The Power of Super-Curricular Activities at A-Level - Bluecoat ...
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The Power of Super-Curricular Activities at A-Level
One of the best ways you stand out during your Sixth Form studies is through the
amount of independent study you undertake outside of the classroom. Regardless of
your future plans, the ability to extend yourself and research independently into your
interests is an invaluable skill – this will support your exam performance and your
future university and job applications. All universities expect more than just
classroom knowledge, which is where super-curricular activities come in; these are
academic enrichment tasks that show you are interested in your studies beyond
what is on the school syllabus.
How to engage in super-curricular activities that are specific to your subject:
Here is some examples of resources that can get you started:
1. Textbooks and Web resources written for your course and endorsed by your exam
board. These can be used to make extra notes and provide alternative diagrams,
graphs and practice questions. Your teacher will let you know which exam board and
specification you are studying and recommend the best
course textbooks.
2. Magazines. The Sixth Form Library has several magazine
subscriptions, ranging from Social Sciences to the Physical
Sciences. Your teachers has specifically subscribed to these
magazines, as they can be useful for your wider understanding
of your subject area.
3. YouTube. Extra-curricular engagements can also be
introduced through videos and TV programmes. YouTube
channels, such as TedTalks, can be a great introduction into
reading around your subject.
4. Podcasts. Listening to podcasts can be a good way of learning
on the go.
5. TV Programmes. Watching TV programmes that cover material from your subjects
can be a great way to contextualise the topics that you learn. They can also show the
real world application and the use of these topics. Within the Sixth Form Library,
there are multiple displays showing a range of TV programmes that may feature the
topics in your subjects.
Super-curricular Resources for your subjects:
Social Sciences:
For Economics
Websites YouTube Podcasts TV Shows
Seneca Tutor2u. BBC ideas Netflix: A digital
business under
www.tutor2u.net Real Life Lore Earn & Invest pressure
www.bbc.co.uk/news/economics TedTalks. Smart People Podcast BBC: Lightbulb
moments and how to
have them
BBC News
For Business
Websites YouTube Podcasts TV Shows
Seneca Tutor2u. BBC ideas BBC News
www.bized.co.uk Study Rocket A level politics UK and Netflix: 13th
www.businesscasestudies.co.uk global podcast
www.bbc.co.uk/news/business
For Politics:
Websites YouTube Podcasts TV Shows
Seneca Tutor2u. BBC ideas BBC: Netflix and the
race for eyeballs
www.tutor2u.net Bizconsesh Level Up! Your
Business, Life & BBC: Lightbulb
moments and how to
Mind
have them
BBC News/ Sky News
For Psychology:
Websites YouTube Podcasts TV Shows
Seneca CrashCourse. BBC Radio: why do Netflix: How the
certain chords brain Works
http://www.bps.org.uk Psych Boost. make us feel sad?
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html TedTalks. BBC Radio: Inside Netflix: 100
the brain of a 5 humans.
year old
BBC radio 4: How Netflix: Broken
can you feel less
lonely?
For Sociology:
Websites YouTube Podcasts TV Shows
Seneca CrashCourse. BBC ideas Netflix: 100
humans.
http://www.sociology.org.uk/ TheTEACHERSOCIOLOGY
Things Police See:
BBC 3: Louis
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/glance/ TedTalks. First Hand Theroux
Accounts Documentary series
http://www.ruthssociology.com
Smart People BBC 3: Stacey
Dooley
Podcast
Documentary series
Sociology (AQA) BBC: Panorama
For Geography:
Websites YouTube Podcasts TV Shows
http://www.s-cool.co.uk/a-level/geography CrashCourse. BBC ideas BBC World Service:
Earthquake
http://www.edexcel.com/subjects/Geography Vienna's A-level architecture
/Pages/Useful-websites.aspx Geography channel. Revise - A
Level BBC World Service:
http://www.georesources.co.uk/indexalevel.html TedTalks. Caring for river
Geography
Revision
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science_and_environment
BBC World Service:
Ask the Water, water,
Seneca
geographer everywhere.
For History:
Websites YouTube Podcasts TV Shows
Seneca CrashCourse. BBC ideas Channel 4: Henry
V’s Wives
www.activehistory.co.uk A Level Tudor
Reflecting
History Channel 4: The
http://www.history.org.uk/resources/student_page_1868.html History reformation
TedTalks.
History Geek Netflix: Secrets of
Hampton Court
For Philosophy and Ethics:
Websites YouTube Podcasts TV Shows
Seneca CrashCourse. BBC ideas Netflix: 100 humans.
www.bbc.co.uk/religion Philosophy and Ethics Philosophize This! BBC: Sea of Faith
www.iep.utm.edu TedTalks.
Bit Depth
Physical Sciences:
For Computer Science
Websites YouTube Podcasts TV Shows
http://www.tnmoc.org/ Computer Science Tutor BBC ideas BBC 4: Alex Krotski
explores the digital
http://pcpro.com TedTalks. The Disruptors world
http://www.theregister.co.uk/ Level Design Lobby BBC 4: UK gaming
BBC 4: Rescue
For Physics:
Websites YouTube Podcasts TV Shows
Seneca DrPhysicsA BBC ideas BBC: Space junk
www.physicsworld.com TedTalks. The Disruptors BBC: Space holiday
www.sixtysymbols.com Get Revising
BBC: Brief history of
thinking
For Sport Science + PE:
Websites YouTube Podcasts TV Shows
www.mypeexam.com James Morris. Open Sky Fitness Sky sports
Podcast
www.sportengland.org BBC Sports
www.brianmac.co.uk
For Biology + Chemistry
Websites YouTube Podcasts TV Shows
Biology: TedTalks. BBC 4: BBC: Inside
chemistry of science
http://www.ibiblio.org/virtualcell/index.html Science with Katie addiction
BBC: Science
http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/VL/GG Get Revising BBC ideas betrayed
http://www.uq.oz.au/nanoworld Martyn Poliakoff BBC:
The Disruptors Operation
http://www.dnai.org/a/index.html Ouch!
http://nature.com
http://royalsociety.org
http://www.nhm.ac.uk
http://www.bmj.com
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science_and_environment
Chemistry:
www.rsc.org.uk
www.icheme.org
www.chemguide.co.uk
Maths, English and Languages:
For Maths
Websites YouTube Podcasts TV Shows
Seneca TL Maths The NCETM Maths BBC: Maths of the
Podcast Corona Virus
http://mathsbank.co.uk/ patrickJMT
Math ED BBC: The Maths of
https://archive.org/details/ Life
Breaking Math
http://patrickjmt.com/ BBC: The Simpsons
and Maths
For English Literature + English Language:
Websites YouTube Podcasts TV Shows
Seneca The British Library. Seneca BBC: Wasted on
some: Queen’
http://www.universalteacher.org.uk/ Tim Nance BBC Podcasts English
http://www.phon.ucl.ac.uk/ MASSOLIT Audiopi
www.englishlangsfx.blogspot.com/
For Languages:
Websites YouTube Podcasts TV Shows
Dualingo Easy Languages. La Vérité éclate Google: Épicerie Fine
toujours - Advanced
www.bonjourdefrance.com Google: Des soucis et
audio drama from des hommes[
Coffee Break
Babbel
The Arts
For Media + production:
Websites YouTube Podcasts
www.cello.press. Design Cuts. SketchbookHeroes
https://www.craftscouncil.org.uk
Level Design Lobby
For Health + social care:
Websites YouTube Podcasts
https://www.nhs.uk/ Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). HealthChangers
CrashCourseUniversity Resources:
Resources from Magdalen College Outreach:
1. Chat to Students
Our current students are happy to answer any questions your students have about what it is like to study at
the University of Oxford and Magdalen College.
Talking to a current student is one of the best ways for students to find out if Oxford is right for them and
allows them to ask their own questions. Please encourage your students to send a secure message
now: https://www.magd.ox.ac.uk/studying-here/as-an-undergraduate/chat-with-the-students/
2. Oxplore
Oxplore is an innovative digital outreach portal from the University of Oxford. As the ‘Home of Big
Questions’ it aims to engage those from 11 to 18 years with debates and ideas that go beyond what is
covered in the classroom. Big questions tackle complex ideas across a wide range of subjects and draw on
the latest research undertaken at Oxford.
Explore here: https://oxplore.org/
3. Staircase 12
Staircase12 is an online hub – run by University College, Oxford – full of resources and information
for students thinking about applying to top universities.
This includes subject specific resources, reading suggestions and more. Please encourage your
students to use this to do academic extra-curricular ('super curricular') activities.
Explore here: https://www.univ.ox.ac.uk/applying-to-univ/staircase12/4. Choosing a Course and a College
An important decision your students will need to make is to choose a subject that is right for them.
Informed Choices is a website designed by the Russell Group to help students make an informed
choice about what course they should take. Find out more here: https://www.informedchoices.ac.uk/
The University of Oxford Youtube has useful videos aimed to help your student navigate their path
to university:
Choosing a course - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS8lqPqXSlM
Choosing a college - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcScv_MVj2Y
Fitting In- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJUW1VGv8mc
5. Admissions Resources
Any students planning to make an application in Autumn should be aware of the importance of doing
super-curricular activities that relate to their subjects. This can be anything from work experience
to reading, podcasts to documentaries. They can find inspiration for this on Oxplore and Staircase 12
(see above).
You may also want to watch these admissions tips from Magdalen's Admissions Officer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-n9yuZP1Qk&feature=emb_logo
Finally, this podcast takes you through the application process, from choosing your course to
navigating the interview process:
http://www.podcasts.ox.ac.uk/series/undergraduate-admissions-podoxfordResources from the University of Law: Online resources to help at this time At this challenging time, we have put a list of useful resources together to help support students whilst they are away from school. We will be updating our website regularly to include online versions of the workshops that we are no longer able to deliver in person, students will be able to access these shortly. Careers and useful resource information is also available from our new website: www.law.ac.uk/resources/schools-and-colleges/resources-for-teachers/ Podcasts News and magazines Listening to podcasts is one of the best ways Check out our Verdict Magazine online to to learn on the move. We have put together a find careers advice from those working in the legal list of our favourite podcasts that make industry to exclusive interviews with the movers perfect listening for aspiring lawyers or and shakers in the industry. business students. Legal podcasts will keep you up to date with what is impacting the Follow legal news to find out what is impacting the legal sector. Following the top business legal sector, or become finacially saavy by signing podcasts will keep you commercially aware. up to Finimize. Online activities Free online courses Attend university events online. Virtual Open Learn new skills and discover new interests by Days, on demand course talks and live Q&A completing short courses in a variety of subject sessions will be available from our website. areas on Future Learn. It is great for improving You will also have the chance to chat to tutors, business skills, gaining EPQ support and gaining a students and other key staff through our better understanding of legal matters. unibuddy platform Watch these top Ted Talks Business Smart Devices- Learn about what the data from your smart devices reveals about your sleep schedule, TV binges and even your tooth-brushing habits - and how tech companies could use it to target and profile you. Artificial Intelligence- The speaker explores three trends in AI we need to understand in order to embrace it and steer its development. Law and Criminology Solving Cold Cases- This criminologist speaks about what prompted him to create one of the most unique citizen-driven clubs in the world, leveraging the skills of regular people to solve some of the most challenging cold cases. Witness Testimony- Scott Fraser studies how humans remember crimes. In this powerful talk he suggests that even close-up eyewitnesses to a crime can create "memories" they could not have seen. Why? Because the brain abhors a vacuum. Find more exciting talks at www.ted.com/talks.
Free Online University Learning Courses:
1. https://www.edx.org/course?utm_campaign=Mooc.org&utm_source=Mooc.org&utm_medium=Mooc.org-
Banner&utm_content=CTA
Learn online with our learning paths made of the best free online resources.
For Example: Chemistry Courses Available
1. https://www.open.edu/openlearn/free-courses
These courses have been proven to increase confidence and develop the skills needed to enter Higher Education and
succeed with learning. You can choose an OpenLearn course from a wide range of subjects. Some are based on Open
University course materials. Others are written specifically for OpenLearn. See Below.3. https://www.coursera.org/ Build skills with courses, certificates, and degrees online from excellent universities and companies. For more online courses, please search for MOOC’s on Unifrog.
Other Online Resources: 1. https://about.jstor.org/oa-and-free/ Jstore helps you explore a wide range of scholarly content through a powerful research and teaching platform. They collaborate with the academic community to help libraries connect students and faculty to vital Learning content. 2. https://stories.audible.com/discovery Enjoy audiobooks and original podcasts on the audible app. Transform mundane moments with the free app.
3. https://www.s-cool.co.uk/a-level All the most popular subjects are covered in depth, broken down into topics with detailed overviews followed by multiple choice and exam-style questions.
Five Key Tips for Learning at Home:
1. DO create a study schedule
One problem students might have during the COVID-19 outbreak is to be tempted to sleep in. This may lead to being in a
sluggish mindset when you eventually do wake up, and might expose you to the dangerous effects of studying late at
night to get all your work done. It's important to stay disciplined, wake up every morning at roughly the same time you
would if you did have to go into class, and start your daily schedule at 8:30-9am every morning.
2. Embrace technology
There are so many apps and tools out there to help you with your studying. Learning new technology can be
Evernote > great for storing quick to do lists and writing down essay ideas when you’re out and about
Scannable > you can use this to scan your handwritten notes but also any bits of paper you may need
F.lux > for reducing the blue light of your screens in the evening to help you sleep better
Dropbox > for saving back ups of your files
BeFocused pomodoro timer > this app is only for Apple devices but an Android option is Clockwork Tomato
3. DON’T get distracted on your computer
As a general rule, it is important that you take the same approach to online learning that you would in-class. This means
that you should not have anything going on your computer that is not study related. Do not ‘just check’ social media,
sports scores or anything like that, as this will inevitably lead to procrastination. While some people like listening to
music, while studying, do not spend long skipping songs and deciding what to listen to, as this will inevitably lead to
distraction and procrastination.
Plenty of students also fall into the trap of trying to multitask, such as watching a basketball game at the same time as
studying. This is proven ineffective, and what knowledge you try to absorb simply will not go in. We are sorry to say that
Lebron James is not a great study partner. If you struggle with staying on task while on your computer, there is self-
control software you can download onto your computer which will let you voluntarily restrict your access to certain sites
during certain hours of the day.
4. DON’T look at your phone
On a similar theme, one main way students get distracted is by their phone. Just because you might not have a teacher
watching what else you may be doing behind the scenes, this does not mean you should be looking at your phone or
texting. We recommend that you turn your phone off, and hide it completely out of sight and reach, in order that you
are not tempted to look at it or use it. Remember, there will be time later to check instagram or message your friends,
but it should not be while you are trying to study
5. Don’t waste this time
Use the time you have now to ensure that you are making the most out of your studying. The resources above are a
good way to begin reading around your subjects and learning new skills.You can also read
