Where there's a problem, there's a solution

I'm talking about the Diploma in IT of course. Before I go any further you need to understand how things stand at present. There are problems. Problems in the form of gaps in the delivery of IT (focus on using IT, rather than application development) and problems in the form of a lack of realism, employer engagement, higher level skills, and attempting to emulate industry level standards. It's 2008 and a whole range of GCSE's and A level's (these are the more traditional qualifications) along with vocational and applied qualifications (like the wonderful OCR nationals and somewhat controverisial BTECS) orbit the ever changing skies of education.

Just to remind you, the questions we are asking here are: Why bring in the Diploma? Why not just adapt existing qualification specifications (A levels and GCSE's) to cater for the higher level skills that employers/universities deem as necessary? Why on earth do we need a new NAME? And do we really need a new specification or learning plan for IT in the first place? (What's wrong with the current specs and qualifications?)

Point 1 -Academic vs Vocational; The Stupid Clever Divide.

To put it simply, this is the way things are now: We have Academic vs Vocational qualifications which has brought about what I call the invisible and politically incorrect Stupid Clever divide. We don't like to call it this, or even talk about it, but there is a certain unsaid understanding between parents, pupils and parents alike about what it means to take a vocational option, as opposed to an academic one. Recently I had one of my pupils unexpectedly and quite suddenly drop the BTEC IT course within the first week of enrolling. When I asked him why, he was quick to respond: "Well I'm already doing a Public Services BTEC. My Mum said I'd have to be really stupid, to be doing two.". He meant two BTEC qualifications. Apparently no one (but the very very stupid) do more than one BTEC. His mothers words, not mine.

Point 2-Academic vs Vocational; Universities and Employers apparently don't recognise the latter.

Four weeks ago our school had its infamous annual "options evening". I spent the better part of my night standing in my IT room answering questions to prospective 6th form pupils and their parents. I was on my eighteenth coffee when the father of one of my current A* predicted Computing pupils came along. (he had a daughter considering joining our sixth form). I blabbed on about the three options we had at KS5, namely:
-BTEC
-A level ICT (applied)
-Computing

I (shoot me!) mentioned them in this order and his response was. "Well, I certainly dont want little miss X (protecting the identity of this pupil whose name I can't remember anyway) to do an BTEC or Applied A level, because LET'S FACE IT, they count for nothing to universities."

"Pardon me?" I said (or maybe I just said "What?")

"I've been to a number of universities with my Son and all of them -in so many words -have said that they would not consider a BTEC or applied A level of any worth!"

Now, whether the alleged universities he visited actually made so politically incorrect and insensitive a comment, I don't know, but what I do know is that there is indeed a stigma with applied and vocational learning at KS5. (this is less of a problem at KS3 and 4 where everyone has taken to the OCR nationals and other vocational GCSE's which are equivalent to up to 4 A*-C GCSE's -great for the league tables, blah blah)

So whether we like it or not, vocational learning, however we dress it up, comes with the stigma of 'less academic' and therefore not acceptable to universities, and even less acceptable to employers that are looking, if anything, for logical, clever, and able-minded individuals. These are labels we can't easily rid ourselves of, and much of the fault lies in the marketing by schools/colleges of these qualifications. Still, marketing or no marketing, the way things are now, are the way they are. I have already mentioned that one of the problems is that IT courses are too hugely focused on doing stupid things (the use of power point and Microsoft word which, for heavens sake, pupils are experts at in KS2!) The use of ICT applications is quite different from the actual development of applications and learning higher level skills such as programming, advanced networking, and project management. Learning how to use PowerPoint or make a leaflet in Serif might be useful if you were a church administrator, but the bigwigs in IT aren't looking for IT-users, but developers...designers...programmers...project managers. That's where the talent shortage lies, and that's why every Ram, Hari and Vikram flees India with his expertise and arrives in the UK to fill the skills shortage and steal the job the citizen should be getting! Furthermore there is the issue that all qualifications, Computing included (Computing is among one of the most "academic" and well received qualifications with an emphasis on project development, advanced theory and programming skills), have very little employer engagement and inbuilt practical real work experience. Yes, of course we try to emulate industry level standards (all IT teachers have been taught to say this sort of thing!) but how much of a standard can be realistically implemented without actually having the support and input of industry itself!?

I suppose, for these reasons (Point 1 and Point 2 and everything I covered in them) it is apparent that we need a new name (something that doesn't suggest stupid) and a new qualification with a different, more engaging and realistic, outline.

So there you have it -The Diploma. The perfect solution? (No, because nothing is ever perfect!. 10 years from now the government will bring in a new qualification at KS5 called the degree, suggesting an even higher level of learning. Of course then they'd have to change the names of actual degree courses to something else. Perhaps they'll invent a new word altogether.)

In all seriousness however, the diploma can't be accused of being nonacademic like the BTEC, but still carries that all important vocational emphasis due to its ample focus on applied learning. On the other hand it can certainly be crowned with the 'academic' title, as it will focus on higher level application-development skills, along with theoretical knowledge and practical experience that is valued by universities and employers alike.

Diploma?

In a recent conversation with the headmaster, I was asked. "What do you know about Diploma's?". My (not very eloquent) response was along the lines of having read about them in the news. This of course, was a lie. I hadn't heard about them in the news at all. I had however, heard about them -and I haven't the slightest clue through which medium. I don't read articles in the TES and nor do I (does anybody?) watch Teachers TV. That I suppose is the mysteriously memorable yet elusive nature of these things. People get wind of new ideas and suddenly they aren't ideas anymore -they're set in stone -until the next idea! I don't recall seeing a single advert on TV or on the back of a bus either! How did the labour government do it?

What's in a name?

I'd love to know the history behind the development of Diplomas. Who, for starters, came up with the name? In certain developing countries diploma's are the word you give to qualifications that aren't quite degree's but aren't quite utterly useless! I remember doing a diploma in web centric design run by NIIT. It was a short fast track course to learning a few web design essentials. A quick fix, if you like. I learnt a little -a very little -but it was a Diploma, what did I expect? So what's in a name?

The first question any able minded person might ask is: Why not simply revamp the existing qualifications (A levels and GCSE's) and adjust specifications and learning plans to cater for the current gaps we find in education? What on earth was the need for a new name? After all, no body likes change, least of all overstretched Educators who having finally got their heads around the current qualifications have to now abandon them to this wonderful new option that nobody really knows anything about. Not yet anyway.

I looked up the word "Diploma" and this is what an online dictionary (http://www.qualityresearchinternational.com/glossary/diploma.htm) chucked up.

Diploma is:
1. a generic term for a formal document (certificate) that acknowledges that a named individual has achieved a stated higher education award.
2. an award for a specific level of qualification– diploma level – which in some countries is between a bachelor and a masters-level award.
3. a term for any award beyond bachelors level up to but excluding doctoral level awards, including continuing education certification.


Explanatory Context
Diploma is an imprecise term whose meaning is context-dependent and varies from country to country.

Analytical review
HEFCE (2003) defines a diploma as:
A qualification awarded for a course of higher education.

AEC (2004) defines diploma as follows:
The term ‘Diploma’ can mean a number of different things. The following three examples cover most cases: 1. a document which functions as proof of a qualification having been obtained 2.the qualification obtained at the end of the first cycle 3.a qualification with professional meaning or status. For example, in some conservatoires, all qualifications, including those given at the highest level, are called ‘diploma’

For HEA (2004), a diploma is an:
Award usually granted to students upon successful completion of a two or three-year course at undergraduate level. Postgraduate diplomas, generally lasting one or two years, are also available.

All in all, along with the fact that it doesn't sound as jarring as BTEC, the name itself (Diploma) is perhaps intended to draw people's minds to thoughts of higher level learning. So will the Diploma in IT do justice to its name or are we just renaming an amalgamation of A levels and BTECS something to pull the wool over people's eyes?

I started skeptical, but my views have changed drastically. If things were perfect, and they were never meant to be on earth, nothing would ever be in need of change. As it happens, the delivery of IT in current specifications is far from perfect and hence... (either because they really cared or simply had nothing better to do with their well paid time), someone decided to do something about it.