copyright © 2010 aqa and its licensors. all rights reserved. extended project qualification henry...

Copyright © 2010 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Extended Project QualificationHenry Elliott

Assistant Principal Moderator


Teacher or Supervisor

What’s in a name?


What does the Extended Project Qualification

Involve?

• An individual student-selected and managed project

• Process based; designed to enable the student to develop and demonstrate a range of higher level skills

• Designed to develop higher-level skills required in higher education and employment

• Of 120 hours duration – 30 ‘teaching’ + 90 individual work


Employment Skills in EPQ

• Time management and personal organisation

• Problem solving and decision making

• Clear, concise and accurate written communication

• Communicating complex information to a ‘lay’ audience

• Use of ICT to communicate effectively


Model of Project Management

A04: Review

AO2: Use Resources

A03:Develop and Realise

A01: Manage

Project Management in EPQCourtesy of the University of Manchester

EPQ journey


What does the EPQ Student Produce?

• Evidence of achieving the formulated aim

Product

5000 word research report

Artefact + 1000 word research report

Completed AQA production log

Evidence of an individual presentation


How is EPQ different? A Student’s View

‘No matter how good your teachers are and how much

they want you to have your own ideas, anything you do for

A-levels comes from them’.

‘The Extended Project allowed me to research my

own

project and to own my own ideas because it made me

explore the steps that were leading me to my conclusions.’

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk


What teachers do

• Teach subject and students by

Interpreting and delivering agreed curriculum

Transmitting their passion for the subject onto their students

• Assess students’ progress

• Prepare students for external examinations


The EPQ Taught Programme

• Designed by each centre to equip the students with the skills needed to complete their projects. Could include

Time Management Skills

Research Skills and Evaluation of Sources

Report Writing Skills

Referencing and Bibliography Creation

Presentation Skills

Reflection and Evaluation

• Delivered by the centre, not necessarily the supervisor


What EPQ supervisors do

• Advise and support individual students

• Negotiate and approve topics for study

• Review student progress against aims and

advise appropriately

• Assess completed projects against AQA criteria

AQA Extended Project Process


A Supervisor’s View

‘The EPQ offers students a real opportunity to not onlydevelop the skills that they will need when they move

onfrom college to either work or university, such ascommunicating their ideas to others and independentresearch, but also gives them a chance to pursue a

topicoutside their taught courses that they are really

passionateabout. I would have loved to have had the chance to

dosomething similar when I was doing my A-levels.’

http://www.winstanley.ac.uk


Exercise 1Project Approval

Please consider Scenario 1 and attempt questions 1 and 2


Exercise 2Review

Please consider Scenario 2 and attempt questions 3 and 4


Exercise 3Student Presentation

Please consider Scenario 3 and attempt question 5


Exercise 4Assessment of Projects

Please consider Scenario 4 and attempt question 6


What is EPQ Worth to Higher Education?

We value the skills of research and independent learning that

the Extended Project is designed to develop. We welcome

applications from students offering the Extended Project

alongside A levels. As the Extended Project is optional it is not a

requirement for application. If you offer an Extended Project, it

will be taken into account. Your offer may be varied as a result, in

recognition of the level of study skills you will have developed.

University of Newcastle


What is EPQ Worth to Employers?

One large employer states that through activities such

as the Extended Project, students will develop their

capabilities in terms of problem solving, critical analysis,

team working and communications, as well as high

standards of Maths and English – all of which are highly

prized by employers.

Gary Argent, UK Graduate Recruitment Manager, LogicaCMG


Thank you for listening

I will be around until the end of the conference.

Please feel free to raise and EPQ-related issues with me

copyright © 2010 aqa and its licensors. all rights reserved. extended project qualification henry...

Documents

supervisor slide

aqa criteria

individual presentation

individual work slide

individual students

employment skills

external examinations

higherlevel skills