New Digital Cre8or "GCSE" gets go-ahead

 

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By Barry Collins

Posted on 14 Jan 2009 at 16:07

A new digital media qualification that is the equivalent of a GCSE has been given the go-ahead by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA).

The Digital Cre8or qualification is comprised of eight units, including digital audio, digital still images, moving image language, digital video and storytelling with animation.

The subject requires pupils to develop and demonstrate creative skills, such as capturing audio in different formats for music players, digital photography and capturing and editing digital video.

Schools can either teach the Digital Cre8or course as a standalone subject or incorporate individual units to support other areas of the curriculum, including traditional subjects such as maths and science. "You could build digital imaging into art or drama, for instance," says Andrzej Plocki, account manager for qualifications at the British Computer Society (BCS), which created the qualification.

The full qualification is currently the equivalent of a GCSE 'B' grade, and students either fail or pass the subject - there are no gradings. Students are assessed by their own teachers, although there is an element of external moderation by the BCS.

Around 20 schools across the UK have already adopted Digital Cre8or, with the BCS hopeful that many more will sign up.