Programme Content

1. Be able to locate the research council’s library.
1.1 Find their way to the research council’s library.

2. Know the layout of the college library.
2.1 Complete a plan of the library.

3. Be able to use the library in a proper manner following the library rules.
3.1 Follow rules, e.g. keeping quiet when using the library, return books to the correct place.

4. Be able to use the library in a proper manner following the library rules.
4.1 Choose a book appropriate to their interest.
4.2 Produce their library card.
4.3 Note the date the book needs to be returned to the library.
4.4 Take the book to the library on time.

5. Be able to catalogue books.
5.1 Identify books that have not been added to the library catalogue.
4.2 Enter information about the book into a retrieval system, and apply appropriate labels to the book.
4.3 Place the book into the section appropriate to its labeling.

Location and Cost

The programmes are conducted at our library in Efail Isaf near Pontypridd and where appropriate by distance learning. Subject to approval, the programme will be free to students enrolled onto the GoWales Work Taster scheme. If a student chooses to publish their paper with an open access publisher that is not The Crocels Press then they will be expected to fun the cost.

Accreditation

Accreditation for this programme is available through the Agored Cymru scheme. An examination fee may be payable for this.

Course Content

By the end of the course you will be able to:

1. Work with image files.
1.1 Open a graphics package.
1.2 Create an image file.
1.3 Save the file.
1.4 Close the graphics application.
1.5 Create an image file using a digital camera.
1.6 Upload the image file to a PC.
1.7 Save the image to disk.
1.8 Create an image file using a scanner.
1.9 Save the image file to disk.
1.10 Use appropriate software to re-size an image.
1.11 Use appropriate software to process an image file.

2. Work with sound files.
2.1 Create a sound file.
2.2 Save a sound file to disk.

3. Author a multimedia presentation.
3.1 Open a multimedia authoring package.
3.2 Use the package to produce a multimedia presentation.
3.3 Save the presentation disk.
3.4 Run and evaluate the presentation.
3.5 Close the application correctly.

Prerequisites

There are no formal prerequisites for this course. However, learners are expected to be familiar enough with Windows and the Internet to complete the task. It will be necessary to own a copies of Adobe Photoshop and Captivate and Microsoft PowerPoint or be able to download and install demos of these for use for the whole duration of the course. After completing the course using these, you should be able to use this software in a commercial setting or be able to transfer the skills to open-source systems like GIMP and OpenOffice.

Location and Cost

This course is delivered entirely online with tutor support. The cost of the course is therefore reduced to £285.50+VAT.

Accreditation

This course can be accredited by Agored Cymru for which an examination fee may be payable.

Programme Content

1. Conduct a practical investigation into an aspect of behaviour.
1.1 Carry out a practical investigation into an aspect of human behaviour, including evidence of planning and design.

2. Distinguish between non-experimental and experimental research designs.
2.1 Select a relevant research design.

3. Demonstrate awareness of ethical problems inherent in research design.
3.1 Demonstrate an understanding of The British Psychological Society’s document ‘Ethical Guidance On Research With Human Subjects’ and apply to the practical investigation.

4. Use sampling procedures
4.1 Demonstrate a thorough understanding of a variety of sampling procedures.
4.2 Justify the use of the selected sampling procedure.

5. Distinguish between descriptive and inferential strategies of data analysis
5.1 Appropriately analyse and present results of the research in both graphical and written format.
5.2 Draw relevant conclusions from the findings.

6. Write up practical work in psychology.
6.1 Follow the conventions of the discipline regarding the write-up of practical work.

Prerequisites

There are no formal prerequisites for this programme. However students are required to have some knowledge of psychology, citing and referencing, and to be able to conduct literature surveys and studies via the Internet.

Location and Cost

The programmes are conducted at our research labs in Abercynon and Swansea and where appropriate by distance learning. Subject to approval, the programme will be free to students enrolled onto the GoWales Work Taster scheme. If a student chooses to publish their paper with an open access publisher that is not The Crocels Press then they will be expected to fun the cost.

Accreditation

Accreditation for this programme is available through the Agored Cymru scheme. An examination fee may be payable for this.

Programme Content

By the end of the programme the student will be able to:

1. Research a topic suitable to use as an investigative project. 1.1 Identify an area for research. 1.2 Clearly define the research area. 1.3 Agree validity and acceptability of the research area with their supervisor. 1.4 Produce an action plan for the research. 1.5 Distinguish between primary and secondary sources of information. 1.6 Access information stored in a variety of ways, e.g., standard library, electronic library, computer database and accounts, etc. 1.7 Evaluate the usefulness and reliability of the sources consulted. 1.8 Select relevant material to the research area.

Prerequisites

There are no formal prerequisites for this programme. However participants are expected to have a basic knowledge of IT and referencing and literature search skills.

Cost and location

Subject to approval, the programme will be free to all students registered with the GoWales Work Taster programme. As it is expected the student will have produced a research article of publishable quality then they may need to pay the publishing fee should they wish it to be published by an open source publisher other than The Crocels Press.The programme is held at our research labs in either Swansea or Abercynon and some distance learning is possible.

Accreditation

This programme can be accredited by the Agored Cymru scheme for their designated fee.

Programme Content

By the end of the work experience programme you will be able to:

1. Understand an area of the law
1.1 Select a legal topic and carry out an investigation of the law relating to the chosen topic.

2. Be able to research and present the law relating to the investigation.
2.1 Research and collate information on the chosen topic.
2.2 Apply and present the findings applicable to the investigation in an effective manner.

3. Be able to identify and criticise legal principles and their application.
3.1 Identify the legal principles involved.

4. Understand the effects of law and the legal system on the individual and society.
4.1 Identify the main strengths and weaknesses of the law on the chosen topic and its effect on society and on individuals.

5. Be able to present arguements in a structured form.
5.1 Present conclusions in a comprehensive and structures manner.

Prerequisites

There are no formal prerequisites for this programme. However students are expected to have a basic understand of research methods including citing and conducting literature or other surveys online.

Location and Cost

This programme is delivered at a distance and/or at our research labs in Swansea and Abercynon. Subject to approval it will be free to students taking part in the GoWales scheme.

Accreditation

The programme can be accredited by Agored Cymru for which a fee may be payable.

Course Content

1. Understand individual rights and freedoms.
1.1 Discuss the restrictions of individual freedoms, including by governments and systems operators (sysops).
1.2 Describe the differences between civil and criminal restrictions, including the difference between civil obligations arising from agreeing to a website’s terms and conditions and criminal obligations arising from data or general computers misuse.

2. Understand freedom from race and sex discrimination.
2.1 Explain the concept of discrimination.
2.2 Describe the present policies in relation to employment and mass collaboration.

3. Understand the protection of rights and freedoms.
3.1 Describe the role Parliament and Sysops play.
3.2 Identify the part played by the courts and website volunteers.

Prerequisites

There are no specific prerequisites for this course, but learners are expected to have some awareness of basic concepts relating to the Internet and British Citizenship. To complete the assessment for the course online, learners will need access to a web-cam and word-processor.

Cost and Location

This course costs £150+VAT and is delivered completely online at a distance.

Course Content

During this course you will:

1. Develop an original idea for a short film
1.1 Record original idea to a video camera or a dictaphone, including basic character information and plot details.

2. Practice the use of appropriate video equipment
2.1 Recognise basic camera functions.
2.2 Identify various shot sizes, angles and tripod procedures.

3. Record project via detailed storyboard sketch sequences - 3.1 Draw one scene on a formatted storyboard and explain scene action and shots orally to tutor.

4. Record one’s idea using equipment
4.1 With assistance, operate the appropriate equipment safely in order to record the one scene using correct procedures to satisfactory standard.

5. Display a basic understanding of the continuity editing concept
5.1 With assistance, load your video onto the computer and put into a rough cut order on the timeline.

Prerequisites

Students should have the following prerequisite knowledge prior to attending the course: Basic knowledge of Mac OS X, Basic knowledge of editing terminology is recommended, Prior knowledge of Avid editing systems

Certification

Accreditation for the course is available through the Agored Cymru programme.

Cost and Location

The Cost of this programme is £1250+VAT. Funding may be available through the GoWales Graduate Training and Development Fund or the Welsh Government’s Redundancy Action Scheme. The course is delivered in Cardiff and Abercynon.

By giving 11 young people in Treforest the opportunity to learn new skills in Photoshop using Moodle and classroom support, Emotivate gave these young people the chance, through designing collages of ideas on what they knew about Treforest’s past and what hope’s they had for its future, the chance to make a difference. These were then designed as a mural by an artist and the young people then painted it before it was installed.

This ETUDIER approach to education, involved using existing and sometimes under-used buildings in the community for the project. By using existing these buildings in the community, showed a community education provider needs a maximum of three core staff. The remainder staffing and support can be ‘contingent workers’, as happened with sub-contractors in the construction industry before the Labour Government acted on the demands of the trade unions.

The programme took place in venues not owned by the organisers, which included underused community facilities, church halls, extended schools. These not only provided these venues with revenue, but also meant the investment normally needed for an educational establishment were restricted to the administrative headquarters. The project demonstrated that partnerships between the people, private and public sectors (called a ‘P4’ scheme) can work just as effectively if not more than single sector options.

Aims

The project aimed to demonstrate the strategic implementation of sustainable development through a unique blended learning model, enabling young people to design and paint a mural using knowledge gained through e-learning. This was achieved through applying the Learn, Create, Communicate model and P4 and the tangible realisation of the mural. The specific aims of the Emotivate Project were to do the following in the communities of Treforest and Llantwit Fardre, as stated in the grant applications:

• To educate young people about the arts and make a visible contribution to the community by improving the local environment

• To encourage the use of electronic learning methods

• To improve cultural, economic and environmental development of the local communities

• To increase the social cohesion between the local communities

• To engage with local community members and encourage participation in improving the local environment and the local community

• To engage with socially excluded people within the community including young offenders and people on probation

Tools

Tools used by the young people included Moodle run on PCs in an extended school, and the instruments associated with painting. The landscapers used the obvious tools for planting, and it was generally the case that all persons in the project used email for communication.
More information on the education scheme used in Emotivate can be found on the Digital Classroom of Tomorrow Project website and the project itself can be found at the Emotivate Project website.