The DeskSpace e-portfolio is available to all SQA Skills for Work candidates and is currently available to centres free of charge.
DeskSpace allows candidates to record their course evidence online, keeping everything together and accessible to teachers/tutors and assessors even when they are at more than one centre. As well as uploading and submitting work, candidates can complete the Skills for Work NAB assessments online and the user friendly interface helps candidates structure their learning through the use of online templates. Feedback on the system has been very positive and more and more centres are offering this support to their candidates.
Deskspace Mobile
In addition, ‘Deskspace Mobile’ is currently being trialled in schools as part of a small-scale pilot. Candidates are able to use their mobile phones to record evidence such as pictures and videos of practical activities for their Skills for Work courses, which can be sent straight to their e-portfolio account from their mobile phone. This is aimed to improve access to the e-portfolio where the practicalites of a skills for work course mean that there isnt always a computer to hand, and will allow pupils to record their learning immediately when out in the field. Deskspace Mobile will be available from August 2010 on a range of mobile platforms.
Training and Support
Training is available for all tutors wishing to offer DeskSpace to their candidates. An online course is available on SQA Academy which tells you all you need to know to get started, while there are also face-to-face training sessions held throughout the year by an SQA Learning Technologist. We are also happy to run a training session at your centre for ten or more tutors.
New training dates at the SQA offices in Glasgow have now been confirmed as follows:
- 31 August 13:00 – 15:00
- 8 September 13:00 – 15:00
- 17 September 13:00 – 15:00
The training is aimed at teachers/tutors delivering the Skills for Work course and wishing to use the DeskSpace e-portfolio, however it can also be a useful overview for management staff or centre IT staff. The trainer will introduce you to the DeskSpace e-portfolio and cover the key features of the system, as well as explain the registration process. There will also be opportunity for a question and answer session. A training event on Solar e-assessment will be held in the morning of the above dates. If you are interested in attending the morning session please note this in your e-mail to book a place or obtain further information.
To register your interest or book a place on a training session, or to obtain access to the online SQA Academy course please e-mail esf@sqa.org.uk.
How to sign up
The requirement for access to the SQA DeskSpace e-portfolio is to attend at least the online or face-to-face training course. Details of how to register candidates on the system will be supplied during the training. However, if you have any questions about the registration process please contact esf@sqa.org.uk.
Learning Technologist event 30 June
In order to further support the tutors using the system we are holding an information event for learning technologists and technical support staff in colleges on the afternoon of Wednesday 30 June at the SQA offices in Glasgow.
The event will run through what the tutors have learned so far, as well as time for LTs to explore the system and ask questions.
Other technologies available will also be shown, such as SQA GamesSpace (a 3D environment for assessment in selected SfW courses) and the SQA Academy which hosts an online training course on Deskspace. The event will last 2 hours with plenty time for questions and answers and there will be an opportunity to meet other technical support staff implementing the Deskspace e-portfolio. There is no cost to attend and refreshments will be provided. Places can be booked through Donna Hamilton, ESF Adminstrator at Donna.Hamilton@sqa.org.uk
Further information
See the Skills for Work website for further information at http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/36536.html
