Hi All
Last week was pretty intensive for some teachers together with folk from tertiary,  MOE and NZQA. The good news, however, is that we have some draft Achievement standards (AS)  for Digital Technologies. Briefly the process was: from the Body of Knowledge (BoK), derive Learning Objectives (LO) with indicators; these LO then lead onto draft Teaching and Learning Guides (TLG) and draft AS.
All the learning spaces under the Technology Learning Area were present, and there was good discussion and debate. The names of subject/strand/course/programme are to be discussed at a national hui in Jabuary with reps from MOE, NZQA, IPENZ, NZICT, DTEP and other stakeholders. Suffice to say that Digital Technologies is a definite space under Technology Learning Area, and under DT there are five clear specialist areas (Digital Information, Dig. Media,  Dig. Infrastructure, Prog and Comp Sc, and Electronics).
There was a constant iterative process between LO's in TLG with indicators and the AS while writing and discussion took place. There were a number of folk from NZQA and MOE to give advice and guidance and help to avoid pitfalls and how best to phrase statements so that progressions are clear and AS principles are followed. These folk were very helpful, patient, professional and genuinely wanting us to get it right so that not too much hassle as these AS go through the next phase of the NZQA process.
At the end of the week, there were at least two possible draft AS for each specialist area. There is a strong possibility that all these draft AS will go forward as there was a commitment from NZQA as to the total number of new AS in this technology space of knowledge and skills, and it seems as if we are within the limits. The next meeting for AS is at the end of January for another three days. The draft AS will then go out to the wider community at the end of February for consultation. This will enable teachers to have some idea of what courses they could plan for year 11 in 2011 before course booklets go out, and to have input into the process.
The TLG are as important, if not more so than the AS, as they give guidance as to what could be taught under each LO, and give more detailed information on course content. Writers for the TLG will also be meeting early in the new year.
Rest assured that there will be sufficient course content and AS to enable you to deliver exciting and engaging courses to your students, in a number of different 'mix n match' ways. Also, there is a very positive approach from the MOE and NZQA to get the knowledge and skills area up and running. MOE is also in communication with IPENZ, NZICT, DTEP and other stakeholders - and this can only be good for us. So.... while most of you will be enjoying a long summer break, some of your colleagues will have a shorter summer break as they will be working to get the TLG and AS to the next round of drafts. :-)
I hope the above allays some of the fears and addresses some of the criticisms that have been posted on the listserv. MOE is working closely with NZACDITT to get the best outcome for students and teachers within all the constraints.
And if you are still reading this, it is time to switch off, put school to one side, and have a good Christmas and refreshing holiday break.
Regards, Vilna