Friday 15 Aug 2008 @ 16:32
WiredGov Newswire (news from other organisations)
WiredGov Newswire (news from other organisations)
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KNIGHT: EXTENDED PROJECTS WILL HELP PREPARE STUDENTS FOR WORK AND UNIVERSITY
Schools minister Jim Knight today said that he wants every school to offer their students the opportunity to take an extended project to help prepare them for work or university.
Extended projects can be done on a wide range of exciting topics that can cut across all the subjects a student is studying. The projects can involve making films, music, working models or solving mathematical problems as well as writing essay based investigations or research projects.Mr Knight said he wanted students to be innovative in the topics they chose and not afraid to use new technology to bring their projects to life.
Universities have welcomed the extended project to be offered as part of A Levels and Diplomas because it gives students the research, critical thinking and evaluation skills they value. The projects are a compulsory part of the Diploma and an optional extra for A Level students and can even be taken as a stand alone qualification. They are worth half an A level.
Examples of a possible extended project are:
• a report with findings from an investigation or study
• a dissertation presenting an argument, typically around 5,000 words
• an artefact, for example a work of art or 3D design model, with written explanation of around 1,500 words
• a project including a short film, use of internet based media or a piece of music
Some titles from this year’s pilot included:
• An investigation into whether ASBOs are an effective method of solving antisocial behaviour
• Effects of global warming on Inuit populations
• How has life improved for black South Africans since the demise of apartheid?
• Should the voting age be lowered to 16?
• What is the best solution to the quantum mechanical measurement problem?
Students might incorporate elements of their other studies. For example, a candidate studying music and German A Levels might write a dissertation on the life and work of a German composer. A student studying the Engineering Diploma might make a working model of a pneumatic swing bridge, with mathematical explanation.
Jim Knight said:
“It’s fantastic to see that the pilots have been a success and that students will be picking up grades for the new extended project alongside their A Levels this week. They give students research and analytical skills and the ability to work independently on large-scale projects, which are useful skills in themselves. They are also what universities look for in their applicants, which is why it is a popular development with Higher Education Institutions. It is also why I ultimately want every school to give their students the chance to undertake an extended project as part of a Diploma, alongside A Levels or as a stand-alone qualification. By giving young people a taste of what independent study is like at university, it helps bridge the gap and raise ambition.
” Janice Kay, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Exeter University, said:
“The Extended Project will allow students to develop their critical reasoning skills, their analytic skills and even their project management skills among others, which is something we really value in universities for the kind of stretch and challenge all universities expect their students to engage with and achieve.
'”Geoff Parks, Director of Admissions at Cambridge University, said
“The potential benefits are enormous. Opportunities to get deeply involved in a subject that interests you, to develop research skills, to pull together different areas of the other subjects you are studying and to develop extended writing skills will all be enormously valuable preparation for going to university. I would strongly encourage students to do an extended project whichever university they want to go to.
” Findings from a research project funded by the DCSF and the 1994 Group published Jan 2008 found that the extended project is widely welcomed in principle and in prospect. A large majority of departmental admissions tutors expect to recognise it as a positive attribute when selecting among applicants with similar levels of achievement (both high fliers and those at the borderline). Tutors also welcomed its potential to enhance study skills, to align with undergraduate modes of study and to provide additional diagnostic evidence when selecting among applicants.”
The extended project is a single, stand-alone piece of work which requires students to use a research plan and work on their own. It is a compulsory part of the Diploma and can be taken alongside A Levels, or as a qualification in itself. It will be worth half an A Level.
Teachers will deliver a taught element including research skills and advise on project management. They will also supervise and support students as they carry out their project. Projects will be marked internally to strict criteria.
From this September sixth formers and college students across the country will be able to do an extended project as part of their programme of study. A successful pilot has already been carried out by AQA and Edexcel exam boards, with 1,432 students from a broad cross-section of schools undertaking a project.
Editor's Notes
This press notice relates to 'England'
Extended project titles used in the pilots:
• An investigation into whether ASBOs are an effective method of solving anti- social behaviour.
• Analysis of screen plays using the theories of Todorov and Propp.
• Are mobile phones affecting health?
• Can science explain the nature of happiness?
• Can we justify scientific research on animals?
• Creation of a database with automatic ordering facility to meet the requirements of a specific company
• Cultural comparison of Japanese Manga and American superhero comics.
• Cultural sub-groups and music genre.
• Effects of global warming on Inuit.
• How has life improved for black South Africans since the demise of apartheid?
• How have advances in technology affected globalisation?
• Immigration: effects and benefits for the economy.
• Impact of WW1 on soldiers and families - literary and historical sources.
• Is graffiti art or vandalism?
• Is the media to blame for causing Islamophobia?
• Origins of animal life - God or Science.
• Sexism in the workplace.
• Should Great Britain buy a replacement for Trident?
• Should the voting age be lowered to 16?
• What is the best solution to the quantum mechanical measurement problem?
2. The Extended Project is a new qualification which requires students to produce a single piece of work of their choosing that requires evidence of planning, preparation, research and autonomous working. The aim of the Extended Project is to strengthen programmes of study for 16- to 19-year-olds, testing a wide range of skills. It will be available as a stand-alone qualification. It will provide continuity between A levels and Advanced Diplomas since it is a compulsory part of the Diploma programme but can also be taken as an optional part of an A level study programme.
3. An Extended Project is about the size of half an A level and equivalent in standard to the second year of an A level. It will attract UCAS points equivalent to half an A level. It will be offered from September 2008 and most awarding bodies will be making their first awards in summer 2009, but some may make their first awards in winter 2008/09. It will be for individual centres to decide whether to offer it to their students, but the government is currently considering whether to introduce an entitlement to the Extended Project in the future.
4. The Extended Project will help students to develop the skills, knowledge and understanding that they will be able to use when tackling similar projects in the future in HE for example. Students undertaking an Extended Project will be required to:
• Devise, design and plan the project
• Research, critically select, organise and use information
• Select and use a range of resources
• Analyse data, apply findings and demonstrate understanding of any linkages, connections and complexities of the topic
• Select and use a range of skills to carry out the project and achieve planned outcomes
• Evaluate all aspects of the project, including outcomes in relation to stated objectives and own learning and performance
• Select and use a range of communication skills and media to present project outcomes and conclusions.
The Extended Project offers opportunities for students to:
• have significant input into the choice and design of an extended piece of work
• develop and apply decision-making and problem-solving skills, initiative and enterprise
• extend their planning, research, critical thinking, analytical, synthesis, evaluation and presentation skills
• use their learning experiences to support their personal aspirations for higher education and/or career development.
Teachers will deliver a taught element, including the teaching of research skills, and advise on project management. They will also supervise and support students as they carry out their project.
Examples of possible outcomes for the Extended Project are:
• a report with findings from an investigation or study
• a dissertation presenting an argument
• an artefact
• a performance.
Assessment
The following aspects will be assessed:
• designing and planning the project
• selecting, organising and using a range of resources; analysing data, applying findings and demonstrating understanding of any linkages, connections and complexities of the topic
• selecting and using a range of skills to take decisions critically and achieve planned outcomes
• evaluating all aspects of the project; using a range of communication skills and media to present the outcomes of the project.
Students will need to provide appropriate evidence that they have met the criteria for these aspects of the project. Some of this will be written evidence.
Marking
The Extended Project will be marked by teachers. By monitoring the students throughout the pilot and through questioning students on their presentation of outcomes, assessors will be able to authenticate the project as the work of the student. Schools and colleges will have internal standardisation processes in place to ensure consistency of marking within the centre. The awarding bodies will externally moderate the Extended Project by checking a sample of the marked projects in each centre to confirm that the marking is accurate and consistent across all schools and colleges.
Grading
The Extended Project is graded, like A levels and Advanced Diplomas, from A* to E, where A* is the highest. Achievement that is insufficient to lead to the award of a certificate is reported as unclassified (or U).
Data
Learners won’t start until September ‘08 at the earliest (and most likely May ’09). So we have no current relevant data.
Contact Details
Public Enquiries 0870 000 2288, info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
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