GCE Digital Technology
Interview with CCEA
Subject Officer for
Digital Technology,
Michael McEnery
A Level Digital Technology has replaced A Level ICT.
Why the name change?
The shortage of digital skills in Northern Ireland and
beyond has been well documented with industry,
government and educational organisations indicating
the potential issues that could evolve if these concerns
are not addressed.
A House of Lords report ‘Make or Break: The UK’s
Digital Future (2015)’ stated that the “changing
demands from firms, consumers, students and
communities mean that apprenticeships, vocational
qualifications and degrees need to deliver more
general—and also specific—digital capabilities”.
NESTA, in a 2015 report on Young Digital Makers,
also highlighted the requirement for differing levels
of digital skills and the need to “mobilise a generation
of young people (that)… know how to make new
technology”.
In light of this, the new suite of CCEA Digital
Technology qualifications has been developed and
consulted with employers, teachers, higher education
representatives and learners. Following this feedback,
alongside the growing discussion on digital skills, it
became apparent that a refresh of the ICT content
would not suffice.
What are the key changes in the revised
qualification?
It is important that schools and teachers are assured
that there will be a significant element of continuity
with aspects of the legacy A Level ICT syllabus
included or updated for the new specification.
The major change will be the weighting of units: 80%
for external and 20% for internal assessment. There
will be no internal assessment at AS with two units
assessed through external examination. There is a
section on programming in Unit AS 1 Approaches to
Systems Development that will not require learning
of a particular high level programming language
but will require learners to understand fundamental
programming concepts such as selection and iteration.
In Unit AS 2 Fundamentals of Digital Technology
there will be a requirement to demonstrate an
understanding of HTML scripting. Both these
elements at AS and requirements for understanding
of structured query language (SQL) in both A2 units
demonstrate the shift towards a Digital Technology
qualification that incorporates aspects of computer
science and information technology.
How will this prepare learners for further study and
future careers?
CCEA’s Digital Technology qualifications alongside
A Level Software Systems Development are a direct
response to the calls of both policy makers and
business for digital skills and digital makers. The
revision of specifications will ensure that learners in
Northern Ireland have the opportunity to develop
skills at the cutting edge.
How will CCEA support teachers in the teaching of
this qualification?
It is worth highlighting that there is no requirement
for knowledge of a particular high level programming
language, however students will need an
understanding of programming concepts. I think
the best way for students to learn these concepts is
through practical exercise.
The challenge within schools is the deficit of teachers
who have high level programming skills or supporting
teachers who need to refresh their knowledge.
Furthermore, once upskilled, teachers need the
confidence to deliver the concepts to students in an
environment with a sound supporting infrastructure.
CCEA has been working with industry to develop
upskilling training. Many teachers have already
availed of our partnerships with Allstate NI and QUB,
both of whom delivered training to assist teachers
with the delivery of Software Systems Development.
The Digital Technology microsite provides a variety of
information and support elements to assist teachers
in the delivery of the subject. There will be a training
event in Spring 2017 to prepare teachers for the A2 2
unit Application Development.
Efforts will continue to develop further collaboration
with industry stakeholders to support teachers
through training for the new GCSE and CCEA will work
with the first cohort of teachers who received training
in June 2016 to ensure continuity of support for first
delivery of the subject in September 2017.
GCE Digital Technology
How has the revised specification been received?
There has been unanimous recognition that the
legacy syllabi needed updating. Those teachers that
availed of the C# training provided by AllState NI at
Belfast Metropolitan College in June 2016 will have
picked up the skills required for this element of AS
Digital Technology.
What changes can we expect in the revised GCSE
Digital Technology?
GCSE Digital Technology will incorporate aspects of
both computer science and information technology.
It will explore how technology can be used to
effectively create, store, process, analyse and present
information in a digital context. There will be a
compulsory core of Digital Technology knowledge
which students will learn followed by two possible
routes; multimedia or programming (see diagram).
These are directly linked in pathway to A Level
Digital Technology and A Level Software Systems
Development.
Optional routes in GCSE Digital Technology (first teaching September 2017)
Unit 1
(Compulsory core)
Digital Technology
Multimedia Route
Programming Route
Unit 2
Digital Authoring
Concepts
Unit 4
Digital Development
Concepts
OR
Unit 3
Digital Authoring
Practice
Unit 5
Digital Development
Practice
GCSE Digital Technology
(Multimedia)
GCSE Digital Technology
(Programming)