Three free teaching resources
These teaching and learning resources have been created to support challenges from the CoPE student book, but you could use them as stand-alone activities in their own right. You can read more about the resources below and download them for use in your lessons.
Citizenship and community – planning a fundraising event
- Download free resource: Fundraising
This resource is based on challenge 2B1, which is one of the most popular challenges in the student book. Students are tasked with organising and running a fundraising event to raise money for charity, while developing their teamwork skills. The resource comprises delivery notes for tutors and planning worksheets for learners.
Health and fitness – investigating the impact of social media on wellbeing
- Download free resource: The impact of social media
Linked to challenge 7A3, this topic is an increasing concern for young people. The resource uses a think/pair/share approach to encourage students to discuss the issue as a group and come to their own conclusions, based on evidence and statistics. The resource also includes a sheet where learners can explore ways to combat some of the negative impacts of social media in their own lives.
Beliefs and values – discussing the importance of values in modern society
- Download free resource: Values for modern living
This resource for challenge 12A9 focuses on the essential values and qualities needed for living in modern Britain. Students are asked to explore the meanings of empathy, respect, tolerance and acceptance, culminating in a group discussion on the importance of these values in modern society.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on these resources, so feel free to leave a comment on this blog or tag us in your social media posts using @ASDANeducation and #ASDANresources
How does CoPE work?
To successfully complete CoPE, students need to complete 120 hours of challenges and meet the requirements of all six skills-based assessment units:
- introduction to working with others
- introduction to improving own learning and performance
- introduction to problem solving
- planning and carrying out a piece of research
- communicating through discussion
- planning and giving an oral presentation
One of the unique features of CoPE is the student book; each learner registration includes a student book, which contains a curriculum of challenges. Students work with their tutor to choose their own challenges – and with 189 challenges across 13 modules, there’s plenty to choose from.
“Some of the CoPE challenges have been really useful in preparing students for life after school.” – feedback from the 2018 ASDAN customer survey
With modules covering topics such as communication, independent living and health and fitness, CoPE challenges can help prepare learners for their lives beyond school – whether that’s education, training, the workplace or adult life in general. “I like the fact that you can tailor the tasks in CoPE to suit the needs of your students. It has a wide range of activities that could potentially be taught to mixed ability groups.” – feedback from the 2018 ASDAN customer survey Flexibility is one of the main features that our centres love about CoPE. It allows tutors to build CoPE around their existing projects, while learners have the opportunity to relate their learning to their own interests. The ‘Other agreed challenge’ option in section A of each module allows students and tutors to write their own challenge and section C of each module requires learners to choose their own 10-hour project. In addition, the combined studies module allows centres to mix and match challenges from across the student book to create their own module.
Complementing GCSE subjects
CoPE boosts learner’s confidence and develops essential skills, which can help their performance in other subjects and prepare them for life beyond school. These case studies from CoPE centres show how schools deliver the course and the impact it has had on learners:
- CoPE complements academic learning at Gloucestershire school
- Learners at Dorset school improve literacy skills through CoPE
- CoPE is core part of the curriculum at outstanding school
“CoPE has been key to my success as a professional. It gave me the experience of going out into the world, challenging myself and learning new things in a fun and engaging way. I think all GCSE students would benefit from this qualification.” – Francesca Yates, former CoPE student
The real-world context of CoPE challenges can have a transformative effect on learners, helping them to discover and realise their goals for life beyond school. This blog from former CoPE student Francesca Yates describes her experience of CoPE and how it helped to shape her career: ‘I went from shy teenager to confident corporate events executive’.