Moderator's Newsletter - Home Economics

February 2010

From the Moderator

Contents

This newsletter gives information on the following topics:

• Updated web links
• Changes to optional teacher-selected evidence
• Best Practice workshops
• Annotated exemplars
• Agreement rates
• Further assessment opportunities

Updated web links

An updated section at the bottom of the Resources for Home Economics web page contains links to web pages useful for teaching and assessing Home Economics standards. Level 2 and 3 resources are linked which include Making Meaning: Making a Difference, The Food and Nutrition Guidelines, various Ministry of Health reports useful for research etc.

Changes to optional teacher-selected evidence

Changes from September 2009 (Circular A2009/027)

• The number of samples of student work for optional teacher-selected evidence has been increased. Teachers may now send up to ten samples per standard per year.
• The samples for optional evidence feedback can relate to any standard, not just the standard selected for external moderation.
• The samples can be sent at any time throughout the year (through Secondary Moderation, NZQA), not just at the time of the school submission date (directly to moderator).
• The samples do not have to be accompanied by other assessment materials unless the teacher believes they would assist the moderator in understanding their question
• There is no specific turnaround time for samples sent outside the school submission date as this will depend on moderator capacity.

Specific questions can be asked about the samples to help further define the grade boundaries and clarify issues in the assessment of that work. The feedback provided from the moderator does not form part of the official moderation report and is designed to be more developmental in nature. Teachers are encouraged to take this opportunity to engage in professional dialogue to further define the grade boundaries.

Best Practice workshops

The Best Practice workshops are continuing in 2010 and are an excellent way to meet the moderators and develop a good understanding of the grade boundaries and other assessment issues.

The timing of these will be decided shortly. They dates will be published in the Gazette and on the NZQA website.

These workshops are a valuable opportunity to increase assessment practice knowledge and, in particular, identify grade boundaries and the differentiation between the boundaries.

Annotated exemplars

Annotated exemplars have been prepared for most standards to show boundary decisions at Achieved, Merit and Excellence. These resources are to be published shortly on the NZQA Home Economics webpage under the section 'Annotated Exemplars'. These pages also contain links to the TKI exemplars which include samples of annotated student work clearly at the required standard. It is intended that teachers use these exemplars to assist their marking especially around grade boundaries. Some exemplars could also be used to generate discussion with students so they clearly understand what is required to achieve the standard.

Agreement rates

It is very pleasing to note that moderators are agreeing with considerably more assessor judgements of student work than at this time last year. Teachers are to be commended for making sound judgements based on standard criteria. Such things as continued reflection of the commentary found in moderation reports, accessing the material on the Resources for Home Economics web page, being part of a robust internal moderation process, attending Best Practice workshops and other professional development workshops, as well as sending optional teacher-selected evidence for moderator feedback, all contribute to improving the agreement rate.

Further assessment opportunities

A key feature of school-based internal assessment is that further opportunities to be assessed can be provided for students who initially fail to achieve their potential at any level, where this is appropriate.

The diversity of practice between schools, and sometimes between departments within a school, regarding the provision of further assessment opportunities for internally assessed standards (sometimes called ?reassessment?) has led to credibility issues and perceptions of unfairness. Furthermore, further assessment can contribute to over-assessment of students.

After consultation with the sector, from mid-2009 schools were asked to begin implementation of new rules and procedures into their school-wide policies and procedures. The new requirements are part of the 2010 Assessment and Examination Rules and Procedures. The aim of these rules and procedures is to reduce the current diversity of practice, while at the same time allowing teachers to exercise professional judgement in their assessment practice. It is important that teachers and students understand that further assessment opportunities are not mandatory and may not always be practical or feasible to provide.

Where verbal evidence is given in a resubmission, the moderator must be able to view this new evidence in writing to be able to attest that the standard has been achieved.

For a full description of the new rules and procedures refer to the NZQA policy on 'Further Assessment Opportunities'.

Last updated: 23 February 2010