NCEA resource kit

• Introduction
• Information for teachers
• Course planning
• Teacher support
• Managing internal assessment
• Preparing statistical reports
• Information for students
• NCEA and Scholarship exams
• Literacy and numeracy
• Workload busters

Introduction

The Hon Anne Tolley, Minister of Education recently announced two professional support days for teachers. The purpose of these days is for teachers and schools to plan and prepare for the implementation of the new curriculum-aligned standards.

It is expected that schools will use one of these professional support days in July or August and the other at the end of the year, though each school has the discretion to use these days when it best suits them. There may be some benefit for schools to align on a regional basis to use these professional support days. Most schools are likely to have a good idea about how they will use the two professional support days. However, some schools may want some guidance to support their preparation for the implementation of the new curriculum-aligned standards. To this end NZQA has developed an optional NCEA Resource Kit with a series of help-modules on PDF. The modules have been created so they can be delivered as a package, or separately, as the school sees fit; to the whole staff, groups or individuals.

The NCEA Resource Kit help-modules include:

1. Information for teachers - How teachers can find key information and resources on NZQA and Ministry of Education websites to keep informed and plan for the implementation of the newly aligned standards.

2. Course planning - The pathway from Curriculum to Assessment. Key information for planning courses.

3. Teacher support - Identifying key avenues of support for teachers

4. Managing internal assessment - Exploring strategies to reduce teacher workload when managing internal assessment in their subject or department.

5. Preparing statistical reports - Aimed at teachers or Heads of Department, this resource helps to explain how to create a simple report for a subject and how to make comparisons using the NZQA statistics available online.

6. Information for students - This outlines how teachers can help students be better prepared for both internal and external assessment.

7. NCEA and scholarship exams - How to find key resources available to help with planning and preparation for external examinations.

8. Literacy & numeracy – new requirements for 2011 and how to find key information.

9. Workload Busters – a pamphlet/poster to address additional workload myths in schools.

The use of the NCEA Resource Kit is optional; it will remain available on NZQA’s website for other more general uses such as: staff meetings, teacher induction, department meetings, and for curriculum leaders.

NZQA believes that most teachers will find some benefit by reviewing the material in the NCEA Resource Kit as it will help them locate essential resources and provides strategies on how to reduce workload. NZQA strongly encourages schools to make the NCEA Resource Kit widely known to their staff. Schools who have evaluated the contents said 'anything that helps is great' and 'it is informative and easy to use'.

We would welcome any suggestions for further help-modules to add to the NCEA resource kit.  You can submit these ideas on our feedback page.

The covering letter (PDF, 11KB) sent to Schools re this kit is available.