A quick look back as we move well into 2020

Progress in the C-series

There has been a great response to the beginning of the C-series modules. 178 C405 module workshops have taken place with over 250 students starting C405.

You must start the C-series with C405 “Theory Guides Practice” – an 11 credit module. Up until this point in the Playcentre Education programme all the modules are small 5 credit modules. C405 is the key foundational module towards completion of the New Zealand Certificate in ECE and Care level 4. The learning gained here will indeed inform your future practice and prepare you as a session leader to meet the current ECE regulations which have an expectation that educators have a good understanding of the ECE theory underpinning practice.

You are not expected to fully complete C405 before moving on to other C-series modules but you should have at least submitted some of the assessments before registering your interest to proceed to C406 or C407 or C408. You can build up your portfolio (C405 Assessment Task 2) as you work on other modules and your practice will be observed before you finish the C-series, sometime after submitting your first C405 assessment and before you get to the C409 module which is a short summary of your certificate learning and is done as the last module.
Modules C406 (5 credits) and C408 (a 9 credit communication module offered as a face-to-face workshop option) are available now. C407 will be offered online soon. Development of C409 and C410 is progressing and these will be offered online as soon as ready.

We do recognise there are those, who do not have Course 3, and are especially keen to complete the level 4 qualification for licensing so we are working towards having the next module available as you finish modules currently available. Students who already have Course 3 now have an extended timeframe to acquire the level 4 certificate so we imagine some will choose to move through the C-series at a slower more comfortable pace if they wish to up-skill with the content in C405 that they do not have and in order to achieve a modern nationally recognised qualification.

A word about assessments

Why are there Assessment Tasks?
• to enhance student learning through timely and effective feedback – so we can provide support for learning.
• to encourage personal development and reflection.
• to inform teaching effectiveness to improve delivery and
• of course ultimately to provide the evidence to determine whether students have met the learning outcomes and course and programme objectives. This assures students, the provider, future employers and NZQA that students have acquired the knowledge, skills and competencies to be awarded a recognized qualification.

Playcentre Education assesses on a competency basis. This means there are no grades – you will be given an achieved or not yet achieved result. There are always opportunities to try again. Your commenter-tutor will provide feedback and suggestions so you can ‘have another go’ and add what was missing from your first attempt at the task.
Where do I send my assessments?

Please do not send assessments directly to your commenter – they should come through the regional assessment email:
[email protected]
auckland.assessments@Playcentre .org.nz
central.assessments@Playcentre .org.nz
lowernorth.assessments@Playcentre .org.nz
uppersouth.assessments@Playcentre .org.nz
southern.assessments@Playcentre .org.nz

You can post work in to the Regional office but it is preferable that work is sent electronically.

You can download the assessment booklet from the BookWhen website when you register for workshops. The assessment booklet gives a guidance as to what is required. Tip : If the space allocated for you to type your answer would fit a short paragraph then a short paragraph is what is expected not a 1000 word essay.

Moderation of assessment – arrangements put in place to ensure consistency of marking, including the proper application of the assessment criteria between different commenters. Also, NZQA carries out moderation between different Providers of the qualification so that assessment is similar no matter who you do the qualification with and to ensure credibility of all awarded qualifications.