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Aims Documents
The procedure is
Download a blank document by clicking here. Choose 'Save' from the options offered, saving the document to your DofE folder. Navigate to, and open the document. Arrange matters so that you can see both the document and this window.
Construct the document very roughly (see blue box for guidance). Be careful to type only in the grey boxes at this stage.
E-mail it to me for comments. A first round of comments is usually enough to enable you to knock it into shape
When I have OK-ed it, take it to each of your three assessors along with a copy of my Invitation to Assessors (download as above). Ask them if they are willing to be your assessor. If they say yes, ask if they would like to amend the list of goals. Then, when you are both satisfied with the list, get them to sign their bit of it. Finally agree with them a regime for managing the progress leaflet that will come with the pack. Do they want to see it each time they teach you, occasionally, or only at the end? If your activity does not involve a weekly 'lesson' type meeting, then you should arrange a programme of occasional meetings. Summarise whatever regime you agree on the document in the section 'Arrangements for Assessor monitoring' (anything involving dotted lines rather than a grey box should be filled in by hand).
When you have all three signatures, edit your electronic copy to bring it up-to-date with the amendments you have agreed during your discussions.
Give the triply-signed paper paper version of the document to me at the same time as you hand over your registration form and cheque. One way of doing this is to put all three items in an envelope and put it into The Letterbox (click here for instructions on how to find it)
I know this seems a lot of work at the beginning, but I believe it will make the rest of your programme very, very much easier. It also ensures that you have your Assessors on-side right from the start.
How to construct
an 'aims' document In the grey boxes at the top of the document, type your name and level of award (Bronze/Silver/Gold). Then type the name of the first activity you will consider in the appropriate grey box, and the time (in months) you propose to spend on it. Next, think about what you might put in a list of bullet points as goals or aims. Here are some questions that you might ask yourself:
Remember that you can use the official web site (http://www.dofe.org) to help in this. Navigate to DOING YOUR DofE > YOUR DofE PROGRAMME > SECTIONS and then to the relevant section. Then use the the drop-down menu on the right to find the particular activity you've chosen. The list of aims will seem dauntingly long; but you don't have to do all of them by any means. The list is there to give you some ideas on how you might construct a programme for yourself that allows you to make some progression. Beware that activities are not always called what you think they might be - for example, playing an instrument for your Skills comes under 'Music Playing' rather than under the name of the instrument - so you may need to email me for guidance. Remember, too, that you don't have actually to achieve your aims. They are aims - just that. If you want more than three aims, put two aims in one box, calling them (a) and (b), or present them as bullet points in one box. You are welcome to change the font size in the grey boxes. Then move on to the next section of the Award. |