Purpose
The purpose of the Individual Project is to develop learners’ skills, through carrying out a research activity in an area of personal interest or one that reflects future educational or career aspirations. During the Individual Project learners will explicitly develop skills in Digital Literacy, Planning and Organisation and Critical Thinking and Problem Solving and apply them in an appropriate manner.
Introduction
What form should the Individual Project take?
What skills will the learner develop and use to carry out the Individual Project?
Does individual learning mean the learner can’t have help?
The Individual Project must be produced and presented either as a written account or an artefact/product supported by written evidence. There is a wide range of possibilities that can be chosen as a focus for the Individual Project and learners are encouraged to explore an area of personal interest or one that reflects future educational or career aspirations.
To carry out and complete the Individual Project, learners need to develop and use a wide range of appropriate skills. In completing the Individual Project learners will recognise the importance research plays in making informed decisions. Learners will be encouraged to find, evaluate, analyse, communicate and use information to solve complex problems. Learners will have the opportunity to demonstrate originality, initiative and exercise personal responsibility.
Skills needed will include:
- planning and organisational skills that will enable learners to manage the task;
- research skills;
- acquiring and handling information and data required;
- critical thinking skills which will enable them to analyse and use research effectively;
- problem solving skills which will enable them to overcome challenges and produce solutions;
- communication and digital literacy skills to support their research and presentation of information.
While learners will be encouraged to work independently, flexibly and creatively, they should be supported in developing appropriate skills.
Evidence for Assessment
The Individual Project should be presented in written form of 1,000 – 2,000 words in length, with or without a product/artefact. Written work should be word processed and include a variety of graphs, images, statistical tables, diagrams and drawings.
Learners who produce a product/artefact are not required to submit the final outcome, but they must provide clear evidence of how the product/artefact has been designed and developed. Evidence of the final product/artefact must also be presented to ensure the moderator can consider the standard of the outcome. This may be presented in a variety of ways (e.g. photographic, electronic) but the method chosen must be appropriate and of high quality.