Case Study

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, Examination PortfolioWritten Exam Marks240 marks 60% 160 marks 40% Dates27/04/122/05/12 Note: In 2013 the date for the Portfolio is 1 st Wed in March

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, Exam Supplement - SBP

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, Section A – Audio-visual Compulsory & worth 30 marks Answer all 8 questions on: What you see What you hear Application of LCVP Knowledge, learning and skills 25 minutes

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, Audio-visual tips Read the eight questions carefully before the DVD commences. Use the BUG technique. Ensure to take notes on the rough work sheet on the inside cover of the answer booklet. Questions 7 & 8 are worth 12 marks. They require detail. Ensure to elaborate and always give examples if appropriate.

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, Section C Answer 4 out of 6 questions that cover the entire syllabus. Questions may be sub-divided into parts. Choose questions that may deliver the most marks for you. Ensure you can answer all parts of the question. Take account of mark allocations for questions and parts of questions and plan the use of time accordingly. Always state your answer, explain your answer with at least two different points and give an example supporting your answer. Do not leave blank spaces or give one word answers. Use BUG technique. 23 minutes per question

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, BUG technique BOX, UNDERLINE & GLANCE BACK Explain three objectives that the class might have for organising the visit. This is a prompt to students that they needed to explain three objectives for organising a visit rather than misinterpreting the question and focusing solely on visiting the organisation.

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, Compare & contrast questions Compare - what is common to both and what is different to both Contrast - distinguish what is unique to each Similarities Differences

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, Integral themes in LCVP Planning Evaluation Skills My Own Place Legislation Activities

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, Planning Ensure to cover all areas of Planning: Define planning. Why Plan? The advantages and challenges of a plan. Can you draft a Business plan? What are the main headings? Can you draft an Enterprise/ Action Plan?

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, Evaluating Why evaluate? The advantages and challenges of evaluating. How to evaluate? Advantages and disadvantages of methods. When evaluating use the DAR approach. Describe: Reflect on the experience, What happened? What did you do? Did you meet your objectives? Assess: Think back on the experience, what went well?, what did not work? Was it useful? What subjects were useful? What about teamwork? Recommend: What would you recommend for future activities? Are there any follow on activities.

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, Skills Be able to articulate the following: Communication Skills Team Work Skills Organisation Skills Research Skills Administrative Skills Presentation Skills Information Technology Skills Skills of Analysis

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, My own place Be aware of employment, social services, job creation agencies, transport, financial institutions, industrial relations, economic activities, tourism, business enterprises, voluntary/ community enterprises and issues in your local area.

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, Legislation Safety, Health and Welfare at work Act The Employment Equality Act The Protection of Young Persons Act

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, Activities Visit to a Training Scheme/Business Enterprise /Voluntary Organisation My Own Place Investigation Simulated Job Interviews Career Investigations Work Placements Presentations/Interviews Local business investigations Visitors to the classroom Voluntary/ Community organisation investigations Use of ICT An Enterprise Activity.

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, Outcome verbs Ensure you understand the difference between terms like: State, Explain, Outline, Describe, Analyse, Discuss, Evaluate, Illustrate.

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, Common misinterpretations Is the question on a Visit in or a Visit out? Are you asked to evaluate the organising of an event or evaluate the organisation? Are you evaluating the Career or the Activity itself, i.e. the Career Investigation? Why evaluate an activity v’s evaluating an activity. Work experience v’s work shadowing. Ensuring you know the differences between Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Ensure you can draft a SWOT analysis for an Entrepreneur, Business or Voluntary organisation that you studied.

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, Common misinterpretations What makes an Activity successful v’s discussing the Activity. The role of the entrepreneur v’s the role of the manager. How to improve on a skill v’s rather than describing the skill. Entrepreneur skills, qualities and characteristics. Personal risks v Business risks when establishing a Business. Business Plan and Enterprise/Action Plan. Obligations of an Employer and Employee. What makes a business successful v’s measuring the success of a Business?

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, Final tips Be aware of all 93 Specific learning outcomes Revise your Portfolio as this is an excellent revision tool and refer to the learning, skills and knowledge gained Read all questions carefully and answer all the required parts Always State, Explain, at least two different points and give an example Ensure that all work is neat and legible Ensure to develop points made and give meaningful evaluations if required.

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, Final tips Take a critical look at each answer before leaving it to ensure that all relevant details are included Ensure to use the learning gained through the completion of the portfolio Take account of mark allocations for questions and parts of questions and plan the use of time accordingly Use the published marking scheme as a resource and a guide when preparing for the written examination. These are available at the State Examinations Commission’s website

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, Section B – Case Study Compulsory & worth 30 marks Answer all 3 questions Questions may be sub-divided into parts The Case Study for 2012 GLENCAR COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTRE is now available

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, Case study analysis tips Use the case study to revise the entire course by posing relevant questions. The case study mind map can be a vehicle to revise all the specific learning outcomes.

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan,

SWOT Analysis By Trisha Mc Neill Strengths Large building with many rooms. Committee set up representing different groups. Good community involvement. Seasonal employment for locals. Promotion of local area through tourist office April- Oct. Council will partly finance renovations. Weaknesses Lack of finance Management,who will run the centre on a day to day basis? Survey of 100 people, population of 2,200,are all needs being fairly represented?

SWOT Analysis Opportunities Private investment Improvement in community morale through classes and voluntary work. Upskilling of people in ICT/job seeking skills…. Charge for use of creche Computer classes Fitness classes Youth club Games club Drama club Café will generate revenue. Means of networking for local people. Rooms could be rented out for meetings etc.

Threats Costs of running the resource centre annually. Overheads, ESB,Internet & phone bills….. Purchasing of equipment,photocopiers, computers… Running a resource centre during a recession. EVALUATION How can the resource centre evaluate its progress ? Local feedback Suggestion box Regular assessment of programmes and facilities offered. Questionnaires & surveys.

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, Suggested Methodologies Make a clozed test from the case study. Facilitate students to discuss the blanks. Revise past exam questions on previous case studies. Ask students to make a list of possible questions on this years case study. Ask students to complete their own mind maps. Fold A3 page in half and summarise the three pieces of legislation on one side and planning, evaluation & skills on the other.

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, Write everything you know about: Safety, Health and Welfare at work Act The Employment Equality Act The protection of Young Persons Act PlanningEvaluatingSkills

The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, Case Study – TIPS for exam Read the questions carefully. Stop and think. Use the BUG technique. Ensure detail and always elaborate. 25 minutes