ICT Project- Project statement

ICT Project- Project Statement

Mandy Peace

James Shortman

The first step in which I took towards the ICT project was through the use of Photoshop. My first idea was to compose an image of my dad as a teenager and me as a teenager. I feel this to be an important part of my project as I feel the hobbies in which I have at this moment in time are very closely related to those of my father during his teenage life.

From here I decided that I would look at my dad’s younger years and what influenced him into loving both two wheels and four wheels. From in having looked through numerous photos and having conversations with my family members it is clear to see as that in having private land, at a very young age my dad was able to ride motorcycles or bicycles. The older my dad got the more the price and number of bicycles increased, advancing to buying cars at the age of 15 to drive within private property.

I gathered all photographs around the house in which I feel have great meaning or capture a moment in time in which I felt really happy around either my family or friends. Through the use of these pictures I will not only show the development of my childhood but particular events and people who have affected me. Some pictures I have gathered I had totally forgotten about, not because those having little importance, but the fact that I no longer have these particular hobbies along with group of friends. Even though the pictures show several different hobbies, I have always remained on two wheels.

My goal is to assemble all images that I feel have a meaning to me and that has impacted who I am. This is based on my family as that they have always gave me the sense of belonging. I hope to achieve at the end, an explanation for my athletic background along with many other interests. The celebrity inspirations in life in which I will involve in my scrap book are Chad Reed, Darren Berrecloth and Travis Pastrana. These are three people in which I would inspire to be alike. Each of which have three different careers on two wheels, but I feel as though they all link towards my attitudes and feelings. It is because of this that looking at videos or images of these athletes I feel a sense of belonging. Through seeing how successful each are at their career, inspires me to be highly motivated in what I am doing, as that I know what can be achieved on two wheels. It’s from watching these athletes so closely I feel has influenced my personality along with my dress sense. As a collection this is why it’s so crucial for all three to be involved in my scrap book.

I first built a collage from using a picture of me and my sister as the centre piece. I then continued to surround this image with others I felt to be important to me. I then lined the outside if these photographs with idols, key events, memorabilia and statements linked to my sense of place.

I then used the ICT software Photoshop to merge all the images together. It was from here that I was then able to select multiple backgrounds, along with being able to adjust the lighting and contrast of these dated images to get a better idea of what my physical piece will look like.

Using Photoshop I was able to make images negative, black and white along with many other options. Even though these where suitable for the task, I branched out to other websites to try and get a broader use from the images. One website in which I found to be useful was glogster. This website allows you to create posters of any kind with very little limitations.

In having planned out my whole scrap book, I need to prioritise which ones I would like to use for my final piece. This will involve collecting all the ones in which mean the very most to me. I would also like to put aside all the images from the various sports and events from my life and try to focus on one element. This will be my family as that they have always allowed me to be myself and gave me a true sense of place.

In conclusion to in having carried out my project I feel that I have found a further inner interest for having my family around me and the true impact in which they have had on me. Through looking through multiple pictures in which I had forgotten about brought back a lot of memories of old friends and hobbies in which I used to have. Hopefully in looking through my scrapbook the reader will be able to see the process of eliminating pictures in which I felt had little meaning to me, into gathering ones in which signify key aspects of mine and my family’s life.

I have used multiple software, sources of research, gathering photographs and old magazines to have reached my final piece. As of such the variety I have made three power points to support the point I’m trying to put across along with the research I have conducted. I also felt as though it was necessary for me to create a movie. The reason being is that as of it being an ICT project, making a physical collage wouldn’t meet the entire criteria.

My intentions for my final piece are for people to understanding how important my family have been to my life. Hopefully people will be able to see how closely i have followed in the footsteps of my father. I feel as though ICT is not the way to go if you are trying to communicate visually. The reason being is that even though there are limitations to creating a visual physical piece, I feel it has a bigger impact. Even though this is a cliché I feel that I could never have found my love for mountain biking without the complete backing of my parents. Taking me to major events to enhance my love for the sport has also helped me towards who I am today. My family is my true sense of place.

Here is a link to my blog- http://jamesshortman.blogspot.co.uk/

Here is a link to my video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7iXtdSGYqU&feature=plcp

words-1078

ICT Project- Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7iXtdSGYqU&feature=plcp

ICT Project - Completion

Overall i am very happy with my completed piece. I feel it expresses all my emotions and hobbies. That being said i feel that including images of my hereos from multiple sports, has shown variety, rather than my original idea of just including my father an i. I have included many of the pictures in which i first choose out, but surrounded them with many of my interests which i feel as just as close to my heart. This has been one task in which i have enjoyed.

ICT Project- Journal

ICT Project Journal

Mandy Peace

James Shortman

The first step in which I took towards the ICT project was through the use of Photoshop. My first idea was to compose an image of my dad as a teenager and me as a teenager. I feel this to be an important part of my project as I feel the hobbies in which I have at this moment in time are very closely related to those of my father during his teenage life.

The second step in which I took towards the completion of my project was gathering all photographs around the house in which I feel have great meaning or capture a moment in time in which I felt really happy around either my family or friends. Through the use of these pictures I will not only show the development of my childhood but particular events and people who have affected me.

In having researched multiple websites i was able to come up with the final design i wanted to go use for my project. Here is and image taken from www.flickr.com and its what i am going to base the orientation and the layout of my images for the collage.

ICT Project- Inspirations

ICT Project

James Shortman

My inspirations for my project are to create a giant collage including picture of me and my family on holidays and at gatherings. I have used my scrap book to prioritise these images. Other images in which I wish to include are ones of my childhood heroes and ones of those who mean the most to me now. In having said that in having looked at my final piece, it is clear to see that my father is very involved in my life.

Suzie Pugh - Own brand

This session we were asked to design our own brand. We was allowed to pick anything we completely wanted to. The item in which i choose to do was an after shave. After some thought i decided the name in which i wanted to use for my brand was 'Fresh Prince'. I then came up with the moto 'Stay Fresh for less'. Here is an image i created using Photoshop.

Suzie Pugh - items of meaning session

We were asked to bring in an item in which had a strong sense of meaning to us. All members of the group had what seemed very odd to others, but after explaining the very reason they had this item it became alot more clear. The items in which i brought in was my car keys as that i feel without the access of my car i would be unable to continue many of my hobbies or even socialise as much as i do. The other item in which i had brung in was an item of footwear. The reason being is that i enjoy buying shoes and it is something in which has became more of a habit. From this session i found out alot of things i didnt already know about my group mates, i feel from this session alot of us have became closer.

Guest Lecturer - Widening Acess in Wales

Here are some notes i took down during the lecture. From these notes i expanded my knowledge on Widening access in Wales greatly. In this blog i will also include some knowledge of my own and other's to compare to the lecture notes.

How does it work?

• increasing oppurtunities for people from a diverse range of backgrounds.
• HE is required to promote social justice and a buoyant economy

Widening Acess

• ethnic minority communities
• disabilities
• low income families
• care leavers

Deprivation

• income
• employement
• health
• education
• housing

Reaching Wider

• means for a raise in aspiration
• also raises attainment

Programmes
Year 6

• Arts in action
• artists visit school's
• STEM workshops

Year 9

• ace days
• mentoring
• saturday clubs
• techno camps

Year 10

• spring school
• star days
• saturday clubs
• taste of university or college's

Year 11

• GCSE revision
• college taster days
• study skills sessions
• mentoring

Year 12

• summer university
• 4 weeks
• 60 ucas points

Undergraduate Experience

• work experience
• paid work and volunteering
• student residences
• signposting function

LAC and CORE leavers

• homework
• wellbeing course
• talks to foster carers and social workers
• publication

BME communities

• Gypsy and traveller groups
• african and minority groups
• suggests people to be motivated to fill basic needs before moving onto other's
• the need for personal esteem and feelings take priority
• it all works in one pyramid

To me Widening access creates better opportunities for many people. Many groups in which they focus their intentions on are ethnic minority communities, those with disabilities, people from low income families along with care leavers. They ensure that these social groups have the change to expand their self's onto perhaps another career path that would of seemed out of reach. They also target children from the school age of year 6. From here they are able to support a child's learning onto HE, higher education. An example of this is use taken from my notes is the 4 weeks, a year 12 student can spend in a university. This is something in which i feel to be beneficial to the student. It allows them to explore what studying in a University is like opposed to a college or school. Along with in having carried out this 4 weeks stay, children gain an additional 60 ucas points, going towards their university application. This is something in which i wish i had the chance to go through. An overview of this lecture would be to say that Widening Access allows everyone to expand on their qualifications, along with the chance of having  better career and lifestyle.

Mandy Peace - 'Sense of Place'

I have decided that for my ICT project on ‘sense of place’ is that I’m going to base it upon my family. The key reason to this is that I feel it’s because of my family; I am the person I am today. This has come from a range of not only influences, experiences, attitudes towards me, but overall the effect my whole family as whole as made me who I am.

Through this project I am going to create a timeline of what’s made me who I am today, through the use of photographs. I will also include events or holidays in which I feel have a significant importance. I plan on keeping the main focus on my father, along with celebrities in which I inspire to be like. Even though the older I have got, my emotions and feelings towards my family have only grown greater.

Suzie Pugh

During this session we explored the University to take photographs of images in which we felt had a meaning to us or struck an emotion. The photo's in which i took feel as though they express what university really is. Its not always the lifestyle or all the hardwork, but sometimes you feel as though you are alone in your learning. You alone have to deal with all the assignments and workloads. Hopefully my Photo's show this emotion.

Guest lecturer-Nick Bennett

Guest lecturer- Nick Bennett- Principal Gower College

Fe policy

An overview of further education in Wales

Here are the notes in which i gathered from the lecture. From this lecture i felt i furthered my knowledge on further education. This guest speaker was very helpful in not only understanding a huge impact of education, but the information gained i feel will become useful in putting together assignments.

What’s FE for?
-Underpin social justice – second chance

                                                - financial support

                                                - community regeneration

                                                - cultural awareness

-Support the economy – work based learning

                                             - business generation

                                              - workface development

                                              - entrepreneurship

Colleges provide a chance for those who found school to be hard or had a bad experience in a school environment. It’s a second chance for them to make a successful career for themselves.


Stats

·         Offer over 5000 different qualifications in Wales

·         Almost twice as many 16-19 year olds in a college than in school

·         68% of FE students are aged over 19

·         80% of students are part time

·         30% of students going to college cannot read or write correctly.

·         A very low amount has satisfactory level of Gcse grades.

Most common courses

·         Hairdressing

·         Building

·         Ict

Welsh governments programmes

·         Improve and encourage learning at further education in colleges. A closer collaboration between FE and HE providers.

·         Reform the governance of further education in Wales

·         Improve basic skills

·         Increase apprenticeship opportunities

·         Establish job growth in Wales

·         Higher skills opportunities for people eighteen and over.

Welsh government budget

·         Decrease of 1.6% in budget. Along with a £500,000 less budget

·         Next year will be an increase of 2.5%. meaning a rise of £1,500,000

Leighton Andrews- “performance will be our driver, with a continued focus on improving performances and quality across the board and at every level”

Various reports impacting on further education

Changing FE

·         1979- 40 colleagues

·         2012- 17 colleagues

·         2015- 8 colleagues

Always a decreasing amount.
Conclusions

·         It is efficient

·         High quality

·         Lead change

·         Track record of changing lives

·         Met several government agendas.


From the notes i have compiled it is clear to see that there is no lack in variety of courses for students to take. If a student desires to study any subject, im sure there is something in which will meet their needs. Another factor in which i have become more aware of is how much the economy is effecting our education. At the same time as this, those who have carried out further education and gone into their chosen career path are regenerating community wealth along with business generated.

Graham Allen- Sustainable Education Lecture

Sustainable Education Lecture

Here are notes in which i took from Graham Allen's lecture. From this lecture i was able to gather a lot of information on reports from four different areas and what their exact aims for sustainable education. From these notes i have learnt that there is not only one report or aim for sustainable education, along with there being some very similar objectives. This objective being that education needs to keep progressing for further generations, something in which is crucial. 

• Kofi Annan- "Our biggest challenge in this new century is to take an idea that seems abstract –   sustainable development - and turn it into a reality for all the world's people".
• Brundtland-"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".
• Principle 21- "The creativity, ideals and courage of the youth of the world should be mobilized to forge a global partnership in order to achieve sustainable development and ensure a better future for all".
• Agenda 21- "Education is critical for promoting sustainable development and improving the capacity of the people to address the environment and development issues".

"For societies and freely co-operating individuals to be free to choose right actions in relation to sustainability issues, they themselves need to embody the frames of mind, and enjoy the conditions which foster such choice. Thus, schools and universities need to exercise their social responsibility and explore with learners what sustainable development might be - by doing this in ways that make contingent and contextual sense, without prescription or proselytization". Professor William Scott

The benefits of growth in which i have learned from the lecture;
- creates employment
- higher income
- decreases poverty
- improves the standard of living

Activities which add to GDP

Deforestation
War
Divorces
Accidents
Crime

Pollution

Natural disasters

(1989 Exxon Valdez)

Aspects in which i have came across since this lecture from in having carried out research is;

'All definitions of sustainable development require that we see the world as a system—a system that connects space; and a system that connects time.'(gathered from www.iisd.org.sd) 

It is clear without looking to indepth that a strong education system is crucial for the world to maintain its structure. Without education and that sense of progress, very little progress can be made as mankind. Humans need education i feel to be able to develop and become mentally stronger.

Guest Lecturer - Steve Gullick: What is Education Policy and Practice

From the lecture i have learnt the role of governors in schools around the United Kingdom. I discovered that governors employ and discipline staff. It's also their duty to decide and approve whether a pupil should be permanently excluded. Another being is that they manage what the schools budget should be spent on. Governor's are not qualified experts, so how is it they have so much power. Although if a governor is someone who cares for the school, their decisions are always going to be in the best interests of the school because they want it to do well. Governors must meet at least three times a year and are responsible for the strategic plan for the school for the year ahead.

The head teacher is in charge of the day to day running of the school. This involves planning timetables and lesson plans. There are only a few occasions where you will see a governor and when they will actually attend the school or come into any contact with the teaching staff.
 1) Teacher interviews.
 2) Informal visits.
3) Celebrations; School Play.
4) Staff disciplinary meetings, where if a member of staff has done something wrong, a hearing will be held where the governors will decide on the punishment for the member of staff.

It is important to note that Governors are not paid because they are volunteers who have a great importance in the success of a school. I feel that this is an important aspect as that it shows that their best interests lays with the school, rather than being confused for using the role of being a Governor for financial purposes. It reflects
that the decisions in which they make, they truly do stand by.

Another aspect in which i have further researched is that of Staff disciplinary meetings. These are something in which are compulsory in all learning and educational environments to ensure the safety of all learners and other staff.
offences other than gross misconduct- Verbal Warning
                                                        - First written warning
                                                        - Final written warning
                                                        - Dismissal
                                                        - Procedure appropriate
                                                        - Suspension
                                                        - Appeals
                                                        - Gross misconduct
                                                        - Misdemeanors
Although these are the standard procedures, if the severity of the case is very high, many stages will be skipped.

Different text

During this lesson we expolored differnt ways of creating pictures etc through the use of words. These are some that we tried out.

Placement

On the 5th of December i went on placement to Greenhill Primary School placed in the South Wales Valleys. I had previously attended this school from the ages of 3-11. It was ressuring to see many of the teachers in which taught me during my time there in education. During my placement i was situated in many different scenarios. One of which was i had to conduct a maths lesson to the year 5 an 6 pupils. The lessons was on long division, something in many of the children hadn't done before. Many through the week needed more attention on the working out methods of the sums. The last two days of placement i helped out greatly with the School play. This involved me getting children ready, preparing costumes and taking photographs for the School notice bored. I really enjoyed my placement and look forward to another similar experience.