Year 11 parents evening 26th Feb 2009

Firstly can I say what a pleasure it has been to meet so many parents tonight. It is pleasant to be able to report on some good efforts by all the students concerned. The basic need at the present time is to complete coursework and to double check folios AND then "prepare for the exam"

Good luck to everyone

Mr. Geekie

Deadline approaches

We extended the coursework deadline to this coming Friday 27th February. So all work should be done by then. I am at school again tonight and indeed Friday night after school. I have a meeting on Wednesday and we have a parents evening on Thursday so these nights are out.
Next week we need to assemble folios and double checking for omissions.

Good to see all the hard work - do not panic

Yesterday and today ( Tuesday ) have been pleasant days seeing students working well. Today we all addressed the flow chart for planning - some to include reference to quality control and some to quality assurance, also health and safety. Some students are to complete the sheet in their own time. Most completed it in the lesson. The practical outcomes are progressing - students must remember to include their own ICT generated graphics on their 3D outcomes, especially shops / restaurants etc. No good making a brilliant scale model without these added graphics.

Half term ( Feb 09 ) updating you all

I have produced cover sheets for all your folios - on to which we need photographs of your finished graphic product outcomes. Also, I have prepared the marking sheets and grade sheets - all of which to be added to your folios.
I have a MUG for CV - need to add image of restaurant logo when we get back.

What is left to do?

For the information of both students and parents / guardians, I thought you may like to know what is needed to complete their coursework.
Students are generally under a lot of pressure and I keep telling them not to worry or get too stressed.
Remember the folio has sections - sections which attract grading points, these are
Research
Analysis
specification
Generation of ideas.... etc

As I have said and as I have always told students, we will complete some of the necessary sections after half term. These are specifically, QUALITY CONTROL ans QUALITY ASSURANCE, RISK ASSESSMENT, FLOW DIAGRAM ( see previous posts ) AND EVALUATION. These should be straightforward - I will lead everyone through these elements and we will do them together so do not worry. One are which we must not forget is the introduction and the brief - perhaps some students need to revisit this initial page.
However remember the folio only represents 40% of the coursework. The practical outcomes are 60%. SO WE MUST HAVE PRACTICAL OUTCOMES. These need to relate to the specification - that is, they must answer what you said you would actually you would do - what you would make. Remember to add logos to your outcomes.

See the quickly created outlines for PLANNING flow charts below

Click on the images to see larger - readable outlines. These are as promised and can help remind you of what is needed. Alll we need to ee in your folios is ONE well laid out example drawn neatly on an A3 page. DOUBLE check the stages for yourselves and indicate any points which you regard are QUALITY ASSURANCE or QUALITY CONTROL or indeed HEALTH AND SAFETY.

Thursday 12th February WILD WEATHER

I am at a parents evening at the moment.
I have prepared some guidelines for students taking GCSE Graphics to complete a planning flow chart. I have produced 3 maybe do another tomorrow FLOW CHART models which students could adapt or at least use as a reminder about what is needed.
I will put these up on the web this evening when I get home - so please check this BLOG.

I have produced an example for a shop / stand.
Aother one for a mobile phone
and another for a mobile phone box.
Students can also consider producing a flow diagram for - foe example using a computer to design something for their project. Consider this for Pro_Desktop, some have got on with this anyway, have you used Photoshop - again consider this.

Keep checking - and as well as your QC and QA page ( guidelines issued to all students before today so they can complete over half term ), you need to produce a planning sheet. Hence the need for a flow diagram detailed above.

Do not forget evening sessions available to finish c/w

Monday and Tuesday just gone but Wednesday { tomorrow ) and Friday are available this week. Thursday is a Parents; evening.
Also next week is half term. Work has been set for students to address qa and qc.
Then we have one more week after half term.
Evenings as well as lesson time.

EXTENDED DEADLINE

It is really great to see - although rather late - concentrated efforts from most students. Keep it up. Over half term complete the QA and QC sheet I gave you. We will address risk assessment and evaluation and flow diagrams when you get back.
Hope you all have a good half term.

Extended deadline to help with coursework

To help students to complete their coursework the technology department have decided to extend the deadline to 27th February. This is the week after half term.
So, as far as Graphics is concerned we have 3 weeks ( including half term ) to complete our coursework.
I will be preparing templates to help with evaluation, risk assessment, flow diagrams and quality control / assurance. Hopefully students will work on these over half term if they have not done them yet

Extra time tonight for coursework.

As mentioned to students I will be staying on tonight to help students with their coursework. Hope to address PTC work for some students.
PRIORITY - get the practical work finished - our initial aim was next Friday 13th Feb - we have all been aware of this since the course started ( early ) in May.
All work including risk assessment, QA and QC, evaluation etc is still scheduled for after half term - when we will all sit down and do this together.

Problems printing work

If you have problems printing - check out
programs
start menu
then click the green link / file ( will reset printer )

Need to cancel Monday evening due to severe weather

I will be at school on Monday evening - however due to the severe weather I would recommend that students get themselves home after school. I will stay Wednesday evening next week if that helps.

Mr. Geekie