Your Extended Project
&
The Learning Centre
Your Project.....
Performance
Dissertation
Assessment Criteria
•Management of a project (20%)
•Using resources (20%)
•Developing & realising (40%)
•Reviewing the project (20%)
OCR Extended Project Handbook (2009)
Why the learning centre is so
important for your EP?

“...how you manage the resources you have
access to, and how to search effectively for
relevant information using libraries, the
internet and other sources...”
◦ James, Mary (2009, p. ?)
James, M. (2009) AQA Extended Project Companion. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes Limited.
The learning centre can help you
with...
Getting started
 Developing your ideas
 Planning your research
 Where to find information
 Critical thinking/evaluating resources
 Statistics
 Referencing your sources

Top tips...

Evidence required – Using resources:
◦ Use of range of sources (Collating information)
◦ Understanding the different types of resource
◦ Independent research
◦ Citation (lists of referencing + bibliography)
LC support

Initial meeting with a Facilitator

Ongoing contact (3-5 times)

Support you in taking responsibility for
your own learning
Different types of resource

E-resources
◦ Information you can’t get from internet,
more reliable

Search engines
◦ Different engines, different results
◦ Treat with caution
Types of resources contd...

Books
◦ Detailed, in depth coverage
◦ E-books
◦ Reliable

Magazines/journals/newspapers
◦ Up-to-date information
◦ Millions of articles available electronically
◦ Different opinions
Types of resources contd.....

Encyclopaedias
◦
◦
◦
◦

Detailed coverage
Generally not biased
Vast range of subjects
Link to Credo reference
Wikipedia
◦ Good for ideas, keywords, inspiration...
◦ Treat with caution!
Tips on using e-resources

Remember advice so far
◦ Very important to use different types of
resource!

Keywords
◦ Not too broad
◦ Synonyms
Tips on using books

Have you got time to read everything?

Skimming
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
Start in contents page
Move quickly through text
Gain overall idea of value of text
Look at titles, subtitles, images, diagrams
Read first and last line of each paragraph
Tips on using books

Scanning
◦ Looking for a specific piece of information
◦ Start in index
◦ Move on when you’ve found what you want...
LC EPQ guide
Demonstrate.....
Evaluate
Develop
Research
Organise
Plan
Reference & Bibliography...
1. Crossland,B and Walsh-Atkins, P. (2009) Extended Project Student
Guide. London: Hodder Education.
2. OCR Level 3 Extended Project Handbook. (2009). Available at:
http://www.ocr.org.uk/download/kd/ocr_12625_kd_project_spec.p
df (Accessed: 22 November 2011).
3. James, M. (2009) AQA Extended Project Companion. Cheltenham:
Nelson Thornes Limited.
Stay in touch!
Tel: 020 7832 5296
Email: gilibrary@westking.ac.uk