The UAL Awarding Body team learnt first-hand what it’s like for students taking their qualifications, when they went back to college for the day. The team spent the day being Foundation Diploma in Art & Design (FAD) students at Central Saint Martins (CSM).
The team-building day was designed to help staff to better understand the needs and priorities of UAL Awarding Body’s customers and students. Led by Associate Lecturers Georgia Steele and Alaistair Steele and Chris Roberts (Programme Director for FAD at CSM), the team engaged in a range of typical activities that CSM’s FAD students are set, including: object-based learning, prototyping and drawing and design. The day culminated in each team member designing their own object and selecting a specialist pathway with the support and advice of teaching staff. Chris Roberts, CSM’s Programme Director for FAD explained:
It was a pleasure to devise a schedule for this staff development day for the UAL Awarding Body team. Knowing that the levels of experience would vary we tried to use activities and objectives that where achievable by all but that were very much in the spirit of the foundation course. We adapted existing projects and attempted to give the staff a realistic view of how a Foundation student at Central Saint Martins would approach their learning experience.
For many team members, this was their first experience of post-16 art and design education. Summing up the day, UAL Awarding Body’s Director Ross Anderson said:
I really wanted to help everybody at UAL Awarding Body to understand what our tutors and students do every day, and to appreciate some of the things that are particular to a high quality arts education. The better we understand our tutors and students, the better we can support them and ensure they have a great experience with us. Also, I thought it would be great fun, and thanks to Chris, Georgia and Alaistair, it definitely was!
Thanks again to the CSM FAD team for an insightful and enjoyable day! You can view a selection of photographs from the day below.