Dear TagTeacherNet Member,

Coursework is again in the spotlight following the QCA's announcement of changes which will be introduced in September 2009. Take a look at our focus for a summary of the changes.

We have an English slant in this week's newsletter with a very interesting case study from Jack Kenny about using an animation program to encourage skills in English and Geography in Hundred of Hoo School, Medway. We've also included links to the English resource area in TAG Teachernet.

Our site spotlight features a very informative site about Podcasting. This is a topic that is being talked about a great deal so do check it out for more information. Please contact me if you have any websites or resources you would like us to feature. I know that we have recommendations on the Grapevine as well so do check that out or post your ideas there.Please drop us a line on editor@tagteacher.net.

Best wishes,

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) announced on 6th October that changes were to be made to the use of coursework in GCSE qualifications. This follows a report on coursework published in November last year and a subject by subject review.

The following changes will be made to coursework:

• In business studies, classical subjects, economics, English literature, geography, history, modern foreign languages, religious studies and social sciences, there should no longer be coursework that is teacher set and marked. It should be replaced by controlled assessments.
• In art & design, design & technology, home economics, music and physical education, internal assessments should continue with stronger safeguards.
• Decisions about English and ICT should be made once the role of functional skills and their assessment arrangements are clearer.
• Mathematics coursework will be removed from GCSE criteria.
• Coursework arrangements for science will remain unchanged, due to the revised programme of study at GCSE introduced for first teaching in September 2006.

The changes will be introduced in September 2009, with the exception of mathematics where the change will commence from September 2007. This follows an announcement to this effect by Alan Johnson, the Education Secretary, at the Labour Party conference last month. He stated that he wanted parents and students to see the qualifications as fair and robust and not open to cheats.

Coursework has had a chequered past with many questioning its appropriateness since it was introduced in the late 1980's when GCSEs replaced O Levels.

There has also been a review of coursework in GCE AS/A level and consulation has been carried out earlier this year with qualification bodies, teachers and subject associations. The changes will be announced in December though there is more information on the QCA website which can be accessed here.

For more information click here to see the QCA website and links to subject by subject reviews. For comment on coursework see the BBC's article here. To add to the Grapevine discussion click here.

Kahootz is an animation software package that enables students to create and share animated videos.  Exceptional in that it enables all abilities to create stories, Kahootz encourages the design of video sequences and the invention of three-dimensional environments that allow students to use animation easily.

Moya Dean, the LA ICT consultant in Medway, was introduced to Kahootz by Peter Maggs one of the creators and she was impressed by the scope of the program and could see the implications.  Moya felt that it could be a tool to address the problem in the Medway towns with boys’ writing and she saw Kahootz as a structured way of engaging students. The Hundred of Hoo School was chosen to host a project to explore the use of the software as it is one of the largest secondary schools in Medway and the school has a strong interest in media work which it was felt Kahootz would fit into.

In addition, the school has been developing ICT across the curriculum. The main areas of use of Kahootz have been in the English department and in Geography. 

The English teachers see Kahootz as a more child friendly version of Flash animation. They feel that the program has a crucial role in the early stages of media education and has a real contribution to make on media literacy.  They argue that students get a great deal out of working with the program as some children find it hard to express themselves through reading and writing.  They feel the program can help students to express themselves visually.

In Geography the program has been used with a wide range of students and the teacher emphasised how adaptable the program is to all levels of ability. Year 7 has used the program and they have learnt it easily.   It has also been used successfully with a less able group to design the kind of environments they would like to live in.  Literacy is a substantial problem with that group and Kahootz gives them a secure structure to work inside.  The teacher can structure the program so that the challenges offered to the students are within their ability and are not daunting.

For more information and the case study in full please click here.

For more information about Kahootz click here.

What is all the buzz about podcasting? What is podcasting, and why is it relevant to education? This site helps to explain what podcasting is in a very straightforward and helpful way. It points you in the direction of the software and hardware you might need and is very useful. It is an American site but has great relelvance to schools in the UK as well.

Go to http://www.k12handhelds.com/podcasting.php or click here.

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