Handout 15 Specimen Team Project Commentary

Team Element (has 3 parts) AO3 10 marks

 Outcome
 Explanation: project aim; a brief description of the Outcome; an explanation of how
the team’s exploration of different cultural perspectives has informed or supports the
Outcome
 Collaboration
Discuss with delegates the Explanation. Ask them how many marks the Outcome and
Explanation get. (Syllabus p.19 and 4 marks in total. The other 6 marks are for collaboration
as a team so the teacher will need to keep records for this mark). However, each member of
the team needs to evaluate the strengths and limitations of the outcome and explanation so
there needs to be one and they need submitting once marked by the teacher.
Look at the Explanation. Ask: ‘Is this what they would expect to see given the description in
the syllabus?’ Point out the word count as under the maximum 300 words.
Personal Element
Reflective Paper (1 paper per candidate)
Key points about the Reflective Paper:
Keep to the word limit (1000). This is tight so advise to use sub-headings to start to structure
the work and then remove them to get nearer the word count. Add the word count to the
bottom.
For coherency suggest:
Analysis and evaluation of project outcome and own work processes, including reflection on
strengths and weaknesses on own performance as a team member
(Table C and some Table D)
Reflection on the benefits and challenges of working as a team, and overall learning from the
project, including what has been learned about different cultural perspectives
(Table D)
Remember to include references for the research undertaken (relates to learning about
different cultural perspectives and key findings)
Assessment criteria
Use best fit approach for a mark within each of the levels for each of the three grids (Table
C, D and E). If all criteria met within a level, top mark in that level should be awarded.
Pay attention to the emboldened parts to guide students. Give students the assessment
criteria. Can put together as a checklist so that they can check as they do parts.
General feedback can be given to whole class but not specifics to individuals. Encourage
first drafts, which teacher can look at to guide general feedback or skill practice in lessons.
Task
Ask delegates to underline and identify assessment criteria and arrive at a level for this
Reflective Paper. Ask them to consider what advice they would give to the candidate to
improve performance before going through the commentary.
It is suggested that this is a very good Reflective Paper.
'What advice could we give the candidate to help improve performance?'
A level of attainment for each of the criteria is suggested but it's difficult to be too precise
because we have nothing from candidates yet.
Commentary
Outcome/Explanation (though don't have outcome here) L4

Reflective Paper:

Strengths and limitations of outcome in achieving aims.

Probably at L3. There is mention of feedback from classes suggesting aim had been
achieved, but for L4, there probably needs to be more focus on the aim of promoting the
importance of healthy eating and how far the candidate herself thinks this has been
achieved. The limitations part is stronger than the strengths because strengths seems to
focus largely on Japanese findings. If we were going for perfection, then the last couple of
sentences in paragraph 1 could be a bit further developed, with a bit less on Japan. Also
could build in to limitations the candidate's own idea of possibly some sort of questionnaire
linked to how far presentation has impacted on peers' views of healthy eating/body image.

Strengths and limitations of own work processes:

Currently, probably L3 but if the focus shifted a bit more to more explicit evaluation of own
research methodology or approach rather than the more descriptive what she found out then
certainly L4 because the section on process with regard to time management, planning and
leadership role is good.

Balance between strengths and limitations:

Currently L3 but if something with the suggestion regarding the previous bullet point, then
L4.

Use of Examples:

L3 – not quite sure yet what form this should take, but as there are examples here, it might
be good to make them a bit more explicit with some scattered 'For Example' and 'For
instance' to make it obvious.

Suggested improvements:

L3 - More explicit suggested improvement to the outcome (possibly linking back to

suggestions for bullet point 1) and then in the 2nd para, building on to the limitations of the
outcome in order to make explicit suggested improvements. There are suggestions to
improve process at the end of paragraph 3 but she could also have maybe linked back to
suggestions made under strengths and limitations of work processes.

Benefits and Challenges of working as a team

L4 - This is strong

Reflection on strengths and weaknesses of own performance as a team member

L4

Reflection on learning about different cultural perspectives

L4

Reflection on personal learning

Maybe could just beef up the final sentence a bit with a bit of elaboration for L4

Communication

Clear L4