Moderator's Newsletter

• March 2012
• August 2011
• February 2010

February 2010

Contents

• Business Studies Curriculum Update
• Level 1 TKI resources
• Clarifications Document
• Modified TKI resources and own materials
• Teacher Selected Materials

Business Studies Curriculum Update 

Teaching and Learning Guidelines for Business Studies have been developed and are now available on TKI for teachers to access. Level 1 Sample assessment resources have been created with content derived from the guidelines. Each internal assessment provides a context in which the assessment should be delivered.

Level 2 resources are currently being produced and will be available for consultation sometime soon.

Level 1 TKI resources 

The level 1 achievement standards were registered on the framework in November 2009. Sample assessment resources have been written. These can be found at Business Studies assessment resources on TKI.

The preference has been to develop assessment resources that can be adapted to the needs of the teaching and assessment programme.

Clarifications Document 

The Clarifications Document is currently being developed. The commentary provided in the Clarifications Document is intended to simplify and unpack the achievement criteria for each of the internally assessed Level 1 Business Studies standards.

Modified TKI resources and own materials 

An increasing number of significantly modified or high quality school-generated resources are being received for moderation. Departments are encouraged to adapt and develop their own assessment activities rather than use generic or exemplar materials without modification. Where departments generate their own resources that are based on the specific context, interests, and expertise of the school, the level of student engagement and quality of learner samples is often very high. The most successful of these materials often result in more authentic and diverse student work.

Teacher selected materials 

A reminder that for any standard that has been selected for moderation, teachers are able to include additional scripts for the submitted task. When submitting these scripts teachers need to complete the relevant section of the secondary moderation cover sheet and include a specific question relating to the scripts for which clarification is sought.

Specific questions can be asked about the samples to help further define the grade boundaries and clarify issues in the assessment of that work. The feedback provided from the moderator does not form part of the official moderation report and is designed to be more developmental in nature.

Changes from September 2009 (Circular A2009/027)

• The number of samples of student work for optional teacher selected evidence has been increased. Teachers may now send up to ten samples per standard per year.
• The samples for optional evidence feedback can relate to any standard, not just the standard selected for external moderation.
• The samples can be sent at any time throughout the year, not just at the time of the school submission date.
• The samples do not have to be accompanied by other assessment materials unless the teacher believes they would assist the moderator in understanding their question
• There is no specific turnaround time for samples sent outside the school submission date as this will depend on moderator capacity.
• For samples sent outside of the school submission date a new cover sheet has been developed: Secondary Moderation Cover Sheet Teacher Selected Assessed Work Only
  

If standards that you require clarification on have not been selected for external moderation this year, take advantage of the opportunity to send in student work with specific questions to clarify your understanding.