Extended Project Qualification

Projects are free-standing qualifications and a compulsory part of the DIPLOMA.

They offer students a free project choice, so they can explore an aspect of a subject they are studying or a topic in which they have a personal interest.

The topic for the project is chosen by the student and agreed by the student's teacher, who then acts as his or her PROJECT SUPERVISOR. The student has to show that they can plan, deliver and present a piece of work at either Level 3 of the National Qualifications Framework.

The Project requires the teaching of relevant planning, organisational, project management, study and presentation skills and result in a piece of independent work undertaken by the learner. This work will be guided, monitored and internally assessed by PROJECT SUPERVISORS.

Students will require in total 120 GUIDED LEARNING HOURS this includes time spent on teaching activities, time allocated for the learners’ independent work and time for individual supervision and guidance which is documented by the student in the PROJECT PRODUCTION LOG.

Learners will be required to…

• choose a topic
• draft a project title
• agree project aims and objectives
• plan, research and carry out the project
• provide evidence of all stages of project production
• deliver a presentation to a specified audience

Learners can choose to work independently or in a group and, ideally, students will be encouraged towards projects that have a global citizenship relevance, a connection to the individual student’s personal interests, chosen courses and personal plans for the future. Students on DIPLOMA COURSES must select a topic that is relevant to their Diploma line of learning, but that is not substantially covered within the planned DIPLOMA PRINCIPAL LEARNING. Students require regular access to ICT as PROJECT QUALIFICATION DOCUMENTATION and EVIDENCE STORAGE FACILITIES will be provided on KINGSWOODONLINE. In the longer term, Project evidence will be submitted electronically.

AQA Extended Project Qualification

Suggested Outline Plan
Suggested content for delivery

PROJECT ACTIVITY	RESOURCES
KINGSWOOD PARTNERSHIP PROJECT LAUNCH (UWE) INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITIES IN GROUPS… Introduction to Project - and initial activities	STUDENT INTRODUCTION ppt. STUDENT GUIDE booklet
PERSONAL PROFILING activities Initial PROJECT IDEAS - Project possibilities activity Completion of PROJECT PROPOSAL FORMS	PERSONAL PROFILE EXEMPLAR PROJECTS DIPLOMA-RELEVANT TOPICS AQA PROJECT PROPOSAL FORMS (Part A)
Effective PLANNING WORKSHOP PROJECT PLANNING Individual and group discussions with Supervisor Completion of PROJECT LOG	EFFECTIVE PLANNING ppt. PROJECT PLAN TEMPLATE PROJECT PLAN EXEMPLARS AQA PRODUCTION LOG
Effective RESEARCH WORKSHOP PROJECT RESEARCH Updating Electronic Project Log Monitoring Project Plans	EFFECTIVE RESEARCH ppt. AQA PRODUCTION LOG
ASSESSMENT WORKSHOP Project working Updating Electronic Project Log Monitoring Project Plans	HOW YOU WILL BE ASSESSED ppt. AQA PRODUCTION LOG
MID PROJECT REVIEWS Project working Updating Project Log Monitoring Project Plans	MID POINT REVIEW student sheet AQA PRODUCTION LOG
END OF PROJECT REVIEWS Project working Updating Electronic Project Log	END OF PROJECT student sheet AQA PRODUCTION LOG
PRESENTATION WORKSHOP Project presentation preparation PROJECT PRESENTATIONS Presentation evaluations Updating Electronic Project Log	EFFECTIVE PRESENTATIONS ppt. USING POWERPOINT ppt. PROJECT FEEDBACK SHEETS PROJECT ASSESSMENT SHEETS AQA PRODUCTION LOG
Presentation EVALUATIONS Completion of Electronic Project Log DEADLINE FOR PROJECT COMPLETION / Completion of CRF forms	AQA PRODUCTION LOG AAQA CRF FORMS

 

Kingswood Partnership Post 16 Projects Launch Event, 16 September 2008

Extended Project taught elements

Teaching of the skills for Level 3 Projects will be determined by the supervisor and be appropriate to the needs of the learner and their chosen project, but taught elements are likely to include…

• An introduction to the general structure of an Extended Project and its component parts
• the range of ways in which a Level 3 Project can be carried out
• how by choosing a specific activity or project or research task it relates to specific methods of working, the nature of what is produced and the range of final evidence that may be produced
• how a group task differs from one undertaken alone
• the need to develop an understanding of how to access and use effectively a range of primary and secondary resources
• appropriate ICT skills and other Functional Skills in regard to the project and the completion of the Production Log
• an awareness of restrictions in regard to what can be undertaken (health and safety issues, ethical issues and how to deal with controversial issues)
• an ability to understand and develop task management skills including time management, pre-research planning, structuring and amending work when problems and issues arise
• the development of interpersonal skills that enable students to relate to and work with others in a range of contexts
• presentational skills so that students can confidently present their work to an audience
• Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills and Key Skills
• Evaluation skills