GNVQ - A Case Study
Chesptow Comprehensive School - Spring 1997

Designing the school's web site formed the the practical element of a wider course of study looking at the Internet and its economic, social and culutral impact which developed as follows:


Introduction: Students assess their own knowledge and experience of IT and its applications through structured discussion in groups. The Internet: What do they already know? Who has access at home? How do they use it? Place the Internet in the historical context of the development of computer technology. Explain what the Internet is and how it works.

Practical Session Œ to give students hands on experience, allowing them to ‘surf at will’, following their own leads and interests. Explain search engines, filtering systems, subscriber sites. Evaluation: Discuss in general terms strengths and weaknesses, ease of use, speed of use, content etc. Discussion: How is the Internet being used at present? What might its future use be? Predict developments in its use in the light of anticipated technological changes. Lead students to consider cultural, commercial and ethical issues of the development of the Internet and the Information Superhighway.

Practical Session  Students visit specific pre-loaded sites to examine how the WWW is being used by different people for different purposes. Evaluation: Discuss in specific terms (via worksheet check list and through discussion) the strengths and weaknesses of each site, e.g. ease of access, speed of loading, usability, links with other sites, content, etc. Discussion of further .net issues e.g. role of advertising, who can access information, who pays?, public access providers, censorship etc. Explain how web sites are created on the Internet. Introduce students to the various web authoring packages available.

Practical Session Ž Students examine specific pre-loaded sites in order to consider content and design aspects. Students establish their own design principles for web site development.

Students are commissioned to prepare a school web site. The site will contain information about the school and create an opportunity to publish work from other curriculum areas.

Students consider audience and purpose, and make appropriate decisions about information gathering , copy writing and presentational issues such as the use of text, images and sound files. They might decide not to author the content of the web site themselves but instead take the position of an editorial board and commission articles, features etc. from other students and staff. They will have to consider design issues in light of their own evaluations of web sites they have visited. They will need to decide how to abide by the principles of good web design that they themselves identified.

Practical Session  Students create the school web site using a web authoring package such as MS frontPage97. Much of the site content is prepared by them in advance in their own time, using software widely available across the school. They are encouraged to work independently and to take responsibility to meet deadlines.

Written Evaluation of the project by students on its completion constitutes a piece of assessed course work. A display staged by them in the school library helps them focus share their knowledge and understanding in the wider school community. In organsising the display, they further develop communication adn presentation skills.

Now take


Follow up - Primary/Secondary Liaison
GNVQ students will share their skills by working on a web proejct with Year 5 pupils in one of the comprehensive's feeder primary schools.
Watch this space.