Teaching OCR Nationals using Serif Software

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Teaching OCR Nationals using Serif Software

Frederick Gent has used Serif software for a number of years to deliver curriculum graphics, DTP and web based modules and it has also been used across the school in a wide variety of subjects. We initially purchased the software for the creative elements of the DiDA course because we felt the easy to use interface meant that the powerful graphics features were useful to our pupils across a wide ability range.

We now teach the OCR Nationals in ICT and find Serif applications allow us to deliver the creative units of the course effectively and easily.

I find the way the suite of software titles all look and feel similar makes its easy for pupils to see how the various skills, like layering or image export, apply to more than one OCR National Unit. Pupils use PhotoPlus for Digital Imaging and then transfer to DrawPlus for Computer Graphics and Animation despite many of them being new to vector drawing.

Serif applications have the features that allow our students to realise their ideas and meet the AO’s of the course. We use MoviePlus from year 9 onward, to develop videos and use the more advanced techniques such as using green screening and professional transitions to produce project work for the ‘Creating Video’ unit 23.

In addition to the software I have been very impressed with Serif’s Teacher Resource materials that are included with the Serif Design Suite. The fact that they are endorsed by OCR and you can clearly see the Assessment Objectives throughout is very important. Although they are Teacher focussed and contain “How to” guides to using Serif applications the students have found them very useful and we have printed and laminated some of the tutorials. To be honest I don’t know why Serif doesn’t sell them separately and we are now looking at ways to incorporate the resources into our school’s VLE

As a package of useful graphics software and supporting resources Serif has helped us at Frederick Gent to implement the OCR Nationals with the minimum of complication and with the most support for my pupils. I would recommend without hesitation Serif software. They have helped free me up to do what I do best…teach.

Author
Chris Bradley AST Frederick Gent School, Derbyshire

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