Diploma in Digital Applications: Difference between revisions
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Many students have found that the course is inappropriate and unnecessarily time consuming (in terms of the fact that planning for what you are going to do and allocating times for each part of the course, despite the fact that limited time til submission is present anyway, often takes many sessions itself) containing skills which most of the age group each level is intended for already easily can use. Despite this, many students{{Who|date=April 2008}} have received poor marks compared to what their schools estimate, due to badly specified criteria on the [http://dida.edexcel.org.uk/home/ Edexcel DiDA website]{{Fact|date=April 2008}}. Students have had poor marks returned and told that they ought to have done certain things which were clearly no-where on previously provided mark-scheme, and the board have reduced marks based on criteria which contradict the original mark scheme{{Fact|date=April 2008}} |
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There are also concerns that 30 hours is not enough time limit to complete the work; and issues come to the surface when candidates can't make a site up to good standard. |
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Although the [[Edexcel]] exam board claim that their DIDA course will be a success in upper schools around the country{{Fact|date=April 2008}}, many schools have received poor feedback from students and parents about the large amount of [[coursework]] required for the course.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} |
Although the [[Edexcel]] exam board claim that their DIDA course will be a success in upper schools around the country{{Fact|date=April 2008}}, many schools have received poor feedback from students and parents about the large amount of [[coursework]] required for the course.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} |
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Revision as of 17:42, 29 April 2008
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2007) |
The DiDA (Diploma in Digital Applications) is an optional information and communication technology (ICT) course, usually studied by Key Stage 4 or equivalent school students (aged 14-16) in England and Wales. DiDA was introduced in 2005 (after a pilot starting in 2004) as a creation of the Edexcel examination board. DiDA is notable in that it consists entirely of coursework, completed on-computer; all work relating to the DiDA course is created, stored, assessed and moderated digitally.
Course
There are two 'levels' that can be taken. Level 1 is for lower ability pupils (Grades C-G) and Level 2 is for higher ability pupils (Grades A* - C). The course consists of four units. Using ICT is a compulsory unit. The other three units, Multimedia, Graphics and ICT in Enterprise, are optional.
Students who complete the Using ICT module alone receive an Award in Digital Applications (AiDA), which is equivalent to one GCSE or Standard Grade. Those who complete the Using ICT unit and any one of the other three units receive a Certificate in Digital Applications (CiDA), which is equivalent to two GCSEs or Standard Grades. Students who complete all four modules receive the full Diploma in Digital Applications (DiDA), which is equivalent to four GCSEs or Standard Grades. Edexcel recently made it possible for candidates to achieve a Certificate in Digital Applications Plus (CiDA+), equivalent to three GCSEs or Standard Grades, upon completion of Using ICT and another two units. This will come into effect for candidates being assessed in Summer 2007.
Each module is stated to take approximately 30 guided learning hours to complete. Pupils completing any module of the DiDA course do so by reading an online web resource (see external links) and then independently completing a set number of tasks. These tasks, as well as the planning and design work, are presented in an 'eportfolio' to be marked and assessed. Only work presented in the eportfolio and the eportfolio itself is marked.
Edexcel maintains an archive of the previous modules (known as Summative Project Briefs, or simply SPBs) online, so candidates have the opportunity to practice working to meet the requirements of the course, and so teachers can practice leading the course.
Levelling & qualifications
In DiDA students can get one of five grades. These are: fail, pass, credit, merit and distinction at both levels one and two.
| DiDA Grade | GCSE Grade for Level 1 | GCSE Grade for Level 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Distinction | C | A* |
| Merit | D | A |
| Credit | E | B |
| Pass | F/G | C |
| Fail | U | U |
| AiDA (1 GCSE) | CiDA(2 GCSE's) | CiDA+(3 GCSE's) | DiDA (4 GCSE's) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using ICT | Using ICT plus | Using ICT plus | Using ICT plus |
| Multimedia or | Multimedia or | Multimedia plus | |
| Graphics or | Graphics or | Graphics plus | |
| ICT in Enterprise | ICT in Enterprise | ICT in Enterprise |
Adobe Associate Certificates
Students will be eligible to claim Adobe Associate Certificate(s) (formerly known as Macromedia Certificates, before Adobe purchased Macromedia) if they achieve a merit or distinction in the relevant unit at Level 2 and complete the Adobe Associate Certificate tasks, using the relevant Adobe software, as part of the Summative Project Briefs for the following units:
- Web Media using Dreamweaver - Multimedia
- Multimedia using Flash - Multimedia
- Web Graphics using Fireworks - Graphics
This scheme has now been cancelled, leaving many unhappy students without extra qualifications, however an alternative has been provided by Certiport and Edexcel, with much more work.
GCSE ICT (including functional ICT)
On July 16th 2007 Edexcel announced they will be introducing a new pilot GCSE ICT course.
The new GCSE in ICT (including functional ICT) is an alternative to AiDA and consists of two units. Unit 1 covers the three strands of the stand-alone functional skills ICT pilot qualification and contributes 50% of the marks towards the GCSE ICT. Candidates will sit a practical computer-based examination which is externally set and marked. In Unit 2 candidates will plan and undertake a substantial project requiring eight hours of work in a controlled environment. The project brief (a mini SPB) will be supplied by Edexcel. Candidates will present their achievements in an eportfolio which is internally assessed and externally moderated.
Criticism
|
Many students have found that the course is inappropriate and unnecessarily time consuming (in terms of the fact that planning for what you are going to do and allocating times for each part of the course, despite the fact that limited time til submission is present anyway, often takes many sessions itself) containing skills which most of the age group each level is intended for already easily can use. Despite this, many students[who?] have received poor marks compared to what their schools estimate, due to badly specified criteria on the Edexcel DiDA website[citation needed]. Students have had poor marks returned and told that they ought to have done certain things which were clearly no-where on previously provided mark-scheme, and the board have reduced marks based on criteria which contradict the original mark scheme[citation needed]
There are also concerns that 30 hours is not enough time limit to complete the work; and issues come to the surface when candidates can't make a site up to good standard.
Although the Edexcel exam board claim that their DIDA course will be a success in upper schools around the country[citation needed], many schools have received poor feedback from students and parents about the large amount of coursework required for the course.[citation needed]
There are also concerns[who?] that colleges and sixth forms do not accept DIDA as a recognised qualification. This includes Amersham and Wycombe College in Buckinghamshire. http://www.amersham.ac.uk/index.cfm?page=371