Press Release from the Consumers Association:
13 - 06 - 2001 'Counting As A Consumer' - a new
resource for teachers and students
CConsumers' Association and Assessment and
Qualifications Alliance (AQA), the largest of the UK's
examining boards, today (13 June 2001) launched a new
multi-media resource pack for teachers and students.
The pack, called 'Counting As A Consumer', is designed
to help teachers in educating 14-16 year old students
to become more confident as consumers and to enable
them to make informed decisions about goods and
services. It consists of written material and an
interactive CD-ROM.
Students can use the CD-ROM, which does not require a
high level of IT knowledge for use, to research and
explore various topics such as what it means
to be a consumer; the effects of advertising and
marketing; and their consumer rights and
responsibilities. Once they have selected an issue to
research, students can engage in interactive learning
activities and plan future project or presentation
work.
Funded in part by the European Union, 'Counting As A
Consumer' has been designed as a cross-curricular
resource and can be used with the teaching of
subjects ranging from Business Studies and Media
Studies to Home Economics and Design and Technology,
as well as helping to deliver aspects of citizenship,
a
new requirement for teachers.
Teachers can also use the package as a resource to
improve their own knowledge of consumer issues and to
help them plan specific activities or to create
worksheets for students.
Paul Burton, Consumer Education Officer, Consumers'
Association, said:
"Counting As A Consumer' will help students improve
their consumer knowledge and skills. This is vital if
they are to better understand their needs
and responsibilities in a consumer society and how
they can make informed decisions about products and
services."
"One of the unique features of 'Counting As A
Consumer' is that it has been designed to be used
across a wide range of subjects. It is a much needed
resource for teachers providing them with factual
information and suggestions for integrating this into
the class room. It will give students transferable
consumer skills which will be of use to them in a huge
range of circumstances in their own lives."
Anne Wall, AQA Project Co-ordinator, said:
"The AQA is happy to be working with Consumers'
Association and the EU, to make available such a
useful resource. Its introduction is particularly
timely, as the study of Citizenship begins to feature
more prominently in the new GCSE specifications
(syllabuses) and as new cross-curricula courses are
developed."
[ends]
Notes
1. The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is
the largest of the new Unitary
Awarding Bodies (exam boards) in the UK - through
which 3.5 million GCSE, GNVQ and
A-level entries are made each year. As such it has a
leading influence on curriculum matters
and support materials for schools and colleges. It
nurtures and maintains a close working
relationship with external agencies, such as
Consumers' Association and other business
partners.
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