Useful Outdoor Ref Book Found

I recently bought a copy of the Pedlars' book of the Great Outdoors which is a great little book and wholly appropriate to mention as a research ref with the Gdes3004 brief in mind.. In it you'll find refs to outdoor activities such as tree climbing, raft building, archery, how to make a catapult as well as loads of other activities.. It's also part recipe book too with loads of simple fireside outdoor recipes that are aimed at children from about 12 upwards and their parents.

Book features (aside from fab contents..) inc: Hardback cover, rounded corners on cover and pages, a 'notes' lined section between each chapter to use as needed and an elasticated strip fastened to the back cover which slips over the whole book to keep it together in transit or rucsack.

Here's a couple of pics.. A great ref text if you're still looking for example content for your spreads (naturally this will relate more to those who are using a slightly older age range as their audience). the illustrations are more oriented to parents and pretty basic as such - this aspect can be made much more dynamic though..

Gdes3004: Lovely Initial Student Ideas Ongoing

I'm going to put up some of the great examples of ongoing student ideas in this post.. There was a range of really great ideas and early thinking exhibited this week and I'm keen that others see examples of good practises and different approaches..

Flick: Journal research and associated notes.

Flick: Initial ideas and early sketch concepts.

Flick: Great early research examples in journal.

Rossouw: Some great initial thinking and 3x possible treatments..
Liking the messy play ideas in particular.. :)

Adam's experiments with pop-ups 01

Adam's experiments with pop-ups 02

An example of Adam's initial supporting sketches.

Wk5 Added Features Analysis Task

Now we've talked through some of the different ways in which children of different ages learn, we'd like you to undertake some basic analysis of example books with added features and put your thoughts (as pairs) in the 'comment box' under this post.

Please make sure that you've downloaded the .pdf of the presentation first as reference and then format replies as follows:

• Name of pair
  
• Name of book looked at & Author, Publisher(*repeat this per book you look at first).
  
• Describe the content of the title, the format of the book and any added features you think are being used.
  
• In relation to the information provided in the Powerpoint/.pdf (about the way in which children learn), describe how the added features and/or format might enhance the content of the book for the child. Please make sure you explain 'why' you think this.
  
• List the senses that have been stimulated and describe how the format / design does this - please make sure you explain 'why' you think this.
  
• Do you consider this an appropriate way to present the content (if ‘yes’ then why?). If ‘no’ discuss why and suggest an alternative approach. 

* Note down your responses, return the book and repeat the above with a different title. Make sure that you look at a minimum of three titles between you.

Your Client for the Module Brief

These were the videos (one of a number available) that I showed in session today for your client Gyles at Naturesbase in West Wales. Do make sure that you start any research by looking at their site/videos and the sorts of activities they do/for whom..

http://www.naturesbaseschoolcamp.co.uk/

Wk 4: While You Wait Task: Page Spread Analysis..

While you're waiting for tutor feed-in to learning teams I'd like you to spend up to 20 mins working through the following so that you've been able to analyse some of the aspects of someone else's page spread bought in.

Blog task while waiting in LT's: Comments on one example spread each in LT (not your own..).

• -  First write your name and who’s work you’re looking at.
  
• - Comment on what sort of age range you think the chosen spread is best suited for and explain ‘why’ you think this.
  
• - Comment on: the typeface used, the amount of type on the page and the manner in which it works with the art style (i.e. does it sit aside it, as part of it or is it illustrated maybe?). Explain ‘why’ you think this with each point made.
  
• - Comment on: the art style used. Even though it’s a working mock-up the visual style will have been chosen for reasons. What do think these might be? Do they help convey the topic or hinder in your opinion – please explain ‘why’ whatever your answers are.
  
• - If there were up to 3 things that you feel could be implemented to improve further your chosen spread if the task were done again – what might these be and ‘why’?

N.B. You should be able to add a comment to this post by clicking 'comments' at the foot of the post. If you already have a Google or Blogger log in then you can use those - otherwise you should be able to put up a comment formatted as above as 'anonymous' (follow any basic security instructions it asks if needs be).

Further Refs From Illustrators in Session & John Scieszka

Just to quickly add the videos that we looked at this week in session 03:

Julia Donaldson and Axel Shiffler

Lovely little featurette off the Guardian's website about the collaboration between author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Shiffler..

Link to Guardian article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/video/2013/feb/13/julia-donaldson-axel-scheffler-squash-squeeze-video?CMP=twt_gu