Diplomas: Strand 2 The Diploma Experience

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Diplomas Strand 2 The Diploma Experience

• Joanne Courtney
• Jill Powell

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Context

• From September 2003 we have delivered the
  Applied subjects in the following areas
• Applied Business
• Applied ICT
• Health Social Care
• Leisure Tourism
• (Applied Science)

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Future developments

• Full migration of all four areas to linked
  Diploma lines

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Current developments

• Funding for Strands 1 and 2 has been allocated
• Strand 2 small numbers 5 HSC (possible
  increase to 7), 3 ICT. Total10
• Rationale for choice of subject areas for Strand
  2 roll out dates for IT and SHD being September
  2008
• However

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The reality is .

• In Bradford the only Diploma being rolled out
  currently is Creative and Media.

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Challenges

• Due to the regional status of Diplomas delivering
  the Strand 2 additional experience offer has
  proved very challenging.
• Ensuring we will be compliant has proved to be
  a major part of that challenge.

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Where did we start?

• Initially
• By considering the four TDA Strand 2 outcomes and
  their suggested experiences
• and then .

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..

• By creating networks with local consortia and
  other relevant agencies
• As an HE in FE University Centre we drew on our
  FE colleges involvement in Diploma development
• Building on our own established good practice in
  delivering 14-19 ITT, including work related
  learning and relating school based learning to
  life experience

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What have we done so far?

• Delivered in-house lectures on aspects of the
  Diplomas to all Secondary trainees and colleagues
• Invited guest speakers (Consortia Leaders,
  Executive Officer of CLE) to deliver
  workshops/lectures
• Provided trainees with copies of subject area
  Diploma specifications

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• Devised additional experience task booklets to
  enable trainees to address TDA outcomes
• One of these tasks is for S2 trainees to research
  and deliver a workshop on Diploma developments to
  S1 colleagues
• Visits arranged to local schools and colleges
  that have links to future Diploma developments

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What is ongoing?

• S2 trainees to observe/shadow a CM tutor in
  College and school
• S2 trainees to observe/shadow a CM student in
  College and school
• Development of workshops for trainees in
  integrating functional skills, and personal,
  learning and thinking skills into their lesson
  planning for placement 2

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• Evaluation of trainees industrial/commercial
  experience to date.
• Issue here is that an effective needs analysis
  tool still requires development (a national
  challenge?)

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What needs further development?

• Making arrangements for trainees to attend
  regional Consortia meetings
• Devising activities for trainees to develop
  skills of assessment and moderation of Diplomas
  (exemplar material needed)
• Making more/stronger links with outside school
  settings

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What needs further thought?

• Will the profile of the current secondary/14-19
  training year have to change?
• What is the value of training Diploma teachers as
  opposed to subject specialist teachers?