BOS 41/09

A new version of the Information and Communications Technology Training Package (ICA05v3) has been released as part of the continuous improvement process for training packages. As a result the Board of Studies has updated the current Information Technology Curriculum Framework (2006) Stage 6 Syllabus.

The Information Technology Curriculum Framework (2009) Stage 6 Syllabus replaces the Information Technology Curriculum Framework (2006) Stage 6 Syllabus from Year 11, 2010.

A summary of the changes to the updated syllabus are outlined below. The HSC course structures now have flexibility through the addition of elective choice to enable schools and RTOs to tailor courses to meet the needs of their students and local industry. Schools/RTOs will be able to continue delivering courses with a similar scope and sequence to those currently being delivered by selecting the same units of competency that they are delivering now as elective units in the updated Framework.

The final Information Technology HSC examination based on the existing 2006 Framework will be in 2010. The HSC examination from 2011 onwards will be based on the updated Information Technology Curriculum Framework. There has been a reduction in the examinable load for the optional HSC examination in the updated syllabus. The examinable units of competency for 2011 onwards are listed in Section 11.3 of Part A of the syllabus. The HSC examination specifications are outlined in the document Assessment and Reporting in Information Technology Stage 6.

Schools and colleges should ensure that RTOs delivering courses from the Information Technology Curriculum Framework to their students are using the correct version of the syllabus and amend their teaching programs to align to the updated syllabus from 2010.

Overview of changes to the Framework

The main changes to ICA05v3 and the updated syllabus include:

• qualifications
  • change from 'prerequisite' requirements to 'entry' requirements for Certificate III in Information Technology (ICA30105)
• HSC course structures
  • 120-hour course - significant reduction in compulsory units of competency and introduction of elective choice (previously the full 120 indicate hour course was compulsory, now there are only 2 compulsory units of competency with 80 indicative hours of elective choice)
  • 240-hour course - significant reduction in compulsory units of competency and introduction of elective choice (previously the full 240 indicate hour course was compulsory, now there are only 9 compulsory units of competency with 80 indicative hours of elective choice)
• HSC examination
  • reduction in the range of examinable units of competency (from 11 examinable units of competency to 8)
• units of competency
  • updated unit codes (Note: while there are changes to the unit code, content and intent are similar)
• general changes
  • update to format and text in syllabus
  • employability skills have replaced key competencies - an employability skills summary has been added to each qualification
• Part B
  • compulsory units of competency have been updated to ICA05v3
  • HSC requirements and advice reviewed for currency and to ensure alignment to ICA05v3 and amended as appropriate
  • Part B now only contains the compulsory units of competency. All elective units of competency are available in the Information and Communications Technology Training Package (ICA05) at www.ntis.gov.au

The updated syllabus documents are available on the Board of Studies website at www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/info-technology.html

All Year 7-12 schools and TAFE NSW colleges delivering courses from the current Framework, along with all teachers currently accredited to teach Information Technology, will receive a printed copy of Parts A and B of the syllabus during Term 4, 2009.

Effective:

from Year 11, 2010

Contact:

Caraline Cloke
Senior Project Officer, Vocational Education
(02) 9367 8170
caraline.cloke@bos.nsw.edu.au