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OCR Nationals or DiDA
July 10th, 2008 by misterel
I am at an impasse. DiDA has been my KS4 life for the past 3 years. I like the course. I like the way it is developing pupils abilities to think independently. I like the eportfolios and the fact that it is virtually paper free….. However, DiDA is an optional subject so I am therefore left with very mixed ability groups. For those not aware of the DiDA structure you can take up to 4 units and each unit is worth 1 GCSE. Each unit is either taught at a foundation(C-G) or higher level(A*-C). This means that in a mixed ability class I can end up teaching both courses.
This is where all my problems begin. The foundation and higher units follow a similar theme but the end results are different. This means that you therefore become a schizophrenic teacher and at some point one or both groups get a bum deal. Then there is the fact that DiDA is run by Edexcel. For some reason (profit???), it becomes a financial nightmare trying to do their exam submissions and by the end of year 11 neither you, your exams officer or headteacher have aclue how much it has cost you and what the pupils are likely to get.
The main reason that I am now in a world of indecision is that I have been offered (for £300) a complete scheme of work that will cover 6 units of the OCR nationals and will almost certainly guarantee, if the pupils follow it properly and can demonstrate their learning, a decent grade at GCSE, and the potential for more than one GCSE. The units offered are diverse and interesting and the administration seems a lot easier. With the benefit of having your own moderator coming down and telling you whether you are doing it right. On the downside, OCR is perceived to be a lot easier, less interesting and motivating for the kids.
So now I don’t know what to do….
- ditch DiDA and the admin and teaching hell it gives me
- adopt OCR Nationals, get good results, but potentially teach a boring course….
If by any fluke of the magic of the web, someone out there reads this and can give me some advice it would be vey welcome.
Posted in Generic, Teaching & Learning | tagged DiDA, GCSE, indecision, motivation, OCR Nationals, teaching | | 3 Comments
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on July 10th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
To put it into context, we started our Year 8’s on the Unit 1 OCR Nationals this term and they found it fairly easy.
Now OK, we have an above-average catchment, but we pretty much abandoned the Dida course last year.
I suppose it depends whether you want grades or rigour…
on July 18th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Hi, Nice to see another UK ICT Teacher blogging! For me, the OCR is the easier course, if taught in a spoon-feeding manner. If you want you can take the OCR criteria and write some really exciting and interesting Schemes of Work.
Like all courses, you get out what you put in. And if you put as much effort into OCR, as you do with you DIDA, then you will get good results and well rounded learners.
on August 10th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Have to agree with both the above comments. Our grades went up from 16% to 63% to 94% in 3 years switching to the nationals. Yes -they’re as boring or as interesting as you wish to make them. We are starting ours on unit 1 in Year 9 with the aim of offering them the more exciting stuff in y10 and y11