Stow College
Showcase for Excellence
Developing and using transferable skills: Bargain Hunt
Teaching staff from the NC (National Certificate) Digital Media Computing
programme designed the Bargain Hunt initiative to enable learners to apply and
further develop their practical skills through a series of useful and motivating
activities. The college made funding available to learners to initiate the project.
Learners peruse catalogues from a local auction house with a view to buying
collectables and antiques at a bargain price, selling them for a profit and donating
profits to their chosen charity. Accompanied by teaching staff, learners then visit the
auction house and decide how much to bid on items. Using their practical skills to
best advantage, learners photograph the purchased items and sell them on internet
auction sites. For other items, they produce a catalogue and sell them in the college
through a dedicated sale event or a live auction.
Through the Bargain Hunt project, learners develop skills for entrepreneurship,
citizenship, numeracy, research and communication and ICT (information and
communications technology). They recognise that their confidence in their practical
skills and in working with others has grown. They have also developed additional
skills and knowledge in marketing and advertising, negotiating, and managing
finance. Learners have made a significant donation to their chosen charity and now
plan to hold a live auction evening for their families, friends and partners of the
college.