Isabel we have chosen a sample assessment material from unit 36 which is our client
server computing systems. This is a level 5 unit and this assessment revolves around
a investigations type project. Okay great. How many learning outcomes does the SAM cover?
Let us have a look. So it is covering two learning outcomes: learning outcome 1 and
learning outcome 2. The submission format is that the students are expected to produce
an individual written report and in the submission format there is advice about font, sizes,
layout, the form or style that should be used and referencing systems with the recommended
limit of 10 pages. I mean it is an investigative report. I expect
to see in the submission format and guidance about the graphical representation and visuals,
so charts and data in graphs is that something that would be appropriate. So at the submission
format we need to include the fact that how will they go about presenting the actual investigative
element. Yeah this is that. Ok so why do not we have a look at the assignment brief and
then return to the submission format and revisit that when we know what it is that they are
expected to produce. Good point. As we might be making amendments to the assignment brief
that would have to be highlighted in the submission format as well. Okay so this is the assignment
brief I have had a look and what I have noted is that you have a given record covered from
the internet as first point for the students, but are the students expected to do that themselves
or is that going to be provided to them that information? We could provide them with that
data but I think given that this is a level 5 unit given all the other content that the
students have covered up to this point and given the time of the year that they are doing
this assignment I think it is more appropriate to expect the students to be able to produce
that data themselves. Yeah at level 5 you would expect that you would think they were
capable of doing so. And the other thing is just in the written format there it talk about
options for interface using Wireshark but I know some students will use other tools
so are we just specifying that they use Wireshark and stipulating that or are we allowing them
to use their own tools as well? I think that is something that we can leave to the discretion
of the student. I think if we rewrite this section and say you know options for example
Wireshark cause as you say other students will have other tools that they are used to
and prefer to use, so I think that we can use that as an example and students can chose
their own tool. But I think from a tutor perspective you would need to be aware of what your student
is using. And if a student was choosing a tool that was not appropriate maybe have a
chat with them support them, guide them in the right direction of what it is they should
be using. Yeah I agree actually if we are allowing them to choose their own tools the
tutor would have to monitor that and make sure that they have chosen the appropriate
ones. Alright just looking at the report then we have got seven elements the report and
do you think those are sufficient at meeting all the criteria that is given. So let us
have a look at the assessment criteria that go with LO1 and LO2 because when I am looking
through here what I am seeing is for example in M2 we have got design a model and that
leads on to the D1 which is design a realistic model to realise a function but actually going
back looking at these seven points here you have got explain and list particular models
but I am not seeing any reference to actually designing any model. I am not sure that we
are covering sufficiently there the M2 and D1. Okay I agree I think that we have all
the other assessment criteria covered but I do not think it is very clear where M2 and
D1 are being evidenced. So I think a possible solution to this is have our report as part
1 of our assignment and create a new part 2 where the student actually produces that
design schematic to allow them access to M2 and D1 in this particular assignment. Yeah
I agree that is a good way forward in actually splitting that up. So going back then to the
submission format we have to make it very clear in the instructions given what would
be related to part 1 and what would be related to part 2. So we will have submission format
part 1 we will keep all this element of how to go about the report we want them to produce
we would include details of how to produce the evidence for the investigation that they
have done the data that they have captured maybe how they went about capturing it what
it is that they have taken out of this data and then in part 2 then we can discuss what
we will cover in part 2. Just looking at part 1 we have here we have said that they are
going to use the Harvard referencing system will we suggest a specific referencing system?
It is good practice to give them a reference system. I mean we actually have Harvard referencing
system in the SA because clearly that supports progress to level 6 for students here in the
UK but these are going to be delivered internationally so I think if there is another reference system
that is appropriate for a particular country that would support progression of students
in that particular destination then that would be appropriate as well. So we are not saying
it has to be Harvard referencing system but we do need to be specifying a reference system
in there and also bibliography has to be included with all work that is submitted. So we might
say reference using a referencing system for example the Harvard referencing system and
it also says that the recommended limit is 10 pages. Do you feel that is a good amount
of information for them to get across what is they want to them to get across? It is
good practice as well not just to highlight the referencing system but also to accept
the parameters of either the page limit or the word count can be given as well that is
acceptable so you are clearly setting the parameters for the student so they know what
input needs to be put in what the expectation is in that particular submission. As long
as we are not penalising the students on not meeting word count or the page limit but is
there as guidance. Then for part 2 as submission format I think the best way to submit that
is for the students to actually produce the design itself. So it might a in a PowerPoint
slide or on a poster with the view that the student will present that design to their
tutor. Yeah I agree. I mean the tutor then can ask them questions when they do the submission
and make it clear again in the instructions that they will be submitting not just the
slides but the speaker notes or their presentation notes. Okay. Okay.