Case study
Extended Project:
PLTS:
Preparing for HE
Food for thought
Diploma lecturer Dave Pugh explains how the Extended Project, a new qualif_i cation that can be taken by post-16
learners as a standalone qualif_i cation or as part of the Diploma, is helping to prepare students for higher education
HE EXTENDED Project gives One of my students has said she is really qualifi cation; it is a new approach to teaching
T
young people the freedom to enjoying the Extended Project because it – a change of culture almost.
delve into something outside requires her to work independently. She says it My role is to teach students the approach
the normal perimeters of the is “liberating” because it gives her the freedom and skills required for eff ective inquiry and
curriculum, something they are really to focus on a topic she “is really interested in”. presentation, rather than the specifi c content
interested in and passionate about. It requires T_h is can of course mean that students of the project itself. It is a new experience for
young people to decide what they want to choose to work on topic areas outside of your everyone, so my advice to anyone delivering
learn and, to a large extent, how and when expertise, which can be a little disconcerting the Extended Project for the fi rst time is to do
they go about learning it. at fi rst. However, you quickly get used to it as much preparation as possible.
I am delivering the Extended Project as part and, in any case, it is not the teacher’s role T_h e Diploma is usually a two-year course
of the Advanced Diploma in Creative and to be an expert in everything. We are here to and it is up to individual schools whether
Media, but it can also be taken as a standalone facilitate the learning process and to ensure they choose to deliver the Extended Project
qualifi cation. It is worth half an A level, and students develop the skills needed to complete in the fi rst or second year of learning. I opted
carries UCAS points, so it is easy for parents a successful project. to start working on it in the summer term so
and students to see how it can help lead to Having said that, the Extended Project is that students have time to think about the
university. not right for everyone. I know other teachers content of their project over the holiday. I also
T_h e Extended Project allows young have found some students are not ready for wanted to make sure they had already begun
people to pursue an area of special interest. this level of independent learning – it is vital developing the necessary research skills.
It is fl exible so students can opt to work that teachers assess the appropriateness of the In order to do this, I set up a number of
individually or as part of a group. T_h ey can qualifi cation on a case-by-case basis and are smaller research projects, including a project
also decide how they want to present their confi dent that students are mature enough called “emotions”. T_h is involved students
project; some may decide on a traditional and can self-motivate. researching a well known artist of their choice
format such as an extended essay, others Students must understand what is expected using a variety of research resources such as
might conduct a scientifi c investigation of them from the outset – they need to be books, journals and the internet. T_h ey were
or a fi eld study or deliver a dramatic clear that it is not a soft option and that they then asked to consider how their chosen artist
performance. T_h e topics are also varied. For are required to produce a rigorous piece of uses emotion in their work and present their
example, one of my students is hoping to do work that explains and evaluates every stage of fi ndings through an interactive piece and
their Extended Project on the “ethics of high their project. portrait photography. T_h is work was shown to
street companies”, another wants to focus As with all new the rest of the class, as well as local employers.
on “accessibility for students qualifi cations, there are It is really exciting to be involved in
with hearing diffi culties challenges to face, the something that gives students so much
to the youth culture of diff erence with the creative freedom. As well as giving them
today”. Extended Project is the opportunity to explore an area that is
that it is not just pertinent to them, they develop essential
a new skills such as time management,
planning, independent learning, and
analytical skills – skills that will
benefi t them whatever path they
choose to follow. DD
• Dave Pugh teaches the Advanced
Diploma in Creative and
Media at Oldham
College.
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39-41 oldham case study.indd 13 18/9/09 10:19:21
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