AgribusinessVocational Education

Development Programme

Teacher Training Programme

Feb 2015

Day 1

PLAN OF THE DAY:

o Vocational Pedagogy

o Vocational Logistics

Coffee Break

o Syllabus Content (part 1)

o Learning Outcomes (knowledge, skills and understanding)

o Assignment Brief – Intro.

o Work shop 1: Verbs

Break

o Assignment Brief – Writing a Vocational Assignment

o Work shop 2: Design a Scenario for a Practical Assignment

Vocational Education and TrainingThe Pedagogy behind the VET subjects

• A process mainly based on practical training and tasks based on real-world problem-solving, experiential learning closely related to work, written assignments, portfolios, and on-going assessment.

• Formative rather then summative assessment.

• A move away from the teacher centred learning to learner centred learning.

Skill development:• Functional Skills: English, Maths and ICT

(learners should be guided to developindependent research skills).

• Personal, learning and thinking skills: a moveaway from spoon feeding:

• Independent enquiry• Creative thinking• Reflective learning• Team work• Self-management• Effective participation

• Work related skills: Provide the opportunity for further study (MCAST, University) while retaining a practical and real world approach to learning.

The Vocational Subjects

The Logistics

Sec Vocational Subjects and MATSEC:

• Vocational subjects reach the MQF level 3 andare being managed by the MATSEC Board andconsidered as vocational SEC subjects with gradesfrom 1-7 just like the other SEC subjects .

• The MATSEC Board has appointed a PrincipalSubject Area Officer for Vocational Subjects – MrMalcolm Micallef (malcolm.micallef@um.edu.mt)

• The syllabi of vocational subjects are managed bysyllabi panels just like all the other SEC subjects.

Registration.

• As soon as the students starts the course, s/hewould have started his/her O-level.

• Students register and pay for the VocationalO-Level at the beginning of Form 3 (Yr 9).

• Registration takes place on-line in October.

The Subjects:

• Each subject consists of Three Units spread over three years (Form 3,4,5) – one unit per yr.

• In Agribusiness these units are:

• Unit 1: Plant and Soil Science

• Unit 2: Vegetable Production

• Unit 3: Breeding of rabbits

The Unit Grading Criteria:• Each Unit is divided into 5 Learning Outcomes

(LOs).

• These Learning Outcomes are divided into anumber of Grading criteria which the learnermust achieve:

• 10 Knowledge;

• 5 Comprehension, and

• 3 Application criteria.

LO Knowledge Comprehension ApplicationLO1 K-1: Relate different organs

with plant root and shoot

system.

K-2: Describe different plant

body tissues and plant cell

components.

C-1: Distinguish between the

leaf and flower morphologies

to compare different plant

species.

LO2 K-3: Define the terms allele,

gamete, gene/DNA.

K-4: Outline Mendel’s first law

and second law.

C-2: Explain the basic concepts

of mitosis and meiosis.

A-1: Predict the distribution of

traits in F1 and F2 generations

using the Mendel’s laws.

LO3 K-5: Describe plant organs

that are crucial for the intake

and internal transfer of water

and nutrients.

K-6: Describe 8 different plant

physiological processes.

C-3: Explain how light and/or

temperature can be used to

control flowering in

horticulture.

LO4 K-7: Identify the tools and

equipment necessary to take

soil samples and conduct soil

analysis.

K-8: Define the parameters

that are commonly

determined in soil sample

analysis.

C-4: Interpret the results from

the soil analysis.

A-2: Choose plants that are

the most suitable for specific

soil parameters.

LO5 K-9: State the biotic and

abiotic soil factors that

contribute to a range of plant

problems.

K-10: Explain how soil

structure and texture can

effect plant growth.

C-5: Indicate activities which

can improve the soil fertility.

A-3: Propose a basic soil

water drainage solutions for a

given situation.

• Each unit is marked out of 100 marks:

• 4 marks for each Knowledge (10) criterion

• 6 marks for each Comprehension (5) criterion

• 10 marks for each Application (3) criterion.

• The pass mark for each year is set at 50 marks.

• The total sum of all 3 units amount to learners final grade from 1 to 7 or UN. 1-5 = MQF Level 3

• If student fails one year/unit they can only get a grade 6 or 7 = MQF Level 2.

• If student fails two units s/he will get a UN.

• Each unit is assessed by means of three assessmenttasks:

• a take-home task (30%)

• a practical task (30%)

• a controlled assessment task (40%)

• The criteria (K/C/A) to be assessed in each assessmenthave to fit in the following mark ranges to amount to100 by the end of the year.

• Take-home task 26 to 34 marks

• Practical task 26 to 34 marks

• Controlled task 38 to 42 marks

The Vocational Assessment:

Distribution of criteria

per assessment

task: Unit 1

OutcomesTASK 1

Take Home

TASK 2

Practical

TASK 3

Controlled

26-34 marks 26-34 marks 38-40 marks

LOs K/C/A

LO1

K1 K1(4)

K2 K2(4)

C1 C1(6)

LO2

K3 K3(4)

K4 K4(4)

C2 C2(6)

A1 A1(10)

LO3

K5 K5(4)

K4 K6(4)

C3 C3(6)

LO4

K7 K7(4)

K8 K8(4)

C4 C4(6)

A2 A2(10)

LO5

K9 K9(4)

K10 K10(4)

C5 C5(6)

A3 A3(10)

TOTAL MARKS 34 28 38

• By the end of the course, there will be threecontrolled assessments (one each year).

• Set by the MATSEC board. Common to allschools.

• Will be held on the same date and time in allschools. Maximum duration of 2 hours.

• Examination Language: students are expected toanswer in the language in which the questionsare set. Pupils will not be penalise formisspelling, as long as the term is stillrecognisable.

The Controlled Assessment:

• The controlled assessment must have a strongcomponent of written work.

• The assessment is conducted under testconditions and supervised by the MATSEC Board.

• This assessment is corrected by the teacher andverified internally and externally.

• Forms 3 & 4 - end of May.

• Form 5 - end of the second term.

Late submissions

• If a student does not hand in the Task HomeAssignment and/or the Practical Assignment ONTIME: deadline can be extended only if there is avalid reason.

• Reason for the extension given has to berecorded and kept in the Master File.

Synoptic Assessment:• Synoptic Assessment is a written re-sit that covers as

many criteria as possible. Held in beginning of July atMATSEC office.

When does a student sit for a synoptic assessment?

• Failing to pass a Unit – max 60marks – total mark.

• Does not have a justified reason for not handing in anassignment – max 60marks – total mark.

• Is absent for controlled assessment – no justified reason– max 60marks – total mark.

• Is absent for the controlled assessment for a justifiedreason – max 100marks. To replace controlledassessment only. Marks for the other two tasks will notalter.

• To sit for the synoptic assessment student mustregister at MATSEC Support Unit in a given week.The registration fee is 21 Euro.

• If synoptic assessment is failed - re-sit the synopticassessment at the end of the next scholastic year.

• The synoptic assessment will be set and corrected bythe MATSEC Board.

• The MATSEC Support Unit will inform the studentsand the school at the end of July whether theypassed the synoptic test or not.

• Students have 1 week to appeal the mark given forthe whole Unit. The registration fee is 35 Euro.

THE END