Presenter: Sue McVeighCommerce facilitator Auckland/Northlands.mcveigh@auckland.ac.nzPhone: 623 8899 x 46420

Learning Intentions for session• To ensure teachers have a clear understanding of

the “sources of authority” for the curriculum, such as the Curriculum Guides.

• To create an opportunity for teachers to discuss experiences of internal/external assessments at L1 and L2

• To (re)consider the literacy demands of Business Studies and discuss strategies for raising student achievement

• To make links with others in the community of Business Studies teachers

“Business Studies is an easy subject, ideal for non-academic students.”

Future Focus

Business studies students are potential business leaders of the future. The skills that they learn in Business Studies will help them succeed throughout their lives.•Sustainable•Citizenship•Enterprise•Globalisation•General future-related issues affecting business

Two learning objectives

Curriculum L6 / NCEA L1•LO 6-1: Understand how, as a result of internal and external factors, small business owners make operational decisions that have consequences for the success of their business.•LO 6-2: Plan, carry out, and then review a one-off business activity, basing recommendations for the future on market feedback.

Curriculum L7 / NCEA L2•LO 7-1: Explore how and why large businesses in New Zealand make operational decisions in response to internal and external factors.•LO 7-2: Plan, take to market, review, and then refine a business activity incorporating a community well-being focus, basing recommendations for the future on market feedback.

Curriculum L8 / NCEA L3•LO 8-1: Analyse how and why New Zealand businesses operating in global markets make operational and strategic decisions in response to interacting internal and external factors.•LO 8-2: Plan, take to market, review, and then refine an innovative, sustainable business activity; analyse the activity and its success in the market place.

The documents/sources of authority• MOE ~ standard writing, Curriculum Guides (formerly

Teaching & Learning Guidelines), TKI exemplars• NZQA ~ quality assurance, focused solely on

interpretation of the standardsHence the disconnect ~ unless TKI standards have been

QUAMed, they should not be seen as determining how assessment should precisely look.

We are Social Scientists

Just a reminder that all Business Studies resources on the TKI site are arranged under the Social Sciences tab

Out of kilter / out of scope

Realignment of other subjects

Business Studies(new)

2010 Level 1

2011 Level 1 2011 Level 2

2012 Level 2 2012 Level 3

2013 Level 3

It is for this reason that internal exemplars have not been put up on NZQA. Business Studies is “out of scope” and not a priority for resourcing. However, these exemplars are being worked on and should appear online by the start of the 2013 year.

Business Studies NZ style

A word of caution as it is tempting to use the myriad of UK/US/Australian resources on the net …

Overseas courses tend to cover 22 or more topics, with lots of boxes to tick ~ very theory driven. Breadth is the key

The NZ curriculum is based on six topics (seven at L3), as indicated on the matrix. Our curriculum is about depth.

Freedom to set context for internal standards to engage studentsAt each level the internal standards allow the flexibility for teachers to create authentic, local contexts that will capture student interest.

Don’t feel hemmed in. Trust your professional judgment about whether or not the spirit of the standard is being adhered to.

The language of standards enables this flexibility.

For example, 1.4 / 90840 Marketing Mix

Explanatory Note (EN3)“To apply would typically involve:•Defining, describing, identifying or outlining the marketing mix for a product•Applying appropriate skills and ideas•Stating relevant business knowledge•Stating a Maori business concept/s where relevant”

For example, 2.5 / 90847 Motivation Theory

Explanatory Note (EN3)“Investigation typically involves:•Collecting evidence relevant to the motivation practices in a business•Stating results of the investigation supported by relevant examples …•Stating a Maori business concept(s) where relevant to the motivation theory

The Standards say very littleThe BST standards ~ and the realigned standards of other subjects ~ no longer include content lists. Instead, parameters are indicated in the Curriculum Guides.

For example ~ 90841 1.5 Aspects of HR processes: “collecting relevant information about the aspects of human resource processes”

What aspects???

Go to T&L Guidelines

Click on the standard link to read detail of the aspects:- job analysis - job description - person specification - methods of advertising - screening and short-listing - interview and testing - offer and acceptance process (including employment contract) - induction and pōwhiri/whakatau

Maori concepts

Curriculum Guides explain these.

Sue McVeigh is working with Maori community facilitator to source some authentic case studies around the Maori concepts.

Each year the Specifications indicate how these will be assessed in externals.

2012 specs

Levels 1 and 2“If any Māori concepts are referred to in the examination, candidates will be given a definition or explanation of the term in the examination paper, and they will be required to apply or explain the concept in relation to a specific business context.” Level 3“A specific Māori concept relating to business, Rangatiratanga, will be examined 2012.”

Business studies themes

The curriculum is designed around five business themes that encompass business knowledge, content, and concepts:

Structuring courses

Consider students’ talents, aspirations and needs. Teachers need to plan what content will be covered, in order: •to limit duplication•to ensure that there is a progression of depth and breadth in learning•to ensure that students remain motivated and engaged in learning.

L3 and University Entrance

Note that while a L3 Business Studies Achievement Standard course is recognised as an approved subject for university entrance, this is not (yet) the case for the University of Auckland.U of A’s entry requirements for 2014 will be published later in 2013. There is no guarantee that Business Studies will be added to Table A or B for 2014 ~ the subject may not be determined to have sufficient maturity

The curriculum and Young EnterpriseMany schools incorporate the Young Enterprise programme in their Business Studies courses at Levels 2 and 3. Some offer the …

YE Certificate - level 3, 24 credit equivalentsTo gain the certificate, the Young Enterprise student must: •Complete YE Course Requirements level 3, 10 credit equivalents•Pass the YE Exam level 3, 14 credit equivalents

•We have the same teachers that wrote and trialed the assessments back for a review soon.  •Hope that helps in the meantime to get a feel for how YE Trust is trying to align the programmes to the new curriculum in business.

This Certificate is a stand-alone qualification. It does not have A/M/E levels attached to it. However, the credits do count towards NCEA and university entrance.

Many schools continue to offer YES as they have a history of doing so ~ and students like the experience: create a business >> have fun (hopefully) >> make money.

A combination of the YES Programme (course requirement) and the business activity standard 2.6 presents some challenges ~ the business must meet the community context required of AS 2.6, and there must be two cycles of the business activity.

“Carry out, review and refine a business activity within a community context with guidance.”

Combining YES with AS 3.6 is a better fit, provided the activity incorporates consultation and evaluation of the business’s sustainability

“Carry out, with consultation, an innovative and sustainable business activity.”

Within the next few weeks the Young Enterprise Trust will be meeting with the the teachers in the trial, with a view to reviewing the YE Programme and producing resources to more closely align the programme with the standards.

In the meantime NZQA have approved credit equivalence for the YE Certificate until March 2014 (this has to be applied for each year). QA is reviewing credit inclusion so there is no certainty that the two credit pathways will continue past 2014.

L1 YES Start-up programme

This will be available from 2013. It is a “mini YES” and will be linked to the Level 1 internals ~ human resources, marketing and carry out a business.

Make sure you have bookmarked www.yetrust.co.nz to ensure you are up-to-date with YES developments and to access the Trust’s resources.

Great resources available from YE Trust

Such as …. this new book which will be in Whitcoulls stores in January. It includes case studies from YES alumni as well as hints and tips from prominent NZ business people such as Tony Falkenstein and Sir Peter Leitch. It chronicles the business startup process and has practical advice on generating a business idea, marketing, etc.

Making links with each other

You are probably familiar with the existing commerce online teacher forums hosted by Google Groups:https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!forum/ecoteachers

https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!forum/nzaccteach

Very soon there will be one for you!

I am working with Hillary Mann of Long Bay College to set up a Business Studies Google Group. Details will be sent to you via email once it is up and running. The name Hillary has reserved is: nzbusinessteach

It will be a forum for collaboration and sharing.

Or, if you prefer …

There is already a Facebook Group called

NCEA Business Studies Teachers ~ this has been going for a year with about 10 members who have uploaded files.

Go to the group and ask to join; state where you are teaching Business Studies.

There already exists a Team Solutions wikispace for Business Studies.This currently contains only L1 and L2 unit plans written by the fantastic members of the Professional Learning Group during the last few years.The wikispace will be updated and added to.

http://teamsolutionssocialsciences.wikispaces.com/

Cluster Groups already exist:

•On the North Shore•In South Auckland•In West/Central

What others are needed/wanted?