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Introducing new Pearson Edexcel International
GCSE (9-1) Computer Science and Information
and Communication Technology qualifications
Available for first teaching in September
2017
Luka Hunter (International Academic Portfolio
Manager, Pearson)
We have recently launched a new suite of Edexcel
International GCSE (9-1) qualifications for
first teaching in September 2017.
This video is to give you more information
about the new Computer Science and Information
and Communication (or ICT) qualifications.
Before we go into detail about the new Computer
Science and ICT specifications, I wanted to
give you some information that will affect
the whole of our International GCSE suite.
The first key feature is that the new qualifications
will have the new 9-1 grading scale, which
provides greater differentiation across the
full range of students.
The second key feature is that the new International
GCSEs include more international content,
making them more appropriate for international
students.
The third key feature is that the new International
GCSEs continue to provide successful progression
to further education and higher education.
We've worked with higher education representatives
and level 3 teachers from across the world
to make sure that the new international GCSEs
enable progression onto further education
and higher education and ultimately into employment.
And we've also worked with internal and external
subject experts to ensure that the new International
GCSEs remain fully comparable to the new GCSEs.
Tim Brady (Edexcel Computer Science and ICT
Subject Advisor, Pearson)
So you might be asking yourself, why choose
Edexcel International GCSE (9-1) Computer
Science and ICT qualifications?
One of the key things to highlight is that
we've listened to feedback from all parts
of the international school community; including
a large number of teachers. As a result, we've
made changes that will engage students and
give them the skills to support progression
to further study of Computer Science and ICT
and a wide range of other subjects.
They're also clearly of an equivalent standard
to Pearson's regulated Edexcel GCSE qualifications,
which is important for recognition internationally
and in the UK.
They also provide teachers with the choice
of offering Computer Science and / or ICT
qualifications, offering you the flexibility
to select a specification that best meets
the needs of your learners.
Tim Brady (Edexcel Computer Science and ICT
Subject Advisor, Pearson)
So why choose the Computer Science qualification?
This qualification provides students with
the opportunity to develop computational thinking
skills, so that they can operate confidently
in the digital world.
Students learn how to apply these computational
thinking skills in context, in both written
and practical examinations.
During this qualification students will have
the opportunity to design, implement and test
programme solutions to real world scenarios
and these skills will help them progress onto
further education or into the world of programming.
Taking a closer look at the Computer Science
specification, you will see that Paper 1 is
focused on the Principles of Computer Science
and Paper 2 is focused on the Application
of Computational Thinking. Both Papers are
externally assessed and are worth 50% of the
total marks.
Paper 2 is a really interesting way of assessing
in a practical way all of the topics covered
in paper 1. It gives students the opportunity
to construct truth tables, produce logic statements
and read and interpret pseudo code - all in
a real-world context to solve problems right
there in the paper.
Tim Brady (Edexcel Computer Science and ICT
Subject Advisor, Pearson)
Moving onto the Edexcel International GCSE
(9-1) in ICT. This qualification affords learners
the opportunity to develop into confident
and competent ICT users. These are the skills
that are absolutely essential to develop into
higher or further education, as well as into
the workplace.
It is designed to be a practical qualification,
where students will learn about the devices
as well as the applications and get to develop
their skills in both the hardware and the
software aspects of ICT and how it's relevant
to today's world.
Taking a look at the ICT specification you
can see that paper 1 is a 1 hour, 30 minute
paper focused on topics 1 to 4 in the subject
content.
Paper 2 is 3 hours, also 50% of the total
marks. We're focusing here on topics 5 and
6, which are the application of the knowledge.
Tim Brady (Edexcel Computer Science and ICT
Subject Advisor, Pearson)
We wanted to talk to you about the assessment
opportunities for both the Edexcel International
GCSE (9-1) Computer Science and ICT specifications.
Both the Computer Science and ICT qualification
have their first assessment opportunity in
May / June 2019.
Tim Brady (Edexcel Computer Science and ICT
Subject Advisor, Pearson) interview
Question 1: What are the key differences between
Edexcel International GCSE (9-1) Computer
Science and ICT qualifications? Computer Science
and ICT are distinct and complementary subjects.
The differences you could summarise as being
in the ICT qualification, student develop
skills to become competent and confident users
of the tools that are already out there and
in existence and these are really important
skills. In Computer Science, you are trying
to get the students to consider building their
own tools.
Question 2: Will I require specialist equipment
or software in order to deliver Edexcel International
GCSE (9-1) in Computer Science and ICT? In
order to successfully deliver the Edexcel
International GCSE (9-1) Computer Science
specification, you won't need any special
equipment or software. Access to a computer
system and an IDE that supports one of the
three languages will be perfectly adequate.
Chris Boor (Commissioning Editor, Global Schools,
Pearson)
We've developed a new suite of teacher and
learner resources designed specifically to
support Edexcel International GCSE (9-1) ICT
qualification.
These resources include textbooks and digital
support, and they've gone through a rigorous
development and review process and have been
endorsed by Edexcel.
They include:
a rich set of activities in every chapter
to support student progression;
transferable skills, embedded throughout the
resources, and signposted explicitly, which
supports their development;
and exam practice tests and exam style questions,
to prepare students for the assessments.
Luka Hunter (International Academic Portfolio
Manager, Pearson)
We also wanted to take this opportunity to
highlight that the new Computer Science and
ICT qualifications are supported by a wider
range of teaching and learning materials,
resources and training.
Support includes schemes of work, exemplar
materials, ExamWizard, comprehensive textbooks,
interactive resources and Getting Ready to
Teach events.
It also features detailed exam analysis with
ResultsPlus: a service unique to Pearson that
provides free online in-depth mock and actual
exam performance analysis, supporting teachers
to plan improvements in teaching and learning,
driving attainment.
To find out more, please visit qualifications.pearson.com/edexcel-internationalgcse
and download our Computer Science and ICT subject guide.
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