How can we teach students the skills they need for EPQ and HPQ?
Introducing EtonX for Project Qualifications
- Boost key EPQ and HPQ skills
- Support specific project outcomes
- Develop students’ transferable skills
Introduction
The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and Higher Project Qualification (HPQ) are popular choices among teenagers, allowing them to devise and conduct their own research project, go beyond the A-level or GCSE syllabus and develop skills to prepare them for university or their future careers. Over 38,000 candidates took the EPQ alone in 2022 but the skills required for these project qualifications are diverse and difficult to teach. Independent study, research, referencing, writing and presenting all have an important part to play, and different students have different requirements depending on their current skillset and the nature of their project. This article will explore five key EPQ and HPQ skills that schools need to teach students, and how EtonX’s flexible, self-study online courses can help.
Independent study
One of the core principles of project qualifications is student ownership, in AQA’s words learners “taking responsibility for the choice, design and decision making” of their project. This means staying focused, organised and calm while establishing realistic goals and healthy study habits. Crucially, the EPQ and HPQ also ask students to reflect critically on their own learning and outcomes in relation to their objectives, a kind of self-reflection that they may not be used to.
Learning how to learn is more important than ever, with 50% of students procrastinating chronically according to psychology professor Fuschia Sirois, and time management seen as essential skill for successful transition to higher education by UCAS. For students to feel empowered to study independently, they need to learn the necessary study skills. This is the philosophy behind the EtonX Study Skills course, which includes sections covering procrastination, metacognition, organisation, improving memory, prioritising and timekeeping. Any student would benefit from developing these skills, but the course would be an especially good foundation for those embarking on the EPQ or HPQ.
Research
No matter what a student’s project output is, it is vital that high-quality and well-referenced research is behind it. This needs to go beyond school textbooks and basic internet searches, but students often don’t know where to start. How can they refine their search to find what they need? Once they’ve found some evidence, how can they read and use it effectively? How can they avoid plagiarism?
The EtonX Research Skills course teaches students how to gather information from a wide range of credible resources and how to structure their own research process. They also learn about tools and techniques to save them time and how to reference sources correctly. As part of the course, they even conduct their own mini guided research project, which includes: choosing a topic, creating a research proposal, conducting and tracking the research process itself, and presenting their findings. This would be especially beneficial in helping students prepare for their main EPQ or HPQ, or could even be used as a tool for their actual project.
Thinking critically
One of the most exciting things about these project qualifications for many students is that they get to choose their own project. This means that the work they produce is personal to them and potentially carries greater meaning than the average school project. However, this can also have its drawbacks. Students need to be fully aware of their own emotions and biases when working with material that means something to them, and that’s where the ability to think critically comes in.
However, with so much conflicting information all around us in the modern world, there are even more compelling reasons why students need to think critically. Fake news, deepfakes and AI-generated content all need to be carefully evaluated, and there is a strong need for young people to form their own opinions and arguments based on their ability to assess information properly. It’s no wonder that Forbes considered critical thinking to be an essential soft skill in 2024! When students can think critically, the benefits for the EPQ/HPQ and for their wider lives are obvious, which is why the EtonX Critical Thinking course was developed. It would be perfect for students throughout the project process, allowing them to critically analyse not only the sources and evidence they come across but also their own arguments.
Writing
While not all EPQ and HPQ projects have an extended piece of academic writing as their output, this remains an extremely popular choice. What’s more, all students have to produce written reports on their project, meaning that the ability to write well is paramount. Of course, this goes for many of their other A-level subjects too and for their future careers. From brainstorming and planning to sourcing evidence and proofreading, writing skills are crucial for all students. Those who write EPQ essays, though, are taken well beyond the curricular essay writing they may be used to. They need to think bigger and write better than ever before.
This complex process is broken down in EtonX’s Writing Skills course, with sections devoted to research, planning, building an argument, developing a writing style and editing. Setting out the writing process in this way helps to demystify it for students, and within each section, they receive extensive practical advice that can feed directly into their project. While the course would be helpful for anyone taking an EPQ or HPQ, it is especially suited to those producing a dissertation, whatever stage of the process they’re at.
Presenting
Public speaking of any kind strikes fear into many people’s hearts. In fact, a 2023 YouGov survey revealed it as the third most common phobia in the UK. When the presentation you have to give is a crucial part of your project qualification, it can feel even scarier, no matter how small the audience. Presentation techniques are a key component of the taught element of the EPQ and HPQ across all exam boards, but mastering these skills can feel like an uphill battle for less confident young people.
As young people approach the end of their project and need to prepare for their presentation, a concise and comprehensive course in preparing and delivering a speech would be an ideal confidence-builder. EtonX’s Public Speaking course fits the bill, guiding learners through every aspect of a presentation, from planning and content to delivery and even responding to audience questions (a requirement for their presentation). But beyond the EPQ and HPQ, skills in public speaking will stand students in good stead for the rest of their academic and professional lives.
Conclusion
Five key skills, five online self-study courses available FREE to all UK state schools. With EtonX, students can develop their skills either off-timetable or as part of the taught curriculum as directed by teachers, mentors or supervisors, and they even receive a certificate of completion at the end of each course to evidence their learning.
To explore the courses further and see in more depth how they can help with EPQ and HPQ provision, please visit https://etonx.com/courses/ and sign up today.
