A matter of quality ...

I am often involved in standards conversations, nationally and with educational centres. No surprises there, it is a matter of the art of a senior verifier. But what often scares the s**t out of me is the fact that we can have excellent education that meets assessment standards yet when we unpick the teaching and the quality of the content is not fit for purpose when it comes to the detail, level and quality of the teaching.

So, it can be s**t teaching, not fit for any industrial purpose yet meet national standards.

Did that scare you ... currently a large awarding body is focussing on a large further education college and worried about the standards of assessment. Yet nowhere in this equation is the question ... is the teaching of our subject fit for purpose and is it of any value when our student escape education and try and make their way in the world when they use our qualification?

So, often do I see lowest common denominator teaching. So often do I encounter centres that meet standards, not by excellence instead by teaching as little as they can get away with. I must admit that when I encounter in my day job the work that other 'international' centres and nations accomplish I am somewhat 's**t scared' of what our students are actually learning in the UK.

If you are a centre that tries to teach computing to the best, tries to push national qualifications beyond their bounds 'I love you'. Yet so many are constrained by the desire to meet standards. Dispelling 'good teaching' and 'good practice' in the pursuit of results.

Sigh ....


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