Section title: Notes for teachers Introduction Using the lessons Key skills links Curriculum links Curriculum links for Scotland Key skills development suggestions Communication - level 3 For the communication key skill students are required to hold discussions and give presentations, read and synthesise information and write documents. Students will be able to develop all of these skills through an appropriate teaching and learning programme based on this case study. Key skill portfolio evidence requirement   Opportunities for development or internal assessment C3.1a Contribute to a group discussion about a complex subject.   Many of the topics in the case study lend themselves to form the basis of a group discussion. Complex subjects may be based on a number of ideas, some of which may be abstract or very detailed. During the discussion students should make clear and relevant contributions and develop points and ideas while listening and responding sensitively to others. C3.1b Make a presentation about a complex subject, using at least one image to illustrate complex points.   Students should be given the opportunity to present their case study findings to the rest of the class. During the presentation students should speak clearly and use a style appropriate to their audience and to the subject. The structure should be logical and images should be used wherever possible to enhance the presentation. At least one image should be used to convey a complex point. Key skill portfolio evidence requirement   Opportunities for development or internal assessment C3.2 Read and synthesise information from two extended documents about a complex subject. One of these documents should include at least one image.   There will be a number of opportunities within the case study to read and synthesise information from two extended documents. Extended documents may include textbooks, and reports and articles of more than three pages. At least one of these documents should contain an image from which students can draw appropriate and relevant information. C3.3 Write two different types of documents about complex subjects. One piece of writing should be an extended document and include at least one image.   Students are required to produce a report on the case study. The document should have a form and style of writing that is both fit for its purpose and for the complex subject matter covered. At least one of these documents should include an appropriate image, which contains and effectively conveys relevant information. Specialist vocabulary should be used where appropriate. Students should ensure that the text is legible and that spelling, punctuation and grammar are accurate. Students are also required to produce a presentation. Evidence Student evidence for communication could include: tutor observation records preparatory notes audio/video tapes notes based on documents read and essays Information technology - level 3 When producing work for their case studies students will have numerous opportunities to use information technology. The internet and CD-roms could be used to collect information. Documents can be produced using relevant software and images can be incorporated. Early drafts of documents could be emailed to tutors for initial comments and feedback. For this key skill students are required to carry out at least one "substantial activity". This is defined as "an activity that includes a number of related tasks, where the results of one task will affect the carrying out of the others". The activity should generate evidence for all three areas of evidence required. When students write the report as part of their case study use information technology. They will have opportunities to generate evidence for all three sections identified as part of a substantial activity. In addition, students will be able to use information technology to generate evidence for the communication key skill. For example the extended document with images, required for C3.3, could be generated using appropriate software. Key skill portfolio evidence requirement   Opportunities for development or internal assessment IT3.1 Plan, and use different sources to search for, and select, information required for two different purposes.   Students will need to plan and document how they use IT as part of the activity, including how they will search for and incorporate relevant information from different electronic sources. These may include internet and CD-rom. Key skill portfolio evidence requirement   Opportunities for development or internal assessment IT3.2 Explore, develop and exchange information and derive new information to meet two different purposes. 6 Students are required to bring together, in a consistent format, their selected information and use automated routines as appropriate. For example, using icons and macros to generate standard forms of lists, tables and images. Activities could include the use of a spreadsheet to produce break-even charts, investment appraisal calculations and cash flow forecasts. IT3.3 Present information from different sources for two different purposes and audiences. Your work must include at least one example of text, one example of images and one example of numbers.   In presenting the information, students will need to develop a structure that may involve the modification of templates, the application of page numbers, dates etc. Tutors may provide early feedback on layout, content and style that will result in formatting changes. The information collected for IT3.2 could be presented in different ways. One way might be the use of presentation methods suitable for an audience and the other might be a written response. Each would need to use appropriate techniques suitable for the audience. Evidence Student evidence for information technology could include: tutor observation records preparatory plans print-outs with annotations draft documents Application of number - level 3 The AS/Advanced GCE in Business Studies provides opportunities for students to both develop the key skill of application of number and also to generate evidence for their portfolio. As well as undertaking tasks related to the three areas of evidence required, students are also required to undertake a substantial and complex activity. This will involve students obtaining and interpreting information, using this information when carrying out calculations and explaining how the results of the calculations meet the purpose of the activity. Key skill portfolio evidence requirement   Opportunities for development or internal assessment Plan and carry through at least one substantial and complex activity that includes tasks for N3.1, N3.2 and N3.3     N3.1 Plan and interpret information from two different types of sources, including a large data set.   Students must plan how to obtain and use the information required to meet the purpose of the activity. They must ensure that relevant information is obtained. Appropriate methods must be used for obtaining the results required. The choice of methods must be justified. The case study lends itself very well to this. Useful activities would be to conduct a market survey (students could work in groups to ensure that they collect a large enough set of data). Students could then individually analyse the results to identify key information and trends. This could include identifying means, medians and modes. N3.2 Carry out multi-stage calculations to do with: amounts and sizes scales and proportion handling statistics rearranging and using formulae You should work with a large data set on at least one occasion.   Students need to carry out calculations to appropriate levels of accuracy, clearly showing methods used. Students must ensure that they incorporate ways of checking methods and results. They should use the market research in appendix B or analyse the information obtained from the students own market research survey. N3.3 Interpret results of your calculations, present your findings and justify your methods. You must use at least one graph, one chart and one diagram. 1 2 3 4 5 Students must select appropriate methods of presentation and justify their choice. Findings must be presented effectively. They must be able to explain how the results of their calculations relate to the purpose of the activity. Students could present the findings of their survey using at least one graph, one chart and one diagram. Evidence Student evidence for application of number could include: copies of students plans records of information obtained justification of methods used records of calculations showing methods used reports of findings Working with others - level 3 To achieve this key skill students are required to carry out at least two complex activities ie writing a report and producing a PowerPoint presentation. Students will negotiate the overall objective of the activity with others and plan a course of action. Initially, the component tasks of the activity and their relationships may not be immediately clear. Within the activity, the topics covered may include ideas that may be some or all of the following: detailed, abstract, unfamiliar, sensitive. During the activity the student must work in both group-based and one-to-one situations. Key skill portfolio evidence requirement   Opportunities for development or internal assessment WO3.1 Plan complex work with others, agreeing objectives, responsibilities and working arrangements.   Students should work in groups to organise the research and report writing. WO3.2 Seek to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships over an extended period of time, agreeing changes to achieve agreed objectives.   Students will need to effectively plan and organise their work so that they meet agreed deadlines and maintain appropriate working relationships. Key skill portfolio evidence requirement   Opportunities for development or internal assessment WO3.3 Review work with others and agree ways of improving collaborative work in the future.   Once completed, the full group needs to review outcomes. In doing this they should identify factors that have influenced the outcome and agree on the ways in which the activity could have been carried out more effectively and then use this knowledge when working together in the future. Evidence Student evidence for working with others could include: tutor observation records preparatory plans records of process and progress made evaluative reports Improving own learning and performance - level 3 Within the case study programme students should have opportunities to develop and generate evidence that meets part of the evidence requirement of this key skill. To achieve this key skill students will need to carry out two study-based learning activities and two activity-based learning activities. One of the study-based learning activities must contain at least one complex task and periods of self-directed learning. Activities that generate evidence for this skill should take place over an extended period of time eg three months. Over the period of the activity students should seek and receive feedback, from tutors and others, on their target-setting and performance. Key skill portfolio evidence requirement   Opportunities for development or internal assessment LP3.1 Agree targets and plan how these will be met over an extended period of time, using support from appropriate people.   Students plan how they are to produce their report. This will include setting realistic dates and targets and identifying potential problems and alternative courses of action. This plan will be determined with advice from others eg their tutor. Initially, a short target could be set where the student has say a week to decide their approach to the case study. This will, of course, involve some discussion with the tutor. The next target may be a date by which initial information needs to be collected. As time progresses, one would expect the students to become progressively more independent in the setting of targets and in the development of alternative strategies. LP3.2 Take responsibility for your learning by using your plan, and seeking feedback and support from relevant sources, to help meet targets. Improve your performance by: studying a complex subject learning through a complex practical activity further study or practical activity that involves independent learning   Students use the plan effectively when producing their report. This will involve prioritising actions, managing their time effectively and revising their plan as necessary. The student should seek and use feedback and support and draw on different approaches to learning. LP3.3 Review progress on two occasions and establish evidence of achievements, including how you have used learning from other tasks to meet new demands. 1 2 3 4 5 Students should review their own progress and the quality of their learning and performance. They should identify targets met and provide evidence of achievements from relevant sources. They should identify with others, eg their tutor, action for improving their performance. Evidence Student evidence for improving own learning and performance could include: tutor records annotated action plans records of discussions learning log work produced Problem solving - level 3 For this key skill students are required to apply their problem-solving skills to complex activities. They need to show that they can recognise, explore and describe problems, generate ways of solving problems, implement options and check whether the problem has been solved. For this coursework, students may only be able to complete the first two stages of this process as there will be difficulties in implementing practical solutions. Key skill portfolio evidence requirement   Opportunities for development or internal assessment PS3.1 Explore a complex problem, come up with three options for solving it and justify the option selected for taking forward.   Students will need to identify the problem and explore its main features and agree three options to solve it successfully. PS3.2 Plan and implement at least one option for solving the problem, review progress and revise your approach as necessary.   Students are required to select and use appropriate methods for generating an option for tackling the problem. Key skill portfolio evidence requirement AS/A2 unit Opportunities for development or internal assessment PS3.3 Apply agreed methods to check if the problem has been solved, describe the results and review your approach to problem solving. 3, 4, 5 Methods to check if the problem has been solved will need to be agreed with the appropriate person, these methods will need to be applied accurately and the candidates will need to describe the results, draw conclusions and review the option chosen. Evidence Student evidence for problem solving could include: description of the problem tutor records and agreement of standards and approaches annotated action plans records of discussions descriptions of options