VOCATION, VOCATION, VOCATION

PROGRAMME 5: KIRSTIE

ACTIVITIES

Guidance

This programme would be very useful for post-16 students who are following art and design-type courses as it emphasises the need for a good portfolio of work to get into higher education. However, it could also be used with all students who are starting to think about future career choices or in preparation for work experience or work shadowing.

Before viewing

Discussion questions for small groups or pairs:

• What career ideas do you have at the moment? Why are you interested in this?
• What could you do if you were totally confused about what to do next?
• What is a 'portfolio' and which students might need one? Why is it important?

After/during viewing

Some or all of the following activities relate to specific clips from the programme. We regret that we cannot make these clips available on the website. Teachers and other users can access the programmes free of charge from the Channel 4 video on demand service, 4oD (PC only), or the programmes may be taped off air for use in the classroom (see TV listings for the current term's schedule). Please note that the clip times will vary on different viewing platforms and devices.

Activities linked to clips

Download activity sheet for clips 1-3 [Word doc, 44KB]

Camera at the ready
Clip 1: 07.43 – 13.25

• Opens with David saying, 'It's time for her first challenge.'
• Closes with Ann saying, 'But can Kirstie rise to her final challenge?'

Complete the question sheet (included in the downloadable activity sheet) in pairs. Questions repeated below:

What does Kirstie feel about her experience of being a photographer?

What mistakes does she make? What could she have done to prepare for this experience?

What did she learn from this experience?

Would you enjoy being a freelance photographer? Explain.

What skills and qualities would you need to be a freelance photographer?

Pork scratchings!
Clip 2: 13.27 – 19.14

• Opens with Kirstie saying, 'Time to get going with graphics. They'll be team playing, pitch and pigs.'
• Closes with the advertising agency boss saying, 'So, I think there is every chance she could make a graphic designer in the future.'

Complete the question sheet (included in the downloadable activity sheet) in pairs. Questions repeated below:

How does Kirstie come across in the meeting in the pub? How did she feel?

How did she cope with the pressure of redesigning the pork scratchings' packaging?

What did the bosses think of her presentation?

What did she learn from this experience?

What skills, experiences, qualifications and personal qualities would help her to get into this job? Or find out about a different job that interests you personally. Think in terms of:

• Experiences
• Skills
• Qualities
• Qualifications.

Finding out about university
Clip 3: 19.30 – 21.59

• Opens with David saying, 'If she's serious about becoming a graphic designer, Kirstie is going to have to put in a lot of effort.'
• Closes with Kirstie saying, 'The most exciting thing is that I know I am on the right track of what I want to do.'

Complete the question sheet (included in the downloadable activity sheet) in pairs. Questions repeated below:

Kirstie visits a university to look at a graphic design and multi-media course. She will not get enough UCAS points to get onto the course after her National Diploma. What can she do instead?

What can Kirstie do to improve her chances of getting onto this course and coping with university? Do you need to do these things?