2009 HSC examinations: projects, submitted works and performances – Information for Teachers
As the supervising teacher of a course with a practical component as part of the HSC examination, you are responsible for supervising and monitoring students’ work on their projects. You are required to certify to the Board of Studies when students hand in their work for marking or, in the case of a performance, before they present for their performance examination, that:
… those students against whose name my signature appears have completed their projects under my supervision by the completion/hand-in date, that their projects are their own work in accordance with the Board’s rules, and are consistent with earlier drafts and other examples of their work. Those for whom no signature appears cannot be certified, and a full school report and student report of the circumstances of these students has been completed.
Supervising and monitoring student work
- Practical Project: Record of Student’s Progress
- A pro-forma to assist teachers in monitoring a student’s work on their project.
- Published 29 January 2009
You must have procedures in place that allow effective supervision of the development of students’ projects. If students propose to submit projects where work will be done away from the school because of the size or nature of the project the school must be confident that effective supervision and sufficient documentation of this work is possible before giving consent for a student to begin work on such a project.
Schools may wish to formalise consent by having the student record their proposal for approval and sign-off by the school. When the teacher signs the proposal this gives the student the go-ahead for beginning work on the project, submitted work or performance.
After the initial approval of the project it is good practice to set times when students will report their progress to you. The student could present you with a report of progress to date (perhaps in their logbook or process diary) and both you and the student sign these reports. The enclosed pro-forma may be used to record meetings and progress.
Outside assistance
You should advise your students about what kinds of outside assistance can be used in accordance with the requirements of the course and your school’s policy. If outside assistance is permitted, students should obtain your approval before any work is done on their project by any other person, including any teacher or other staff member at the school. The student should describe the proposed assistance, giving reasons why it is necessary, and how and when it will be obtained. Students should acknowledge assistance in their logbook, process diary, journal or folio. If no assistance is acknowledged, the student signature on the declaration form signifies that the words, ideas, designs and workmanship are all the original work of the student.
If students wish to have an outside ‘mentor’ for advice or assistance with aspects of their project it is important that you discuss this with them to make sure that the assistance is allowable, and that it is appropriately acknowledged. You may be able talk to the mentor about the requirements for certification and the limits of their involvement.
As part of teaching the course, teachers will provide feedback to students on the development of their projects. This is not regarded as ‘outside assistance’. If you are not sure how much feedback you can legitimately give your students, you should discuss your concerns with your supervisor or your colleagues.
Best practice steps to help ensure that you will be able to certify your students’ work
Before the project commences
- Show students the Board of Studies certification forms early in the course, and ensure they understand that all parties (student, teacher, principal) must sign these forms.
- Ensure students understand any specific course requirements for their project and the penalties for not complying. Projects must adhere to size, weight and duration limits and must not contain materials or processes that are dangerous to the health and safety of anyone involved. Prohibited weapons, replicas or related articles must not be used, produced or displayed. For further information please refer to Section 9.3.1 of the ACE Manual and also to HSC Performances and Submitted Works – Advice to Schools Regarding Content available at www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/manuals/pdf_doc/advice_hsc_performance_05.pdf
- Ensure that students understand that projects will not be eligible for public exhibitions and performances if they do not meet the Board’s requirements.
- Review each student’s initial plans for their project with them to ensure they are setting themselves reasonable targets in the scope of the work and the time frame.
- If a student is planning to work on their project outside school ensure that you can effectively monitor the work with appropriate visits to check progress.
- Give consent for the project to commence.
Once the project is approved
- Schedule regular meetings with students to discuss progress on their projects. Assist students to make adjustments to their project plans where necessary so that they are able to meet submission deadlines.
- Make sure that students have journals, process diaries or logbooks documenting the processes involved, and that they keep them up to date. Inspect their journals regularly, and record the date and your signature in the journal.
- Ensure that students understand what malpractice is, and how it relates to their projects.
- Ensure that students understand the requirements regarding outside assistance and that they discuss any proposed outside assistance with you before it is undertaken and that outside assistance is acknowledged in the project documentation.
- If you or other school staff work on students’ projects because, for example , they require equipment that students are not permitted to use, make sure that students understand that this is ‘outside assistance’ and must be acknowledged. You should keep your own records of the assistance you have provided.
- As the completion/submission date approaches, make students aware of the deadline and of the penalties for submitting their work late.
What happens if a student’s project is not able to be certified?
If at any time you think that one of your students is at risk of not having their project certified, you should immediately discuss this with your supervisor or other appropriate staff at your school. You should also inform the student of your concerns. Your first aim should be to assist the student to meet the requirements.
If the student’s work cannot be certified, you will need to complete a Non-certification of Practical Work – School Report form, giving reasons why the project cannot be certified. You must show this report to the student, and also give the student a Non-certification of Practical Work – Student Comments form, for them to respond to the information contained in the report. The Board of Studies will determine the appropriate penalty to be applied, and the school and the student will be notified at the time of release of the HSC results.
For more information refer to Section 9.3.4 of the ACE Manual, which outlines the requirements for certification of submitted works and practical performances, and the procedures to be followed if works cannot be certified. HSC Assessments and Submitted Works: A Guide For Teachers is available on the Board’s website at www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/manuals/advice_teachers.html
For further assistance please contact Assessment and Reporting Branch at the Office of the Board of Studies by phone on 9367 8371.