Hello, this is a short introduction
to the redeveloped Tech Award in
Digital Information Technology,
or as we like to call it DIT.
My name is Tim Brady.
I'm the Subject Advisor for Computer
Science and IT qualifications at Pearson,
I've been supporting teachers
running the DIT for some time now,
and I'm delighted at the way this
redeveloped version has come out.
I think it's an improvement and
I'll update you briefly on what
Each component has been changed
to make up the qualification.
So the redeveloped tech award in
digital information technology has
retained the same three component
structure as a current Tech Award.
Components one and two are each
36 guided learning hours.
And each worth 30% of the qualification grade.
They are assessed using the new
Pearson Set Assignments or Psas.
They're marked internally by you,
the teacher and moderated by Pearson.
The PSAs are released in November of
each year and assessed in May, June
from 2023,
so you have plenty of flexibility
within your programme to prepare for,
administer and mark the assessments.
The final component, component three is 48
guided learning hours worth 40% of
the overall qualification grade and
it's externally assessed by Pearson.
It is an hour and a half
Written examination available
twice each year.
There's a session in January,
February and then a summer assessment.
Each assessment in the qualification
is marked out of 60 available marks.
In component one,
learners will develop their
understanding of what makes an
effective user interface and how
to effectively manage a project.
Then using this, understand how to plan,
design and create a user interface. Component
One is exploring user interface design
principles and project planning techniques.
The change the changes are mostly
in learning aims B and C see.
In learning aims B
for example,
the updated spec now states Agile
and Scrum methodologies.
Instead of iterative
methodologies we originally wanted
to keep the methodology used open.
However,
the digital industry often specifies
an understanding of Agile and Scrum.
So in turn,
we've decided to become more specific too.
Components one and two are assessed
through non exam internal assessments
which have been designed to demonstrate
application of the conceptual
knowledge found in the content through
realistic tasks and activities and
in doing so to deepen learning by
connecting knowledge and practise.
Due to the new technical
requirements from the DfE,
there are some changes to the assessment
of these components that will be
different to what teachers of the
current Tech Award have been used to.
Assignments used for summative
assessment must now be set
by the awarding organisation,
so the old assignment briefs have been
replaced by Pearson Set Assignments or PSAs.
These are released in November each year.
Component two focuses on helping
learners understand the characteristics
of data and information.
And how they help organisations
in decision-making.
They will use data manipulation
methods to create a dashboard to
present and draw conclusions from data.
Assessment for component two is comprised
of three tasks that take approximately
7 supervised hours to complete.
Learners will explore the suitability of
two given data collection methods used
by an organisation for a given data set.
Carry out data manipulation and
processing to create a dashboard,
analyse their data set and
present their findings.
The externally assessed component 3 which is
called Effective Digital Working Practises
is drawing on knowledge and
understanding and skills acquired and
developed across the qualification.
It requires learners to select
and integrate knowledge and
understanding from other components.
And apply it to given scenarios or context.
It's assessed through a written exam
that is set and marked by Pearson.
The supervised assessment period
is a maximum of One hour 30 minutes
and should be arranged in the
period timetable by Pearson.
The assessment availability is
Jan Slash Feb and May June, first.
Assessments are in Jan,
February of 2024.
The content for component three was reviewed,
but no changes have been made.
In terms of assessment.
The overall basic purpose and nature
of the assessment has not changed,
however,
they've been small changes to improve the
delivery and functionality of the assessment.
Language used for the questions has been
amended to try and make them more clear.
And the command words have been
simplified to make it easier for learners
to understand what is required in
response to different question types.
It's also true to say that, as before,
it remains an hour and 30 minutes.
It remains 60 marks.
It's still four questions.
As previously, no multiple choice questions.
And now No 9 mark question.
But there are three six mark
questions up from previously,
where there were two.
We encourage you to look through
the draft specification,
the Pearson Set assignments and SAM's
which are available on the Pearson website.
And if you have further questions
or are preparing to deliver
and need further support,
please don't hesitate to get
in touch with us.
You can contact your subject
advisor that's me, Tim Brady by
emailing teaching ICT at pearson.com.
You can also attend one of our upcoming
Getting Started events early next year,
where will be covering the
qualification assessments in more
depth and answering further questions.
You can book by visiting the Training
from Pearson page on the Pearson website.
Thank you very much and I hope to see
you in one of our upcoming events.