Enhancing Academic Proficiency and Workplace Competencies in Secondary School Learners through Consumer Studies Assessment
In South Africa, the National Senior Certificate (NSC) and the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) play crucial roles in assessing learners' academic proficiency and workplace competencies. Consumer Studies, as an elective subject, is integral in developing responsible consumer behavior and equipping learners with practical skills for product development and marketing. The IEB's intentional educational beliefs focus on nurturing learners to become critical thinkers, ethical reasoners, problem solvers, and active citizens committed to upholding societal principles. The assessment model for Consumer Studies includes theory exams, practical assessments, and school-based tasks, aiming to develop both academic and vocational acumen intentionally and explicitly.
- Academic proficiency
- Workplace competencies
- Secondary school learners
- Consumer Studies assessment
- IEB
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USING THE ASSESSMENT OF PRACTICAL SUBJECTS TO DEVELOP BOTH ACADEMIC PROFICIENCY AND WORKPLACE COMPETENCIES IN SECONDARY SCHOOL LEARNERS: THE CASE FOR CONSUMER STUDIES ESTELLE NEL (SOUTH AFRICA)
In South Africa National Senior Certificate (NSC) is a school leaving qualification at Grade 12 Supported by a national curriculum (CAPS) Independent Examinations Board is one of 3 assessment bodies accredited to assess this qualification
IEB Philosophy Assessment shapes WHAT is TAUGHT, HOW it is TAUGHT and HOW it is ASSESSED Assessment DRIVES teaching and learning Assessment has an IMPACT on what teachers do Assessment has transformative power This impacts on what the IEB does
IEBs Intentional Educational Beliefs The IEB is cognisant that assessment is essential in developing learners who are responsible South African citizens, able to negotiate the challenges of a global world. Through our assessments, we are motivated to develop learners who are: critical users of information ethical reasoners problem solvers creative and reflective thinkers lifelong learners society members respectful of diversity, particularly in the Southern African context active citizens who are committed to upholding the principles of the South African Constitution and the wellbeing of all people.
The NSC is a 7 subject package Consumer Studies is one of the elective subjects with a practical component IEB Assessment of Consumer Studies
Consumer Studies lays a foundation that develops responsible and informed consumer behaviour in respect of food, clothing, housing, furnishings and household equipment. This contributes to the improvement of the quality of life of consumers and to the development of the economy and social fabric of South Africa. Consumer Studies also prepares learners to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, values and attitudes to produce and market products that satisfy consumer needs.
IEB Assessment Model Theory exam Practical Assessment Task School Based Assessment 50% 25% 200 marks: 3 hours Approximately 10 weeks. Submitted as a portfolio of evidence The entire year 25% This structure is used to intentionally and explicitly develop both academic and vocational acumen
Theory Examination Considerable emphasis is placed on the acquisition of higher order thinking skills. The following weightings are applied to the design of the paper, using Blooms taxonomy: Knowledge: 30% Comprehension: 20% 60% Lower Order Thinking Application: 10% Analysis: Synthesis: Evaluation: 10% 10% 40% Higher Order Thinking 20%
Theory examination The content of the subject is used to assess higher order thinking skills. Learners have to apply their knowledge and understanding to unfamiliar, unrehearsed contexts to e.g. provide and justify an opinion, critique a given scenario, devise a strategy to deal with a problem, analyse and interpret data, debate ethical issues. The paper requires learners to write an integrated extended writing response using provided unseen sources. This ensures that teachers use the subject to develop the cognitive skills necessary for success at university level.
2017 Pairs Analysis Subject No. of candidates 686 225 Difference in Average 1% -2,8% Correlation English Business Studies 0.8285 0.7923 729 candidates wrote Consumer Studies in 2017 Medicine, Statistician, Industrial Engineer, Physiotherapist
Practical Assessment Task The learners are required to apply the entrepreneurial knowledge and skills they have learned to the design and execution of a creative, entrepreneurial process that they have developed. A scenario is provided by the IEB each year to ensure standardisation. Within the parameters of the scenario, learners work individually to plan, produce, test, and evaluate a suitable product. A rubric provided by the IEB is used to assess the process and product.
Example of a Scenario CARNIVAL DAY You are the owner of a catering company and have been asked by a school to assist it with eats for their Carnival Day. You are to develop a choux pastry or yeast product that will capture the market and ensure profitability and uniqueness for future events. Your chosen product can be either sweet or savoury and must be packaged appropriately.
You are expected to demonstrate the following skills/techniques in your chosen product. CHOUX PASTRY: Making choux pastry Effect of dry heat on starch (dextrinization) Moist heat method of cooking Coagulation of protein Temperature control Preparing fruit/vegetables using the conservative method Decorating or garnishing YEAST PRODUCT: Use of a biological raising agent Kneading, proving, knocking down and shaping of a dough Effect of dry heat on starch Moist heat method of cooking Coagulation of protein Preparing fruit/vegetables using the conservative method Decorating or garnishing
Process that is expected 1. Develop an action plan in relation to the scenario. 2. Undertake a market research survey using at least three retailers/suppliers in the local community. 3. Source suitable recipes to meet the requirements of the scenario as well as your findings from the market research. 4. Motivate your product selection. 5. Produce and evaluate the product.
Process that is expected 5. Test the product in the market and revise it accordingly. 6. Produce the final product. 7. Provide a feasible and effective marketing strategy appropriate to the scenario. 8. Conduct a customer satisfaction survey to assess the acceptability of the final product. 9. Reflect on the entire process and the product, identifying limitations and making recommendations for improvements or changes.
Practical Assessment Task The task and assessment are authentic: the topic of entrepreneurship in the curriculum is assessed in an applied, real-life context. A range of life skills are developed such as planning, time management, problem solving, perseverance, collaboration, communication. The process is sufficiently rigorous that learners are enabled to set up their own viable small business.
Conclusion The inclusion of subjects with a practical component in the NSC creates the potential to cater for the diverse abilities and interests of learners. The assessment of Consumer Studies by the IEB ensures that the subject is a vehicle to develop the skills necessary for university studies, as well as those needed to run a small business enterprise.
