I write with experience as an examiner for international examinations in ICT. The syllabuses that I support and write for are written as non software specific descriptions of practical ICT skills at appropriate levels. Clearly many candidates around the world are provided with various versions of Microsoft and other relevant commercial software packages. However, a growing number of centres have made it clear they are using open source software for a number of very good reasons.
While as examiners we are generally versed in, and aware of, a variety of versions of the currently available commercial software, we are also conscious of the need to try to avoid accusations that we are testing “Microsoft Office applications” either by referring to Microsoft specific terminology or testing things in a “Microsoft biased” way. We are reminded of these things through vigorous discussion groups, and make efforts to test our materials using open source software – both through our own teams’ varied expertise and by taking note of feedback from centre staff where open source software has been adopted.
John Reeves
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Despite your efforts I suspect most examination boards are struggling to be 'open' with Open Source.
Has anybody had bad experiences with an examination board?
Are there any UK teachers on this list who are including the teaching of open source in GCSE or A-Level material? I have some experience working with AQA and OCR teaching material and none of it covers open source, despite there being scope within the specification. Open source represents a viable solution, and its lifecycle is worth introducing students to. Any thoughts?
INGOTs were designed to enable the use of OSS in accredited qualifications and indeed to make understanding more about the importance of Open Systems more widespread. Schools like Small Heath in Birmingham with an Outstanding OFSTED are using INGOTS as a vehicle for cross curricular IT, Our Lady's Catholic High in Preston and Upholland in Wigan have hundreds of primary school children getting recognised entry level IT qualifications as part of their Specialist Schools Community plans. While we don't force the use of OSS we are finding that schools that were or are using closed source are increasingly using open source as they become aware of it. Student blogs as they happen are here. Some Polish children are starting their Blogs and although in Poland, they are doing their work in English! his is part of an EU Comenius project with granville school in Derbyshire.
We plan to produce an Open ITQ which is the e-skills NVQ for ICT. The new National Occupational Standards have just been agreed and the new ITQ units are being put onto the Qualifications Credit Framework. As an accredited Awarding Body we can take these and make new qualifications and get them accredited. The current INGOTs are designed to be manageable in a school curriculum without having to make any major structural changes. They also support student blogs and e-portfolios and they are Diploma units. I just have to work out how to do this and at the same time fit the ITQ criteria for new quals. As a relative newcomer and small player we can only develop as far as we have income from schools taking up INGOTs and these tend to be the innovators at present. If we can get a big take up we'll provide open content for everyone on the INGOT on-line courses and community sites and develop a wider range of qualifications supported by free content. The grand plan is to develop a free version of COL funded from qualifications but open for all to contribute to. Business plan shows it is possible, it just depends on getting the take up.