Coursework 2004 This pilot GCSE has been a steep learning curve for all concerned. It is to the credit of all those involved, both staff and candidates,

Coursework 2004Coursework 2004‘‘This pilot GCSE has been a This pilot GCSE has been a steep learning curve for all steep learning curve for all

concerned. It is to the credit concerned. It is to the credit of all those involved, both of all those involved, both

staff and candidates, that this staff and candidates, that this report is able to identify some report is able to identify some

excellent practice and excellent practice and provide some positive provide some positive

feedback for future cohorts.’feedback for future cohorts.’

What worked well?What worked well? 1. PowerPoint presentations1. PowerPoint presentations

+ innovative use of ICTinnovative use of ICT+ combines images / words+ combines images / words+ allows students to shape their own work + allows students to shape their own work

moremore

- can be rather simplisticcan be rather simplistic- too few / too many slidestoo few / too many slides

What worked well?What worked well?2. Posters2. Posters

+ good use of imagery, including + good use of imagery, including photographsphotographs

+ allows for detailed annotation+ allows for detailed annotation

- sometimes with no annotation / sometimes with no annotation / commentcomment

- could become very descriptivecould become very descriptive

What worked well?What worked well?3. Video evidence3. Video evidence

+ effective means of recording some types of worktypes of work

- sound quality sometimes poorsound quality sometimes poor- marking guidelines for moderators marking guidelines for moderators

need to be very student specificneed to be very student specific

What worked well?What worked well?4. ‘Traditional’ written tasks4. ‘Traditional’ written tasks

+ encourages detailed analysis – encourages detailed analysis – particularly for knowledge marksparticularly for knowledge marks

+ many students may be more + many students may be more comfortable with this stylecomfortable with this style

- word limit (1500 words for the three word limit (1500 words for the three pieces)pieces)

- can be difficult to display initiative / can be difficult to display initiative / complex skillscomplex skills

Other issues 1Other issues 1

• ‘‘It was most useful to have sight of It was most useful to have sight of the pupil instruction sheets for each the pupil instruction sheets for each of the coursework pieces. This of the coursework pieces. This enabled the Moderator to fully enabled the Moderator to fully understand the context of the work understand the context of the work and allowed the moderation process and allowed the moderation process to run smoothly. All Centres are to to run smoothly. All Centres are to be encouraged to include these with be encouraged to include these with their sample in future years.’their sample in future years.’

Other issues 2Other issues 2

• ‘‘where more than one piece of work where more than one piece of work is completed, candidates and is completed, candidates and teachers should select one item from teachers should select one item from each theme in the short course for each theme in the short course for inclusion in the portfolio.’inclusion in the portfolio.’

Other issues 3Other issues 3

• ‘‘In order to access the higher mark band In order to access the higher mark band candidates must display skills, approaches candidates must display skills, approaches and techniques that are more complex. It is and techniques that are more complex. It is this one word that should help Centres this one word that should help Centres discriminate between candidates. The use discriminate between candidates. The use of basic, one-sentence descriptive comment of basic, one-sentence descriptive comment does not constitute the required does not constitute the required complexity, and equally it is difficult to give complexity, and equally it is difficult to give maximum credit for work that has quite maximum credit for work that has quite obviously been very closely guided by obviously been very closely guided by staff.’staff.’

Other issues 4Other issues 4

• ‘‘Where more that one teacher is Where more that one teacher is involved in the assessment process it involved in the assessment process it is vital that internal moderation is is vital that internal moderation is carried out… Equally, all marks carried out… Equally, all marks awarded by staff are subject to the awarded by staff are subject to the moderation process, so it is moderation process, so it is notnot advisable to share these with advisable to share these with students prior to results.’students prior to results.’

Other issues 5Other issues 5

• Sending incorrect MS1 documentation to Sending incorrect MS1 documentation to the Moderator. The top copy should go to the Moderator. The top copy should go to Cambridge, the middle copy to the Cambridge, the middle copy to the Moderator and the yellow, bottom copy is Moderator and the yellow, bottom copy is retained by the Centre.retained by the Centre.

• Arithmetical errors when adding up Arithmetical errors when adding up candidate marks or when transposing candidate marks or when transposing them between the work and the MS1.them between the work and the MS1.

• Entering Zero or Absent on the MS1. Zero Entering Zero or Absent on the MS1. Zero means that work has been submitted but means that work has been submitted but has no geographical value, whereas has no geographical value, whereas absent means that the candidate has absent means that the candidate has submitted no work.submitted no work.

Good practice…Good practice…

• Enclose briefing sheets with Enclose briefing sheets with candidates work so that the candidates work so that the contextcontext of the work is clear for the moderatorof the work is clear for the moderator

• Student name and candidate number Student name and candidate number on all work please – very difficult to on all work please – very difficult to moderate otherwise…moderate otherwise…

• Structured, but open-ended tasks Structured, but open-ended tasks allow candidates to perform to their allow candidates to perform to their potentialpotential

Coursework ~ the future…Coursework ~ the future…

• continue to encourage candidates to continue to encourage candidates to develop innovative ways of develop innovative ways of presenting courseworkpresenting coursework

• video / DVD evidence is fine – but video / DVD evidence is fine – but keep to reasonable lengths please!keep to reasonable lengths please!

• digital photos of models etc. are digital photos of models etc. are perfectly acceptable – indeed very perfectly acceptable – indeed very welcome!welcome!

And finally…keep the coursework And finally…keep the coursework manageable – for the students manageable – for the students

and for you! and for you! Reproduced by kind permission of PRIVATE EYE/Russell. Copyright Pressdram 2004. Reproduced by kind permission of PRIVATE EYE/Russell. Copyright Pressdram 2004.

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