Teacher's Guide

Aims of the Project

1. The project is mapped to GCSE and A level Graphic Products & Product Design and Media Studies. It is also relevant to the Diplomas in Creative and Media and Manufacturing and Product Design.
2. The intention is to raise the profile of the print, paper and related industries, their importance to the UK, and the possible future careers available within those industries.
3. Teaching resources are provided by Proskills in the form of a teacher course book and student work book that are downloadable from this site for Media Studies and sent directly to schools for Graphic Products & Product Design, plus a series of PowerPoint presentations and videos with links to leading company websites.
4. To help to bring the learning to life, a link to a local employer through the twinning scheme will be provided.
5. The project may be completed by an individual student or a maximum of three students working together.

Project Brief

1. The student is required to design a promotional printed item for Fairtrade in the supermarket whilst actively researching the print, paper and related industries.
2. Design task for Media Studies – Devise and evaluate a poster campaign for Fairtrade merchandise.
3. Design task for Graphic Products & Product Design – Design a prototype in 2D or 3D to promote Fairtrade products from the following list detailing the full life cycle for the product, from source of material used to disposal of the product:
• Counter top units
• Posters
• Free standing display unit (Standees)
• Packaging
• Dump bin
• Floor graphics
• Signage (all sorts – indoor, outdoor)
• Shelf wobblers/talkers and shelf strips
• Reusable carrier bag
  
  
4. Extension Opportunities are provided to allow students who have progressed beyond GCSE level to tackle the project in greater detail.
5. All projects should detail why the final design was chosen, a technical description of materials used and their properties, the industrial processes and printing methods to be used, environmental concerns about where the materials come from, through production to recycling, and how waste can be minimised.
6. Everything needed to teach the project and all about the modern, high-tech UK printing and paper industries, is incorporated either in the books or on the PrintIT! website such as glossaries of print and paper terminology, environmental information, and useful industry links.
   
7. In the course book teachers are given links to key resources from related industries. There is also a scheme of work and lesson plans.
8. A Work Book is provided for each student to give hands-on access to information they will need and in which they will submit their entries for the competition. (Work may be completed in the relevant sections in the book or produced on separate sheets and stapled securely to the work books).

Twinning

Each school that registers for PrintIT! will be provided with a link to a local employer in order to enhance and bring a ‘real life’ aspect to the project. The teacher will be responsible for making arrangements to either visit or be visited by the local employer.
Linking with a local employer can be invaluable in providing the student with an insight into the industry, building relationships with the company and may even lead to work experience opportunities.

Project presentation

All work should be recorded in or attached (securely) to the Student Work Book. Work may be word processed, hand written, with hand drawn designs or Computer-Aided Design (CAD) drawings and photographs of models/prototypes. If you wish to submit 3D models (not a requirement), please ensure they are packaged appropriately to avoid damage. The cover sheet on the front of the Student Work Book and student survey (parts 1 and 2), must be completed.

The work should be submitted to the teacher using the simple cover sheet on the front of the Student Work Book. The teacher should then select entries that are suitable to be submitted to Proskills for final judging by 30 March 2012.

The project is intended to last for between 6-8weeks, depending on the Key Stage/Year and the time and resources available to the teacher. Therefore the project can become part of the curriculum and involve homework time too.

Prizes

All finalists will receive a prize. Category winners will win prizes for themselves and their school. The overall competition winner prize will be announced at a later date. Last year’s overall winner won an iPad, a camera, a trip to the manroland site in Germany and a substantial prize for her school.