FIELD                        SCIENCES

 

Review of Agricultural and Horticultural Science Level 2 achievement standards

 

Subfield            Science

Domain

Id

Subject reference

Agricultural and Horticultural Science

90450-90456

Agricultural and Horticultural Science 2.1-2.5, Agricultural Science 2.6, Horticultural Science 2.7

 

The Ministry of Education and the Secondary Education Group Assessment business unit of NZQA have completed a review of the achievement standards listed above that were registered in October 2002.

 

New Registration date                        November 2004

 

Date new versions published                        November 2004

 

Planned review date                        March 2007

 

Summary of review and consultation process

 

This review is part of the planned cycle of review that takes place after the first year of use of the achievement standards.

·        Initial feedback and comments were collated from teachers/schools, moderators, the National Assessment Panel, professional development facilitators, material developers, and other stakeholders.

·        This information was reviewed by subject experts and recommendations were made in March 2004.

·        The recommendations were sent out for consultation to subject networks, including teachers, assessors, moderators, facilitators, and advisors in May 2004.

 

Main changes resulting from the review

 

The review process has resulted in the following modifications to the achievement standards:

·        AS90450 - changes have been made to the standard, without changing the intent, to align with similar standards in the Agricultural and Horticultural Science domain at Level 1, and the Science and Biology domains at Level 2.  This means the title has been changed, and the achievement criteria have been reduced to a single criterion.  Corresponding changes have also been made to the explanatory notes.

·        AS90451 and AS90452 - changes have been made to the respective title, criteria, and explanatory notes to clarify each standard.

·        AS90453 - the title has been changed, and the first achievement criterion has been deleted.  Changes have been made to the remaining criteria without changing the intent of the standard.  Corresponding changes have been made to the explanatory notes.

·        AS90454 - the title has been changed, and changes have been made to the criteria.  Some changes have been made to the explanatory notes.

·        AS90455 - the first achievement criterion has been deleted and changes have been made to the second criterion.  Corresponding changes have been made to the explanatory notes.

·        AS90456 - the title, the order and wording of the achievement criteria, and the explanatory notes have been changed.

 

Impact on existing provider accreditations

 

None.

 

Impact on Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP)

 

None.

 

Impact on existing qualifications

 

None.

 

Impact of changes on NCEA Exclusions List

 

None.

 

Summary of main changes to achievement standards' Ids, classification, titles, levels, and credits

 

The following summary shows the changes made to the achievement standards as a result of the review.  All changes are in bold.

 

Key to review category

 

A

Dates changed, but no other changes are made - the replacement achievement standard carries the same Id and a new version number

B

Changes made, but the overall outcome remains the same - the replacement achievement standard carries the same Id and a new version number

C

Major changes that necessitate the registration of a replacement achievement standard with a new Id

D

Achievement standard will expire and not be replaced

 

Subfield            Science

Domain            Agricultural and Horticultural Science

Id

Title

Level

Credit

Review Category

90450

Carry out a practical agricultural or horticultural investigation with supervision

Carry out a practical agriculture or horticulture investigation with supervision

2

4

B

90451

Describe physical factors of the environment and techniques used to modify these for plant production

Describe physical factors of the environment and techniques used to modify them for plant production

2

4

B

90452

Describe management practice(s) used to optimise the soil water/air ratio for plant processes

Describe how techniques used to modify soil water content optimise primary production

2

4

B

90453

Describe methods used to modify livestock reproduction or plant propagation

Describe modification of livestock reproduction or plant propagation to improve productivity

2

4

B

90454

Describe growth and development and productivity in livestock or plants

Describe manipulations to influence growth and development, and productivity, in livestock or plants

2

4

B

90455

Describe how livestock behaviour impacts on productivity

2

4

B

90456

Examine and redesign landscaped area(s)

Describe and redesign landscaped sites

2

4

B