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To
produce a multimedia CD-ROM containing data
and resource material to
support teachers and pupils in the introduction
of engineering at KS3 |
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School: Walbottle Campus
Technology College |
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Fellow: Barry McGregor |
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Email: barrymcgregor@yahoo.com |
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A career in engineering? |
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It seemed a good idea at
the time to upgrade my PC. The 80 GB Hard
drive originally bought to support my Gatsby
project had proved to be inadequate for the
material I needed to store. After discussions
with my school IT Technician, I decided to
purchase a 250 GB Hard Drive to store my entire
video material etc. The technician had in
the past ‘built’ all my PCs and
he was to carry out the necessary work to
add the new hard drive – all material
being transfered to the new hard drive. This
is where the problem arose. Although the file
names for all the Pinnacle Studio work (the
software I was using to produce the CD) were
transferred, the content was not! Thus all
work produced so far was lost. This has resulted
in me re doing all my work in producing the
CD! Luckily, half term has been available
and ‘I can see a little light at the
end of the tunnel’! |
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At the end of the CD, it
was my intention to show the ‘Engineering’
aspects within Newcastle United Football Club’s
ground. This I was told by the club was not
now possible (I had originally been given
permission to do this) due to a Film Company
using this and they had the contract for a
considerable period of time. However, in fact
being involved in another project with NUFC
with a group of Year 9 pupils, we were to
visit the ground and given a tour of the facilities.
I took advantage of this situation and photographed
relevant parts. These are to replace the video
footage. However, they will not be as good
as the video footage but will act as a form
of compensation. |
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The software package –
Pinnacle Studio, is very powerful and has
many areas to learn and use and I can see
the great potential of this within Design
and Technology. The product I produce for
my presentation will in itself be final. However,
I will continue to develop this theme and
add to this and improve certain parts of the
CD. On the CD, Peter Beardsley is seen talking
on the METRO system during ‘the journey’.
Interference can be heard from the train.
I now realise that this could have been avoided
with more a sophisticated recording system
(improved microphone system to remove outside
noises). I am not sure if I could have purchased
this with the grant from Gatsby; however,
I will purchase this for future ventures and
for the improvements on the CD. |
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At the time of writing,
I still have to record a Woman Engineer to
include this on the CD. I also have to decide
if I should/could include relevant facts for
pupils to read during the presentation. I
feel this is necessary as need not only to
view but also to learn from the CD. |
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After discussions with other
Gatsby Fellows, I was advised that perhaps
my expectations were too great in what I was
trying to include in the year. I was told
‘to do one thing and to try and do it
well’. I have therefore decided to omit
certain aspects of material I intended to
put onto the CD, although this will be included
in the future as I have agreement from other
parties for their assistance. |
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This Gatsby Fellowship has
given me the opportunity to work in an area
which I believe I would not have considered
or had the confidence to use. It has, as mentioned
above, shown me an area of great development
and I intend to use this experience to develop
Engineering in my future career. |
