Transcript Diploma aggregation service

Diploma aggregation service:
An introduction to Release 3 for CABs
March 2009
Content
1. About this guide
2. Things to know before you start
3. What’s in Release 3 for CABs?
4. What’s new for CABs as third
party learner administrators?
5. Training and support available
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1. About this guide
This guide provides an introduction to Release 3 of the Diploma
aggregation service (DAS) for component awarding bodies (CABs). It is
specifically aimed at trainers to help them bring existing users up to date
with the latest functionality.
Accompanying this slide show is an updated reference guide and eLearning tool. The latter can be used by trainers in delivering refresher
training or by users to self-teach.
Use the forward and backward arrows on your keyboard to navigate
through the slides. Click on ‘Esc’ at any time to escape and close the file.
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2. Things to know before you start
Before we start on Release 3, let’s just re-cap:
• What is DAS?
• What roles can CABs be assigned?
• What is a learner account?
And discuss how to migrate
from Release 2 to Release 3
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Things to know before you start cont
What is DAS?
DAS is a managed, web-based IT system that brings together all parties
involved in the administration and awarding of Diplomas.
DfES
QMIS
TESG
Home
centres
Delivery
centres
Assessment
centres
DAS
LRS
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CABs
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DABs
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Things to know before you start cont
DAS stores information on learners and their Diplomas, and shares it
between centres and awarding bodies.
The main tasks performed by DAS users, learners and the system prior to
aggregation and claiming are shown in the figure below.
Verify
ULNs
Obtain
ULNs
Enroll on
Diploma
course
New step –
not mandatory
for CABs
Open learner
account
in DAS
Validate ULN
with LRS
Complete
components
Record
PLTS & WE
Post
expected
results
Continues
overleaf
Remit of Diploma aggregation service
Enter
learner for
exams
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Awarding Body
Das
Learner
Centre
Key
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Things to know before you start cont
DAS enables the awarding of Diplomas by managing the claims process
and providing information for the transcript.
The main tasks performed by DAS users, learners and the system during
aggregation and claiming are shown in the figure below.
Do more
learning/
resits
Continued
from
overleaf
Post
results
Aggregate
components
New step
Initiate
claim
Issue trial
grade
Accept claim
request/
award
Diploma
Make
available
data for
transcript
Amend/
upgrade
Diploma
Issue
Diploma
ITC set
Remit of Diploma aggregation service
Learner Body
Awarding
Centre
Das
Learner
Centre
Key
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Things to know before you start cont
What roles can CABs be assigned?
All users are assigned a role according to the tasks they perform. CABs will
have one or more local administrators, results posters and, if they have
been delegated third party access by a centre, learner administrators.
Creates and manages user accounts
Local Administrator
Roles
CAB
Tasks
Posts results, result amendments,
result withdrawals and expected results
Third Party Learner Administrator
Results Poster
Creates and manages learner accounts
on behalf of a centre
Records PLTS and work experience on
behalf of a centre
Registers, sets ITCs and claims
Diplomas on behalf of a centre
Views and retrieves learner information
on behalf of a centre
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Learner data maintainer
PLTS and work experience
recorder
DAB relationship manager
Learner data viewer
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Things to know before you start cont
What is a learner account?
Within DAS, a learner account holds information on the learner, their
chosen line and level of learning, and their achievements to track progress
towards the completion of their Diploma.
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Things to know before you start cont
CABs post results (and expected results – see later) into learner accounts.
If they have third party learner administrator (TPLA) status, they can also
view accounts associated with the centre that delegated the TPLA rights.
TPLAs will not see
the qualification
number, CAB or
assessment centre
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Things to know before you start cont
Migrating to Release 3
There is no change to the Release 2 interfaces and CABs can continue to
use these until March 2011. However, users should migrate to Release 3
before this time in order to make use of new functionality and enhanced
error messages.
If your organisation has a direct link to DAS, via the application
programming interface (API), you will need to upgrade your system and
select the Release 3 end points (see the API Guide at
www.qca.org.uk/dasdocs).
If you use batch files, you will need to review your file layouts against the
Release 3 Batch file definitions document, and indicate to DAS that you
are changing the version of interfaces you use (see overleaf).
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Things to know before you start cont
From their home page, the
local administrator will need
to change the version of their
batch file interfaces from
Version 2 to Version 3 when
they migrate to Release 3
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3. What’s in Release 3 for CABs?
Release 3 provides greater flexibility for CABs so they can post results
with alternative pathways or options, and help centres by posting
‘expected results’. New functionality also enables CABs to manage
batch file uploads and downloads more efficiently.
New CAB
functions:
Expected
results
Batch file
status
Qualification
Accreditation Number
(QAN) suffices
Batch download
of notifications
Results
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The following
slides discuss
these new
functions in
more detail
Batch files
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What’s in Release 3 for CABs? cont
Results 1: Qualification Accreditation Number suffix
DAS is able to distinguish between the results for qualifications that have
alternative pathways by using a Qualification Accreditation Number (QAN)
suffix.
This four-digit identifier, to be shown in NDAQ, enables DAS to aggregate
multiple achievements of the same QAN, so long as the suffices are
different.
The QAN suffix will replace the ‘CAB level endorsement’ used in DAS
Release 2. CABs can continue to use this with Release 2 interface,
however, the text must match the pathway title in NDAQ exactly or a error
message will be generated.
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What’s in Release 3 for CABs? cont
Results 2: Expected results
CABs can post an expected result to enable centres (and TPLAs) to identify
missing results and ensure that learners are awarded their Diploma on time.
TPLAs will not see the
qualification number, CAB
or assessment centre for
expected results
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What’s in Release 3 for CABs? cont
Batch files 1: Batch download of notifications
CABs can download notifications received during a user-defined period
and either print or save these to a computer.
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What’s in Release 3 for CABs? cont
Batch files 2: Batch file status
Users can be sure that their batch files have uploaded and been
processed correctly by viewing a new batch file status screen.
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What’s in Release 3? cont
Users can view a file
showing information,
warnings and error
messages. They can
also change the
‘action required’ icon
to ‘reviewed’ to assist
administration
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4. What’s new for CABs as TPLAs?
Release 3 is important to centres and CABs acting as TPLAs as it gives
them a new interface and more functionality.
New centre-facing
functions:
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Automatic
de/reactivation of
learner accounts
Amend/upgrade
awarded Diploma
Centre
API
Batch update
to learner
account status
Completion
status report
Interface
Security
Diploma
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What’s new for CABs as TPLAs? cont
Interface 1: Centre API
Release 3 will enable developers to build a direct link between centres
(and third parties acting as centres) and DAS which may increase
efficiency and accuracy.
Current interface options:
Option
1
New interface:
Option
2
Option
3
.csv
MIS
Web-Based
User Interface
Web-Based
User Interface
MIS
DAS
DAS
DAS R3
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What’s new for CABs as TPLAs? cont
Security 1: Batch update to learner account status
TPLAs can improve the security of learner accounts by deactivating them
in one step by uploading a new batch file, eg when a cohort leaves.
Security 2: Automatic deactivation and reactivation
If there has been no activity in a learner account for two years, DAS will
automatically deactivate it for security reasons. The account will be
automatically reactivated by certain triggers, eg CABs posting new results.
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What’s new for CABs as TPLAs? cont
Diploma 1: Completion status reports
Users can track a learner’s progress with a new report that shows what
components are required and have been completed.
Access the bar charts from the
learner’s account. Click on component
heading to see the results for that
component, or ‘view details’ to see all
actual and expected results
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What’s new for CABs as TPLAs? cont
Alternatively, extract a report
for one or more learners
from your home page to print
or save to a computer
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What’s new for CABs as TPLAs? cont
Diploma 2: Amend/upgrade an awarded Diploma
Users can request a change to an already-awarded Diploma if a learner
achieved more ASL qualifications than required and:
• wants these to show on their transcript
• wants to change their Diploma to one with an endorsed title,
change to a different endorsed title, or revert from an endorsed
Diploma to an non-endorsed one
• wants to upgrade from a Progression to an Advanced Diploma
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5. Training and support available
There is a portfolio of updated and enhanced training materials, support
functions and guidance documents to support Release 3.
Upgraded and
enhanced products:
Reference manuals
for centres, CABs
and DABs
Regular
communications
Factsheets on
DAS, ULNs and
verifying ULNs
E-learning tools
for centres, CABs
and DABs
QCA website,
includes FAQs
Essential
Guides for centres
Presentations for
trainers in centres,
CABs and DABs
DAS Helpdesk (for
centres) and Service
desk (for ABs)
DAS Quick
Guide for centres
Training
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Support
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Guidance
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Training and support available cont
For general information, see:
DAS home page at www.qca.org.uk/das
Go direct to CAB training materials on:
Information for awarding bodies at: www.qca.org.uk/qca_19060.aspx
Access technical documentation (including the API guide) in:
Secure store at: www.qca.org.uk/dasdocs
Thank you
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