Observations - Thurs Wk1

Period 1 - JCP - Registration

Period 2 - Practical exploration/subject pedagogy

Injection moulding

• 150mm x 80mm x 7mm mdf block
• draw simple shape onto surface
• knock in small nails/pins at key points of drawing such as corners
• use thin band of aluminium to wrap in and around the nails, thus creating an "outline" or shape in the aluminium.
• remove from nails/wood block and affix with a piece of masking tape
• using the two small plates provided position the allu' shape in between and fix in place by creating pressure between the two plates (screw together tightly) there is a hole in one of the plates which allows for glue to be injected into the allu' mould
• inject hot glue, quickly so as the glue does not begin to cool and set too early, fill mould
• allow to cool

injection moulding is usally used for objects such as door handles etc

Vac - Form

• Turn on machine using flick switch
• green button (heater?) on
• position items to be cast on the bed
• unlock bed by pulling the retractable arm at bottom of controls and lower using lever on left
• position polystyrene shiny side up (NO PLASTIC COVER!) and lock into place
• bring down heater
• soft and warm texture to poly needs to be achieved before forming
• pull locking arm and press bed upwards by moving lever to absolute highest point
• lock by releasing the retractable arm
• vac form on full
• slight blow can be used to release objects from the plastic.
• unlock poly and release.

Notes:

Poly is a kind of plastic, same as that which can be found in hairspray etc. this can be an interesting point to pupils. there are two kinds of plastics used here, some are "thermo-plastics" and others "setting". Thermo can be reheated and has a memory which means that it can be reheated and will go back to the original form ie; flat form and can be re-used in class etc. Sometimes it can be overstretched but mostly fine. Setting plastics are formed into shape and will not melt and be reusable again, for example plastic handles on cooking pan handles etc.



Period 3 - JCP - Y11 Photography

Rule of thirds
JCP used youtube tutorials to explain the use of the rule of thirds in photography. 
Handed out newspapers and asked students to find examples of images which had used this rule and to show how an interesting image is usually created using this approach. This also applies to advertising and graphics not just photography alone.
I used my time in a TA manner, handing out papers, camereas and helping take a small group outisde to create images and navigate camera settings etc. to explain and walk through a few sections of photoshop with a couple of the students, allowing them to create nicely edited images using magic wand tool and colour replacement focus tools etc.