Lower Sixth Electives Programme 2023-2024
Introduction
Welcome to the Lower Sixth Electives Programme. You are to choose three ten-week modules, one for each term of your Lower Sixth. There is a wide choice, covering Technology, History, Philosophy, Music, Politics, Writing and much more. Despite the varied offering, each Elective shares a common goal: to promote learning for learning’s sake.
Please enjoy!
Mr Tolputt Head of Sixth Form Mr Uglow Director of StudiesThe List
Artificial Intelligence - Robots or Rumours with Miss Ryan
Finding a Unique Voice - the craft of Creative Writing with Mrs Martin
Flamenco - from Martinetes to Motomamis with Mr Granados Trujillo
How to Make a Ceramic Pot like Grayson Perry with Mrs Hammond
Music Technology – a practical journey from the gramophone to the smart phone with Mr Hughes
Production Planning with Mrs Brown and Miss Clarke
Introduction to Philosophy with Mr Waldron
Coming of Age – a Novel, a Play, a Film, a Song, and maybe a Pantomime with Mr Tolputt
A World in Conflict – using geography to understand global tension with Mr Uglow
Artificial Intelligence - Robots or Rumours
Why am I offering this Elective?
Hollywood has spent years convincing audiences around the world that AI is something to be feared and not revered. From The Matrix to Terminator, decades have been spent investing in a cultural narrative that is based in fantastical ideas designed to stir up the age old ‘fear of the unknown’ in audiences, with technological advancements being the favoured bag guy.
What will you get out of this Elective?
Within this elective we will be exploring Artificial Intelligence from an honest and critical point of view. Looking at the potential it has to offer those who are willing to adapt and embrace the technology of the future, we will explore multiple topics such as how it will change the workplace, what elements of life can we expect to change for the better, how can AI improve the quality of life for those in third world countries, and many more.
Through the use of current AI solutions available to the public we will question AI’s ability to make robust decisions and predictions, from who should win certain year book awards all the way to predicting health concerns and natural disasters.
We will also be pulling apart some of the more famous plot lines in movies such as The Matrix, Terminator, Ex Machina, i Robot, and not forgetting Wall-E
Come along to explore the relatively unexplored and determine for yourselves if AI is in fact ‘robots or rumours’.
Finding a Unique Voice - the craft of Creative Writing
Why am I offering this Elective?
For me, creative writing is an oasis, a reflective act, a freedom, defined only by the boundaries of my imagination. With the rise of generative AI, it is more important than ever that our human voices are encouraged to assert their unique expression of consciousness, and that the long tradition within humanity of communicating real and imagined experience through poetry, storytelling, drama, and song be nurtured and sustained, here, at Cokethorpe.
What will you get out of this Elective?
You will be given time and opportunity to create writing of varying shape, size, form and genre. Structured, guided and interactive, whilst at the same time free and unconstrained, you will have the opportunity to develop your unique writing voice and style.
Flamenco - from Martinetes to Motomamis
Why am I offering this Elective?
I am sure that when people think about Flamenco, they would not have any difficulties to bring forward images of passionate and vigorous dancing, intensive guitar playing and tormented singing. However, what do we really know about Flamenco? Its origins? Its people?
Flamenco is a word that encompasses much more than a musical or dancing style. Flamenco is a way to exteriorise and share a variety of very complex feelings that goes beyond its Hispanics (in particular Andalusian and/or Gypsy) roots.
However, Flamenco is often misunderstood or even regarded as a lesser form of art only fit to entertain and lull the masses. Fortunately, over the years it has resisted bad publicity, misconceptions and sometimes persecution consolidating its place among one of the world’s most important artistic and cultural expressions. So much so that in 2010 it was recognised by UNESCO as part of the World’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.
What will you get out of this Elective?
To get to know and really understand Flamenco in ten sessions is very ambitious. I would argue it cannot be done in a lifetime. So, what will you gain from this?
You will embark on a journey of Flamenco discovery (a massive cliché, I know). This journey will take you from Martinetes to Motomamis (I promise this will eventually make sense); I will sign post this journey, making you aware of the best viewpoints, important people to meet, interesting monuments and where and how to have fun. Hopefully, you will enjoy the journey so much that, once started, you will continue walking on your own.
How to Make a Ceramic Pot like Grayson Perry
Why am I offering this Elective?
Sir Grayson Perry is an English contemporary artist, writer and broadcaster. He is known for his ceramic vases, tapestries as well as cross dressing. Perry’s vases have classical forms and are decorated in bright colours, depicting subjects at odds with their attractive appearance. In this Elective you will get the opportunity to produce your own ceramic masterpiece, complete with an autobiographical decoration inspired by the work of Grayson Perry.
Ceramics is very close to my heart as I studied it at degree level and was a practising ceramisist for several years. I am keen to pass on my knowledge and passion for this subject in a fun and rather informal way.
What will you get out of this Elective?
You will not only learn about one of Britain’s most iconic ceramicists but you will also learn some clay skills such as slab-building, coiling, decorating and glazing. Your pot will be decorated with coloured slip (runny, pigmented clay) into which you will then carefully carve your personal response – this could be phases, doodles, sketches or just words.
Music Technology – a practical journey from the gramophone to the smart phone
Why am I offering this Elective?
Since designing and building my own recording studio at the age of 17, I have been passionate about recording and producing music. I love to pull songs apart to see how they were constructed and use music technology in my own music.
What will you get out of this Elective?
Want to know how music technology helped turn the Beatles into the most famous band in the world? Ever wondered what Calvin Harris does to create those tunes that stick in your head? Then this is the Elective for you. We will spend time looking at some of the ways in which artists have used Music Technology in their work and you will gain a greater understanding of what goes into creating a hit record (or .mp3). This Elective is very hands-on, and you will spend a lot of the time working on your own piece of music using some of the techniques used throughout the pop music industry, both then and now.
Production Planning
Why am I offering this Elective?
Scenario:
A refugee camp is in desperate need of some simple seating to improve the living conditions and morale of its residents. A simple design has been suggested by the charity funding the project.
You and your team of volunteers have arrived to facilitate the construction of these items.
In 10 weeks the correct number of items need to be ready for shipping and of course you need to stay within budget. Is this something you would like to be able to do?
What will you get out of this Elective?
This Elective will involve learning through experience. As part of a team you will be responsible for delivering a project on time and on budget. You will have the opportunity to learn strategies for managing time, materials, and budget whilst discovering the importance of effective listening, negotiation, and compromise within a team.
You will learn to collaborate, deal with disputes, learn how to set targets, and monitor progress. How you share responsibilities within your team, between planning, problem solving, calculating, designing and manufacturing will have a significant impact on your success. How will you keep everyone on course and motivated?
Introduction to Philosophy
Why am I offering this Elective?
Philosophy is the art of thinking well - of learning to see the world differently. It is exciting, liberating and even a little risky. It is exciting to discover that things are not as they appear to be; that there is a deeper truth beneath the surface of things. It is liberating to cast off inherited ideas and to learn to think for yourself - like waking up in the middle of the street, and realising that you have been sleepwalking all this time. And it is even a little risky. Perhaps Philosophy is a universal acid, eating away at everything until there is nothing left that is certain and secure. Or perhaps it is the safest and most rigorous path to truth. This is your chance to find out.
What will you get out of this Elective?
Introduction to Philosophy asks ten questions that require a philosophical answer, allowing you to formulate and argue your own ideas. Among other things, it asks what the world is really like, and how we can know for sure; what it means to be a person, and what really matters; and how you can live your best life. If you are comfortable with your illusions, look away now. Philosophy will challenge you to doubt, to think and to wonder.
Coming of Age – a Novel, a Play, a Film, a Song, and maybe a Pantomime
Why am I offering this Elective?
Like most of my friends (and, I suspect, many of you), I enjoy reading books, listening to music, watching films, and going to the theatre. I am no special expert in any particular form, but that is ok: my interest is broad and varied, and it brings me pleasure. And so I thought I would offer an Elective in ‘cultural appreciation’ that straddles literature/ performance genres to explore works linked by a common theme.
The theme I have chosen is ‘Coming of Age’. Why? Coming of age stories typically present a teenage protagonist who is growing out of childhood and into adulthood. That is all of you (and was me once), so I am hoping for lively debate, insightful observation, and engaged connection.
What will you get out of this Elective?
If nothing else, you will read a book, recite a play, listen to a song, watch a film, study a pantomime, and generally have fun: the Elective will include The History Boys (Bennett, 2004), The Breakfast Club (Hughes, 1985), Now is the Month of Maying (Morley, 1595), Cinderella (Terry, 2023), and a choice of coming of age novels.
But there is more: you will develop (or further develop) an appreciation of a range of arts’ genres, you will hone skills of analysis and research, you will explore links and commonality between contrasting works. Above all, you will learn from each other: through discussion and debate, and by listening to each other’s honest and personal reaction to the works that we will study.
Please note: I hope that that there will be one (or several) opportunities to go to the theatre/cinema throughout the duration of this Elective. As with any School trip, there would be an incurred cost; attendance, however, would be optional.
A World in Conflict – using geography to understand global tension
Why am I offering this Elective?
We live in a world in which division and tension is accepted as an inevitable part of life. The news is peppered with stories about hostility between Russia and her neighbours, or tension within the African continent – and we accept this as part of the status quo. I want to explore why this might be the case by looking at the geography of particular areas of tension so that you might better understand the roots of these relationships.
What
will you get out of this Elective?
Put simply, you will better understand the world around you. You’ll learn to spot the things that make a nation vulnerable, and who knows – you may be able to predict the next crisis to hit the news!