Memorandum to Schools 104/2009
7 October 2009
Selection of VCAL Quality Assurance Panel Members for 2010
This memorandum contains information relating to the selection of panel members for the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) quality assurance process for 2010. The memorandum contains the following information:
- the role description and application process for teachers who wish to nominate for a vacancy on a 2010 VCAL quality assurance (QA) panel
- the role description and application process for teachers who wish to apply for the VCAL Liaison Teacher (VLT) in the Hume, DEECD region.
Quality assurance ensures that there is consistency with the design and assessment of VCAL units and that units are at the appropriate VCAL level. A QA panel, comprising the VLT as panel leader and four VCAL practitioners will be established in each DEECD region. All panel members must have a good understanding of the VCAL curriculum.
Detailed information on the 2010 VCAL QA process will be forwarded to schools early in Term 1 2010. However, to assist teachers to make a decision about joining a QA panel in 2010 an outline of the proposed QA process is provided below. The 2010 VCAL QA process includes the following features:
- VCAL providers in each DEECD region will be required to submit two VCAL units for quality assurance – one from a VCAL strand nominated by the VCAA and a VCAL Literacy Reading and Writing unit (if delivered). New VCAL providers in 2010 will be required to submit additional units for QA.
- Each provider will submit the highest level of the VCAL unit being delivered e.g. a provider in the SMR that delivers Intermediate and Senior PDS and Intermediate and Senior Reading and Writing will be required to submit the Senior PDS unit and the Senior Literacy Reading and Writing unit for QA.
- The provider can determine what PDS unit is submitted e.g. PDS Unit 1 or 2.
- Providers who do not participate in the regional VCAL quality assurance process may be required to submit all their VCAL units to an audit by the VCAA.
The VCAL quality assurance process provides an excellent opportunity for teacher professional development. The VCAA encourages experienced VCAL teachers to consider joining a VCAL QA panel.
In 2010 to support the VCAL QA process there will be an additional VCAL QA panel member in each region.
Role of QA Panel Members
The terms of reference for the QA panel are to:
- establish regional benchmarks for consistency in the design and assessment of VCAL units and VCAL unit learning outcomes
- provide advice to VCAL teachers that will enable them to design VCAL unit assessment tasks and to make assessment judgments about successful achievement of the learning outcomes for VCAL units
- select exemplars of VCAL units for publication on the VCAA website.
Panel members will receive an allowance of $1,200 to cover expenses incurred in attending meetings, reviewing material and other panel requirements.
Role of the VCAL Liaison Teacher
The role of the VCAL Liaison Teacher is to:
- chair the regional VCAL QA panel
- collect QA sample tasks from providers and distribute to QA panel members
- convene a meeting/s of the QA panel after sample tasks have been submitted by providers
- follow up any provider who has not submitted sample tasks by the due date
- organise the venue/s for both Stage 1 and 2 meetings
- supervise and participate in the quality assurance process of VCAL units
- ensure that feedback and advice is given to providers during the quality assurance process
- prepare a report for the VCAA at the end of each stage of QA
- forward examples of exemplars of VCAL units for publication on the VCAA website
- provide advice and support to VCAL Co-ordinators and teachers in their region during the year
- liaise with the VCAA central office VCAL team.
Like the QA panel members, the VLT will receive an allowance of $1,200. In addition, the VLT’s school/provider will receive an allocation of 25 days of CRT release for the year to support the work of the VLT and the QA panel and $500 for administration expenses.
The VCAA invites interested VCAL teachers to lodge an Expression of Interest to fill the following vacancies in a regional VCAL QA Panel and/or apply for a VLT position. Due to the extra VCAL QA panel member allocated to each region there will be at least one vacancy in all DEECD regions.
|
DEECD Region |
Vacancy VLT |
Vacancy QA Panel Member |
|---|---|---|
|
Eastern Metropolitan Region |
No Vacancy |
Vacancy |
|
Western Metropolitan Region |
No Vacancy |
Vacancy (two) |
|
Northern Metropolitan Region |
No Vacancy |
Vacancy |
|
Southern Metropolitan Region |
No Vacancy |
Vacancy (two) |
|
Gippsland Region |
No Vacancy |
Vacancy |
|
Hume Region |
Vacancy |
Vacancy (two) |
|
Loddon Mallee Region |
No Vacancy |
Vacancy |
|
Grampians Region (Ballarat) |
No Vacancy |
Vacancy (two) |
|
Grampian Region (Horsham) |
No Vacancy |
|
|
Barwon South West Region |
No Vacancy |
Vacancy (one vacancy for either the Geelong or Warrnambool areas of the BSW region) |
Expression of Interest forms can be submitted online by accessing the VCAA SSMS website http://www.ssms.vic.edu.au If assistance is required to lodge an application please call the SSMS Help Desk on (03) 9225 2305.
Applications close on the 26 October 2009. Successful applicants will be notified by the VCAA. For further information please contact David Gallagher, VCAL Manager on telephone: (03) 9651 4532 or email gallagher.david.j@edumail.vic.gov.au
