Assessment Matters

NCEA and Changes to the Learning Area of Technology
A2010/015 - 31 Aug 2010

What has changed in the Learning Area and why?

The Technology learning area in the New Zealand Curriculum (NZC) provides opportunities for coherent progression of student learning across Years 1 - 13.

This learning area is now structured around the following three strands - the Nature of Technology, Technological Knowledge, and Technological Practice.  The knowledge and practices captured in these strands make up what is referred to as Generic Technology.

Additional bodies of knowledge and skills have also been developed at Curriculum levels 6 – 8 to reflect a range of key technologies, support the diversity of student interest, and to increase the depth of learning. These supplement the NZC for Generic Technology and provide a base for four specialist categories – Construction and Mechanical Technologies, Design and Visual Communication Technologies, Digital Technologies, and Processing Technologies. Learning programmes for students in years 11 to 13 should select from across Generic and specialist categories in ways that best suit student learning needs and future pathways.

All schools must offer and all students must undertake a programme of learning in Technology based on the NZC up to and including Year 10.  Learning programmes in Technology for students in Years 11 - 13 should be based, in the first instance, on the NZC and be supported by additional Technology-related material as appropriate. Programmes may include working towards industry training qualifications.

Technology programmes should allow students the opportunity to develop a technological literacy through active involvement in: the purposeful design and making of technological outcomes; developing understanding of technological knowledge; and considering the role and effects of technology on people, society and the environment.

Secondary school Technology programmes should allow for multi-level teaching for diverse learners, and provide pathways for all students that lead into employment or further specialised study. Programmes should be well connected to students, their whanau and community allowing students to achieve success and be supported in their next learning steps.

What has changed for NCEA and Technology?

The Technology matrix of achievement standards provides a comprehensive range of generic and specialist assessment tools for a wide range of learning outcomes in Technology. Technology achievement standards can be accessed on the TKI website.

Forty-one newly aligned Technology level 1 achievement standards are now available for planning purposes. Draft level 2 achievement standards have also been developed and are currently out for consultation.

Assessment resources are being developed to support teacher understandings of the standards. Resources to be completed in December 2010 for the internally assessed

standards include; two resources for each Generic Technology standard, two resources for each specialist standard in Design and Visual Communication Technologies, and a minimum of one resource for each of the remaining specialist standards. A second resource for each specialist standard is due to be completed in March 2011.

A review of external assessment procedures in Technology has recently taken place and specific advice about arrangements for 2011 is available in NZQA Assessment Matters circular A2010/016.

This circular provides information about new Common Assessment Guides, which give advice and guidance to teachers for the assessment of the new externally assessed generic standards 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.10, and the new Digital Technologies specialist standards 1.40 and 1.44. Externally assessed standards 1.30, 1.31, 1.32 from the Design and Visual Communication specialist category will continue to be assessed via portfolio. One assessment resource for each of these externally assessed standards will also be completed by December 2010.

What support is available to support teachers with these changes for NCEA?

Professional development in Technology will be supported through:

• National Professional Development Team
  Supporting School Support Services advisers, subject associations (TENZ, NZGTTA, HETTANZ, NZACDITT), and regional clusters to access key messages in Technology education.
  – National Professional Development Manager: Cliff Harwood
• Curriculum Support Project
  – Supporting teacher and industry experts to provide targeted professional development to regional clusters of teachers.  Available nationally: contact the National Coordinator Technology Education, Niall Dinning
• Techlink website
  – Supporting teacher practice and student understanding through case studies of classroom and industry practice alongside detailed support for the Technology curriculum.  A partnership project with the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand.
• Digital Technology Symposium
  – Supporting professional development and dialogue for teachers of digital technologies programmes.  A joint project with Cognition Consulting and digital technology industries through the NZICT Group, in November 2010.
• Digital Technologies professional development
  – Supporting regional Digital Technologies clusters and the New Zealand Association of Computing and Digital Technology Teachers (NZACDITT) to develop teaching and learning and assessment material for Digital Technologies programmes. A joint project with NZACDITT.
• Teaching and Learning Guide
  – A Teaching and Learning Guide for Technology, which includes guidance for the specialist categories, will be available from November 2010.

Enquiries

Please refer any enquiries relating to this circular to the National Assessment Facilitator for Technology.

Scott Telfer
National Assessment Facilitator
Telephone: 04 463 3039
Fax: 04 463 3113
Email: scott.telfer@nzqa.govt.nz