Common Skills in the HND in Computing Programme

There are seven skills, called Common Skills, which are developed and assessed in every Edexcel Higher National Diploma.  You must pass all seven Common Skills to pass the HND. 

How Common Skills are assessed

You will find that some of your courseworks will also assess common skills as a D, M, P, U or X  (Distinction, merit, pass, unsatisfactory, exempt).  Over the two years of study you will have three to five grades in each common skill.  The overall grade will be the median grade of all the assessments for a particular skill.   If there is an odd number of grades there is no problem defining the median.  If there is an even number of grades then the average of the two middle grades is taken, rounding up if necessary.  So for example if you have:

Note that:

• If you have a "U" on one coursework it will not necessarily matter as it usually falls off the end
• If you are a direct entrant to level 2 modules then the grades are decided from level 2 modules alone, but you may supply extra evidence.  See the Progamme Tutor about this.

You should keep your own record of your Common Skills grades, but early in semester B of level 2 we will email you with the record of the grades we have recorded for you.  From these grades you can tell if you are likely to fail one or more Common Skills.  It is YOUR responsibility to contact the Porgamme Tutor to arrange the extra evidence you will supply to support your claim for a pass.  This extra evidence can be taken from other coursework on the HND programme, or from part-time or voluntary work.  You should read the aims and outcomes below to help you decide what extra evidence you will supply. 

The final grades for each Common Skill are confirmed at the level 2 Principal Board of Examiners which normally takes place in July.

LEVEL 1	1com0008 Systems & Networks 1	1com0012 Business Systems Development	1com0013 Presentation & Communication of Information	1com0014 Event-Driven Programming
Applying Design and Creativity	No	No	Yes	Yes
Applying Numeracy	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Applying Technology	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Communicating	No	Yes	Yes	No
Managing and Developing Self	No	Yes	Yes	No
Managing Tasks and Solving Problems	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Working with and Relating to Others	No	Yes	Yes	No

LEVEL 2	2com0053 Program Devlopment (MM)	2com0013 System Analysis and Design	2com0020 Multimedia Authoring / 2com0056 Internet Technology / 2com0023 Databases
Applying Design and Creativity	Yes	Yes	No
Applying Numeracy	Yes	No	No
Applying Technology	Yes	No	Yes
Communicating	Yes	Yes	No
Managing and Developing Self	Yes	Yes	No
Managing Tasks and Solving Problems	Yes	Yes	No
Working with and Relating to Others	Yes	Yes	No

Managing and Developing Self

This skill area enables learners to:

1. recognise, understand and meet their own responsibilities within a range of personal and work roles
2. use the concept of role to identify and determine their own role, responsibilities and relationships with other roles
3. use time effectively with a positive attitude towards applying time management techniques to the prioritising and achievement of objectives
4. decide how to undertake tasks, including prioritising and continuously evaluating the processes to be used
5. plan and manage their own personal and career development with an understanding of the current and future requirements
6. identify future or alternative roles and plan a development programme to meet these new roles
7. transfer learning from one situation to another and identify any new skills and knowledge to be developed
8. identify, develop and exploit fully the potential of transferrable skills.

Working with and Relating to Others

This skill area enables learners to:

1. develop an awareness, tolerance and understanding of other peoples’ values opinions and beliefs, in relationship to their own and demonstrate a respect for others’, whilst justifying their own position
2. develop the ability to challenge others’ values, opinions and beliefs in a sensitive and constructive manner
3. relate to and interact with others, to enhance their own performance and that of others
4. identify opportunities for relating to others and taking the initiative to improve relationships enhancing their own performance and that of others
5. achieve goals and objectives in collaboration with colleagues
6. identify where the use of team work would be of advantage and to manage the process accordingly

Communicating

This skill area enables learners to:

1. seek, analyse, utilise and evaluate information from a wide range of sources
2. present information in a visual form as an alternative to the written
3. use writing to communicate in a concise, precise and appropriate manner, conveying information accurately and sensitively, using aids to writing such as a dictionary, thesaurus and specified conventions for style
4. independently identify situations and tasks which require a written communication
5. recognise the need for the importance of verbal and non-verbal communication and develop their abilities through interaction and negotiation with others
6. be sensitive, persuasive and effective in oral and non verbal communication

Managing Tasks and Solving Problems

This skill area enables learners to:

1. gather and use information from a variety of sources to complete relevant tasks
2. independently identify and initiate tasks or situations which require information
3. carry out a variety of tasks in an organised way to enhance the process of completing tasks more efficiently and effectively
4. undertake tasks in a structured and planned way to ensure their successful completion
5. utilise a range of techniques to solve problems effectively to determined timescales
6. synthesise solutions to problems effectively and efficiently
7. develop the ability to provide a number of solutions to problems and to evaluate, select and implement the most appropriate solution.

Applying Numeracy

This skill area enables learners to:

utilise and apply a range of numerical skills and techniques

develop through application an understanding of the role of such techniques

identify the need for numerical skills and techniques within the context of perceived or given problems or tasks.

Applying Technology

This skill area enables learners to:

1. use a wide range of equipment and software to complete tasks and solve problems more effectively
2. develop through application an understanding and appreciation of the role and impact of technology
3. determine when and how to select and use appropriate technologies

Applying Design and Creativity

This skill area enables learners to:

1. appreciate through application the impact of and need for creative and design skills
2. recognise and utilise independently a range of opportunities for the application of design and creativity
3. develop skills and techniques creatively to formulate and apply creative designs within constraints
4. devise imaginative/novel solutions and creative approaches for tasks, systems and problems
5. evaluate/justify the process undertaken.

 

Common Skill Outcomes

Common Skill	Outcome
Managing and Developing Self	Manage own roles and responsibilities Manage own time in achieving objectives Undertakes personal and career development Transfer skills gained to new and changing situations and contexts
Working with and Relating to Others	Treat others’values, beliefs and opinions with respect Relate to and interact effectively with individuals and groups Work effectively as a member of a team
Communicating	Receive and respond to a variety of information Present information in a variety of visual forms Communicate in writing Participate in oral and non-verbal communication
Managing Tasks and Solving Problems	>Use information sources Deal with a combination of routine and non-routine tasks Identify and solve routine and non-routine problems
Applying Numeracy	Apply numerical skills and techniques
Applying Technology	Use a range of technological equipment and systems
Applying Design and Creativity	Apply a range of skills and techniques to develop a variety of ideas in the creation of new/modified products, services or situations Use a range of thought processes