Teach Too Demonstration Model. Provider: Amersham and Wycombe College. Summary

Transcription

1 Teach Too Demonstration Model Provider: Amersham and Wycombe College Summary The VFX & Animation Course at Amersham & Wycombe College specialises in developing production ready students for the Animation, Film, Visual Effects, Games and Advertising industries. We work with a range of industry partners, to enable students to produce industry standard films or games that are unique and high quality. We have worked alongside the British Film Institute (BFI) and Centroid Motion Capture to develop specific industry focused objectives both in our level 3 extended diploma and in more specialised short residential courses that are available to all UK students. We are able to deliver the industry requirements both at the college, using our specialised equipment, and at industry partner specific sites. This allows us to back up on the job experience with educational based delivery. Practice The Level 3 BTEC Diplomas in Creative Media Production (Television and Film) and VFX and Animation (Film and Games) are based around educating students on industry level equipment and processes. The college maps the learning outcomes from the BTEC Diplomas into a single project that the students complete in the first year. This requires them to research into the genre and industry they have chosen, creating preproduction material like scripts, concept art, storyboards and schedules. They have to pitch their ideas to their tutors and representatives from industry, who provide expert feedback. The partnership with industry means that the college is able to develop live briefs that the partners identify as relevant to the workplace. Using the Teach Too model, the partners take an active part in the delivery. For example, Centroid Motion Capture has provided a live brief for the students to work on in groups. Centroid assists in setting up the brief, delivering the practical section and evaluating the students work. They have also provided an onsite motion capture facility that we use for training. Such live briefs enable students to develop a better understanding of working in a group environment under pressure; develop their skills in their specific field; assist others to interpret and produce work that is not of their own creation; and understand the processes involved in producing a feature for film or games. Outcomes We are proud of producing industry ready students that are ready both academically and emotionally to work in the creative industry. Our industry partners are involved in both delivery and the students pitching process for their assignments. This provides a practical element for the students to understand how to produce professional material and also have the opportunity to get feedback from industry experts. They develop the knowledge, skill set and the confidence to present their work when they leave the college and apply for jobs.

2 Model document and links Context and summary The VFX & Animation Course at Amersham & Wycombe College specialises in developing production ready students for the Animation, Film, Visual Effects, Games and Advertising industries. We work with a range of industry partners, to enable students to produce industry standard films or games that are unique and high quality. We have worked alongside the British Film Institute (BFI) and Centroid to develop specific industry focused objectives both in our level 3 extended diploma and in more specialised short residential courses that are available to all UK students. We are able to deliver the industry requirements both at the college, using our specialised equipment, and at industry partner specific sites. This allows us to back up on the job experience with educational based delivery. The Level 3 BTEC Diplomas in Creative Media Production (Television and Film) and VFX and Animation (Film and Games) are based around educating the students on industry level equipment and processes. The college maps the learning outcomes from the BTEC Diplomas into a single project that the students complete in the first year. This requires them to research into the genre and industry they have chosen, creating preproduction material like scripts, concept art, storyboards and schedules. They have to pitch their ideas to their tutors and representatives from industry, who provide expert feedback. The partnership with industry means that the college is able to develop live briefs that the partners identify as relevant to the workplace. Industry partners assist in setting up the brief, delivering the practical section and evaluating the students work. Impacts for Teach Too Industry partners assist in setting up assessment briefs, delivering the practical aspects of assignments and evaluating the students work. Others provide external critique of work via visits to the college. This ensures students develop an understanding of industry expectations, are able to produce work to a professional standard and get feedback from industry experts. It also provides constant refreshing of industrial knowledge for the teaching staff, as they engage with specialists in new and emerging technologies. This also contributes to developing other aspects of excellent vocational practice: Clear line of sight to work Learners have opportunities to pitch their ideas to and get feedback from industry specialists. Assessment uses realistic work briefs designed by industry rather than predesigned case studies.

3 Curriculum development and design Industry partners help to shape delivery and assessment to ensure it is current and industry relevant. Adding value to employers businesses Centroid benefit from the use of a small overflow facility at the college that they can use free of charge. Escalation to higher vocational learning The link with industry has led to students being given work experience and apprenticeship opportunities and one student is being mentored through university by their company. Access to up to date equipment used in industry With Centroid s backing, the college has developed an industry specific multipurpose motion capture and TV Studio on site. Key highlights of effective practice The Level 3 BTEC Diplomas in Creative Media Production (Television and Film) and VFX and Animation (Film and Games) are based around educating the students on industry level equipment and their processes through a single project to create a trailer for a film or game. Students have to research into the genre and industry they have chosen, create preproduction material like scripts, concept art, storyboards and schedules and then have to pitch their ideas to their tutors and representatives from industry. This is followed by the practical elements of the production phase, such as modelling, texturing, animating, lighting and filming, and finally, the postproduction processes of compositing, effects, sound and editing. By the end of the year students have completed one product that they have created from beginning to end. On completion, industry professionals view students work and offer them, and college staff, suggestions about how to enhance future project work. By working on one project the students get a full understanding of the process of production and also discover what elements they are good at, what they want to focus on and areas that they need to develop. We are able to encompass theoretical and practical units into briefs that link together, ensuring students develop a deeper understanding of the process and reasoning behind it. The partnership with industry means that the college is able to supplement the industry-based approach with live briefs that the industry chooses for them. For example, Centroid Motion Capture has provided a live brief for the students to work on in groups. Centroid assist in setting up the brief, delivering the practical section and evaluating the students work. They have also provided an onsite motion capture facility that we use for training. Such live briefs enable students

4 to develop a better understanding of working in a group environment under pressure; develop their skills in their specific field; assist others to interpret and produce work that is not of their own creation; and understand the processes involved in producing a feature for film or games. Opportunities exist for students who have perform well to undertake work experience with an industry partner, which often leads to an apprenticeship or entry level position. The course embraces new and emerging technologies and incorporates them into the delivery of the course. With Centroid s backing we have developed an industry specific multipurpose motion capture and TV Studio on site. This allows us to use their equipment, knowledge and processes to ensure that students are being trained to be industry-ready. We have also purchased the Beta Versions of OCULUS RIFT, which is allowing us to not only experiment with virtual 3D Gaming, but also to develop, alongside the motion capture system, fully immersive environments, where the wearer can walk through an setting and interact with props and characters. Centroid Motion Capture have donated 12 cameras, software and training to ensure that we have a motion capture system and procedures that are industry specific. Our collaboration has been instrumental in not only our progression into more technical motion capture but also into exploring and developing associated technological innovations into virtually immersive environments and utility and character interaction.

5 The college s relationship with Centroid means that not only do we have the opportunity to use their in-house facilities at Shepperton Studios, but they have a small overflow facility at the college that they can use free of charge. Double Negative, Framestore, Sony Europe and Aardman have provided. teaching and curriculum inputs to assist students to understand how the different industries work and support in developing work ready students.our links with these companies has allowed us to go on excursions to their facilities and understand how they operate within their specific area of expertise. We have also been fortunate to have some of our past alumni guide us around, which has given the students a goal to aim for and allowed them to understand that it is possible to progress into the industry of their choice. These companies have also given up their time and come in to visit the student on site. This has allowed the students to speak to various members and get a first hand understanding of their roles and what they need to do to achieve this. The students have also been given industry standard critique of their work which allows them to focus on their strengths and work on the areas that they need to develop. We have also had students being given work experience and apprenticeships with these companies, which has led to one being mentored through university. We are the only College that is the provider of the BFI Residential VFX course. This year is the first year that the British Film Institute has been running a residential for year old students across the United Kingdom in animation and Visual Effects. Along with a wide range of institutions, we bid for the opportunity to host one of the 9 day residential courses during the February half term. Upon winning, we had to devise a short VFX course that a wide range of students, from different background and different abilities, could participate in to learn the processes involved in producing an action sequence that encompassed film, VFX Compositing and Motion Capture.

6 We have been involved in the Next Gen report that links Education, Government and Industry together to develop more industry based courses and content. Together with Skillset, the government, the UK Visual Effects Industry and Tertiary Education providers we have been involved in the drafting and implementation of the Next Gen report. This report was devised to update educational delivery of courses to ensure they provide graduating students with the appropriate degree of experience that the industry requires. The UK is currently one of the leading areas of Visual Effects in the world and they want to ensure that the work remains within Great Britain. To ensure this, new talent has to be industry ready right from entry level through to senior management. We were the only College directly involved which has allowed us to be at the cutting edge of this development.

7 We are proud of producing industry ready students that are ready both academically and emotionally to work in the creative industry. Our industry partners are involved in both delivery and the students pitching process for their assignments. This provides a practical element for the students to understand how to produce professional material and also have the opportunity to get feedback from industry experts. They develop the knowledge, skill set and the confidence to present their work when they leave the college and apply for jobs. Partners Centroid Motion Capture British Film Institute Double Negative Framestore Sony Europe Aardman Contacts Neil Bedecker NBedecker@amersham.ac.uk