The Extended Project Qualification

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The Extended Project Qualification

• An overview for teachers

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What is the Extended Project Qualification?

• Part of the education reform programme
• Created to provide additional stretch and
  challenge
• Definition offers the opportunity for learners
  to produce an extended piece of work either in an
  area that they are already studying or in which
  they have a particular interest
• Delivery of EPQ in centres will involve a taught
  element plus mentoring, tutorials and access to
  resources / e-learning materials
• Option for A level learners but compulsory part
  of Specialised Diplomas from 2008
• Assessed on both process and product

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• EP level 3 aims
• Specifically designed to aid transition to higher
  education by stretching and challenging students
• Also equips them with the research, reflection
  and independent study skills they will need to
  succeed at university.

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Employability skills

• Students can also gain valuable project
  management skills that companies are really
  looking for when recruiting. Indeed the skills of
  planning, self management of learning, collecting
  and analysing data, reviewing and evaluating
  (all needed to do an Extended Project ) will
  enhance their personal aspirations and career
  development.

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What are learners required to do?

• Select a topic / area of interest
• Identify and draft aims of their project and
  justify their choices of project
• Plan, research and carry out their project
• Provide evidence of all stages of the project
• Deliver a presentation to a specified audience

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EP level 3-AOs

• MANAGE
• Identify, design, plan and complete the task
• apply organisational skills and strategies
• USE RESOURCES
• Obtain and select information
• Use a range of sources
• Analyse data
• Demonstrate any connections

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AOs (continue)

• DEVELOP AND REALISE
• Use a range of skills including new technologies
• Solve problems
• Take decisions
• Achieve planned outcomes
• REVIEW
• Evaluate outcomes
• Evaluate your own learning and performance
• Use a range of communication skills and media to
  present outcomes and conclusions

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Emphasis on skills

• 60 assessed on process
• 40 assessed on product
• Skills are what universities and employers are
  looking for and what some students lack. The
  EPQs emphasis on skills should prepare them
  better for the future.

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Scheme of work

• Click on the following link to see the SOW I
  created for the EPQ pilot

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Project titles case studies

• Student A studying HSC. Wants to do something on
  alcohol
• Ideas of project titles?

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Case study A first meeting with mentor

• Title Alcohol (too vague)
• Age group? to define
• Purpose of project who is it designed for? Who
  is going to benefit from your research?
• Format of presentation? Format of project?

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Case study A ideas

• Alcohol abuse by teenagers reasons and
  consequences on health. Social / economic factors
  involved.
• Project get a better understanding on reasons
  why teenagers drink, what is binge drinking and
  its consequences on teenagers so that you could
  inform NHS, school for PSHE programme in order to
  make people more aware. Drama production to
  educate teenagers on the effects and consequences
  of alcohol abuse?
• Audience teenagers / primary school children /
  specialised staff
• Format video, webpage linked to school website,
  ppt presented in Assembly, leaflet, play...

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Ideas of projects from students at Hillview
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Taught element

• There are quite a lot of resources available on
  teaching skills especially any resources that are
  business-orientated or resources created by
  universities
• I found a lot of information on the internet and
  adapted the information to the Extended Project
• Practical activities may need to be created by
  teachers as at the moment, there isnt any text
  book to support the teaching of the Extended
  Project

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Mentoring sessions

• Can be held as regularly as necessary for the
  student
• Mentors do not have to be subject-specialists
• Mentors act as supervisors and guide students but
  do NOT spoon-feed them. Students need to take
  risks, make decisions and solve problems by
  themselves

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In the newspapers!
Click on the following link to see an article
from The Independent
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Exam boards

• EDEXCEL http//developments.edexcel.org.uk/exten
  dedproject/pilot/
• AQA http//www.aqa.org.uk/over/extendedproject.p
  hp
• OCR http//www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/project
  s/extended_project/index.html