENT (NATIONAL 4, PEOPLE AND SOCIETY) © Crown copyright 2012 ADDED VALUE UNIT – ASSIGNMENT Care should be taken not to over-credit such factors as IT skills and oral/written communication skills as opposed to the subject specific skills, knowledge and understanding. The activity is primarily about developing the skills of the subjects but, of course, presentation and communication skills are also important in the context of developing skills for learning, skills for life and skills for work. 3. Making use of ICT for recording and presenting learning Blog A blog can also be described as a ‘web log’. There are many ways in which learners could use a blog to communicate their progress and findings with practitioners, peers and parents. Blogs allow learners to update their progress from a computer or smart phone and provide a platform for keeping a log or journal if desired. You may wish to consider using Glow Blogs: http://glo.li/vQYjDO Wikis Wikis provide opportunities for learners to collaborate with other learners and teachers, and share what they have learned. A wiki is a website that lets any learner (or indeed anyone else you want) become a participant: you can create or edit the actual site contents without any special technical knowledge. A wiki is continuously under revision. One famous example is Wikipedia, an online encyclopaedia with no authors but millions of contributors and editors. Wikis have controlled access to ensure learner information remains private. If a learner uses a wiki to present his/her findings, then the wiki can be built up throughout the research process. There are many examples on the internet of learners effectively using wikis for learning. You may wish to consider using Glow Wikis: http://glo.li/t9wE1u Digital Presentations If learners opt to present their assignment in the form of a presentation, they may wish to support this by employing some presentation software. In many cases this will take the form of a PowerPoint presentation. However, learners may have the ability to create their presentation in some of the many other formats available, such as Keynote, Prezi, Empressr, Powtoon. ADDED VALUE UNIT: THE ASSIGNMENT (NATIONAL 4, PEOPLE AND SOCIETY) © Crown copyright 2012 17 ADDED VALUE UNIT – ASSIGNMENT Other ICT Learners may make use of other ICT in their assignment. Software such as Comic Life allows learners to create comic strip style documents and presentations where the detail of their learning can be demonstrated in creative and engaging ways. Programmes such as Photostory or Movie Maker allow learners to create presentations that can capture and display their learning. The use of video cameras and USB microphones allow for a flexible approach to gathering material and presenting learning. Reflective questions - How will you facilitate for personalisation and choice in methods of presentation for learners? - What strengths do you have in using ICT to support learners? - What considerations will you need to discuss regar ding assessing the Added Value unit? 4. Considerations for planning In planning for the Added Value assignment, practitioners should bear in mind, as noted previously, that learning developed throughout the course can be drawn upon, that sources and materials gathered in the other units can be utilised and that the assignment can be carried out at any point during the course. It will be important to allow learners the opportunity to engage in dialogue and reflection over their choice of topic or issue and to consider in detail what they will need to do. It may be beneficial for some learners to work with peers on many aspects of the assignment before producing an individual final piece. A collegiate approach to thinking about and planning the assignment may help to foster an ethos that supports quality peer and self evaluation of learning and may support learners in developing their higher order thinking skills through discussion. There is an expectation that practitioners will support learners, as appropriate, throughout all stages of the assignment, including in the phase of choosing topics and issues. Allowing learners the opportunity to engage in activities that help the class consider potential assignment topics and issues, sources of information a nd 18 ADDED VALUE UNIT: THE ASSIGNMENT (NATIONAL 4, PEOPLE AND SOCIETY) © Crown copyright 2012 ADDED VALUE UNIT – ASSIGNMENT ways of carrying out research, processing research and presenting findings, will support learners and encourage engagement. Practitioners may consider ways of helping learners to benefit from opportunities to learn out with the classroom when working on the Added Value unit. There may be local people, places, groups, organisations that would be useful places either for classes, groups or individuals to visit as part of their course that would contribute to the assignment, or purely to inform research for the assignment. ADDED VALUE UNIT: THE ASSIGNMENT (NATIONAL 4, PEOPLE AND SOCIETY) © Crown copyright 2012 19