ICT Systems and Principles for IT Practitioners

1. ICT Systems and Principles for IT Practitioners/Professionals (PROCOM)and the QCFAdvance Overview

2. The QCF framework New way of recognising achievement:awarding a credit value for units and qualifications Qualifications titles, sizes and levels (entry? L8) standardised nationally: Awards (1-12 credits), Certificates (13-36 credits), Diplomas (37+ credits) Qualifications will be: designed to fit a national (unit) template with learning outcomes and assessment criteria subject to agreed rules of combination (RoC) migrated to the new framework by end 2010

3. Credits and Levels All units will be assigned a credit value at a level Levels are same as NQF � L2 roughly GSCE level, L3 A Level, L4 1st year undergrad, L8 PhD. One credit = 10 notional learning hours (NLH) NLH average time it would take a learner to complete a unit consists of guided learning hours (GLH), personal study time, �on the job� experience, assessment preparation and assessment time

4. QCF structure Key feature is credit One credit = 10 hours learning time. GLH may vary. Levels are same as NQF � L2 roughly GSCE level, L3 A Level, L4 1st year undergrad, L8 PhD. Size of qualifications is fixed � Awards are fairly bite-sized, Certificates medium sized and a Diploma represents a significant programme of study. We cannot produce a Diploma of less than 37 credits at any level. All qualification titles will therefore contain the size and level of qual as a matter of course. QCF aim is to to produce units that �do what they say on the tin� and reduce duplication. [Presenter�s Note: Link through to Ofqual�s qualifications equivalences diagram, which gives a clear visual representation of the equivalences. Alternatively, use the next slide to help explain the concept.] Key feature is credit One credit = 10 hours learning time. GLH may vary. Levels are same as NQF � L2 roughly GSCE level, L3 A Level, L4 1st year undergrad, L8 PhD. Size of qualifications is fixed � Awards are fairly bite-sized, Certificates medium sized and a Diploma represents a significant programme of study. We cannot produce a Diploma of less than 37 credits at any level. All qualification titles will therefore contain the size and level of qual as a matter of course. QCF aim is to to produce units that �do what they say on the tin� and reduce duplication. [Presenter�s Note: Link through to Ofqual�s qualifications equivalences diagram, which gives a clear visual representation of the equivalences. Alternatively, use the next slide to help explain the concept.]

5. Ofqual�s Equivalencies Qualifications are best understood by their level of difficulty, size and, of course, their content. Each accredited qualification has a level according to the qualifications framework it is on. Levels are a standard way of comparing how challenging a qualification is and what learners should be able to do once they have successfully completed it. Qualifications which are not accredited are not nationally recognised. Defining the size of a qualification is dependent, in part, by the framework to which it is accredited. All accredited qualifications can be found on the National Database of Accredited Qualifications (NDAQ), where you can also view the level and a basic outline of the content of a qualification and the units it contains. Qualifications are best understood by their level of difficulty, size and, of course, their content. Each accredited qualification has a level according to the qualifications framework it is on. Levels are a standard way of comparing how challenging a qualification is and what learners should be able to do once they have successfully completed it. Qualifications which are not accredited are not nationally recognised. Defining the size of a qualification is dependent, in part, by the framework to which it is accredited. All accredited qualifications can be found on the National Database of Accredited Qualifications (NDAQ), where you can also view the level and a basic outline of the content of a qualification and the units it contains.

6. General observations The framework has changed, but methods of assessment have not Each unit needs to be able to be assessed separately, but evidence can still be used across a number of units where appropriate Greater flexibility may result in qualifications with more than one assessment model - we will consider the assessment burden when developing rules of combination Full scheme documentation, including entry details, will be available on the our website Unnamed registration routes will be available Full qualification and unit entry will be available Points to note: Although the framework on which vocational qualifications are accredited has changed, the assessment methods and delivery approaches have not. Centres need not worry too much about the framework itself as each qualification will have explicit instructions on how is can be accessed and should be delivered, assessed and claimed for. Each unit must have the facility to be assessed separately but, within a whole qualification, that does not mean that evidence needs to be generated for each unit as a matter of course. For some qualifications, such as NVQ-type qualifications, evidence can be used and referenced across a number of units. The qualification information provided by OCR will make clear what is needed. As each unit must have the facility to be assessed separately, it is possible that combining units may result in qualifications including more that one assessment model. However, OCR developers will be mindful of the appropriateness of this and any additional assessment burden when developing rules of combination. Each qualification will have its own documentation with full details on the website. As previously, named and unnamed registration routes will be available � details of which approach is available for each qualification will be included in our Administration Guides and in the qualification documentation. Also as before, unit entry and full qualification entry will be available. Points to note: Although the framework on which vocational qualifications are accredited has changed, the assessment methods and delivery approaches have not. Centres need not worry too much about the framework itself as each qualification will have explicit instructions on how is can be accessed and should be delivered, assessed and claimed for. Each unit must have the facility to be assessed separately but, within a whole qualification, that does not mean that evidence needs to be generated for each unit as a matter of course. For some qualifications, such as NVQ-type qualifications, evidence can be used and referenced across a number of units. The qualification information provided by OCR will make clear what is needed. As each unit must have the facility to be assessed separately, it is possible that combining units may result in qualifications including more that one assessment model. However, OCR developers will be mindful of the appropriateness of this and any additional assessment burden when developing rules of combination. Each qualification will have its own documentation with full details on the website. As previously, named and unnamed registration routes will be available � details of which approach is available for each qualification will be included in our Administration Guides and in the qualification documentation. Also as before, unit entry and full qualification entry will be available.

7. Further information More information about the QCF is available on the following websites: www.ocr.org.uk/qcf www.ofqual.gov.uk

8. ICT Systems and Principles for IT Practitioners/Professionals (PROCOM) Developed to move the current IT Practitioner/Professional into the QCF Existing units redeveloped New units developed Available at Levels 2-3 Award, Certificate, Diploma are available at Level 2 & 3, plus Extended Diploma (Level 3 only) The QCF allows candidates to complete units for a qualification across levels A candidate working towards a level 3 qualification can achieve with units awarded at level 2 *

9. Examples of New and re-developed units

10. Vendor Units Please see e-skills/NDAQ website for full list of vendor units once accredited as there are too many to list. Microsoft � All Active units are available CompTIA � A wide range are available Cisco � CCNA Discovery/Exploration & IT Essentials are available Oracle � Includes Database Administrator VM Ware � Master Enterprise Administrator/Design

11. Level 2 ICT Systems and Principles for IT Practitioners/Professionals (PROCOM)

12. L2 Award/Certificate/Diploma achievement Award - A minimum of 8 credits must be achieved at Level 2. 70 � 105 GLH Certificate - A minimum of 15 credits must be achieved at Level 2. 135 -193 GLH Diploma - A minimum of 23 credits must be achieved at Level 2. 214 - 295 GLH

13. Level 3 ICT Systems and Principles for IT Practitioners/Professionals (PROCOM)

14. L3 Award/Certificate/Diploma/Extended Diploma achievement Award - A minimum of 8 credits must be achieved at Level 3. 65 � 105 GLH Certificate - A minimum of 15 credits must be achieved at Level 3. 150 � 190 GLH Diploma - A minimum of 30 credits must be achieved at Level 3. 285 � 390 GLH Extended Diploma - A minimum of 42 credits must be achieved at Level 3. 434 � 710 GLH

15. Spiky Profile � Cross LevelAchievement Level 3 Certificate in ICT Systems and Principles for IT Practitioners/Professionals (PROCOM) � example of achievement

16. Assessment Candidates are still required to meet all assessment objectives The ICT Systems and Principles for IT Practitioner/Professional (PROCOM) Qualification will continue to use the externally moderated submission method

17. Equivalences GCSE L2 Award � � B L2 Certificate � 2 B L2 Diploma � 3 B UCAS points 80 Level 3 Diploma 100 Level 3 Extended Diploma

18. Support All assessment material will be on the our website http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/type/qcf/procom/index.html Exemplar material to be developed for new units New handbooks and units available from Sept 2010

19. Summary