Assessment Matters

Review of External Assessment for Technology for Implementation in 2011
A2010/016 - 31 Aug 2010

A Ministry of Education and New Zealand Qualifications Authority joint working group was formed earlier this year to refine the focus of assessment for Technology externally assessed achievement standards. This includes clarification of appropriate evidence required for assessment of each standard. The work is being done in conjunction with the Alignment of Standards project as there has been a significant change in the standards available due to developments in the Technology curriculum.

The joint working group has produced the following advice for teachers.

1. The externally assessed Technology Achievement Standards 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.10, 1.40, 1.44 require candidates to demonstrate conceptual understanding. External assessment of these standards will follow Common Assessment Guides that relate to specific standards. 

2. Common Assessment Guides for Achievement Standards 1.40 and 1.44 are intended for students engaged in Digital Technology courses. Common Assessment Guides for the generic Technology achievement standards 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, and 1.10 are intended for all students engaged in any Technology course.

• Common Assessment Guides will not be time bound.
• Common Assessment Guides will be reviewed annually and published with the Assessment Specifications in December each year to guide assessment in the following year.

Common Assessment Guides will provide questions that guide the selection of the evidence required by the standard. The questions will be derived directly from the achievement criteria and will provide guidance to assist candidates to reliably demonstrate the understanding they have developed within their Technology course

Trial Common Assessment Guides for external assessment are under development and drafts will be published in the first week of September for consultation and planning purposes. Post-consultation versions of the Common Assessment Guides will be published in early November for planning purposes, with exemplars of student work being added as they become available. Final publication of the Common Assessment Guides for 2011 will occur with the Assessment Specifications in December 2010.

3. Evidence for each externally assessed standard will be required to be submitted in a folder provided by NZQA.  It will take the form of a report written specifically for that standard. The volume of evidence will be appropriately limited by the requirements of the report.

4. As in previous years, the Assessment Specifications will be sufficiently flexible to allow for a variety of media to appear in the candidate’s submission.

5. A reference group has been formed to provide further guidance and advice on the development of the Common Assessment Guides. Teachers are invited to comment on this advice by email to: examinations@nzqa.govt.nz, with the subject line Technology Assessment.

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