Dr Joseph Vancell

The Systems of Knowledge Syllabus (2008) states:

"Throughout the course candidates are to present a project.

The project has to illustrate the relationship of Science and Technology with the other three modules, these being ‘Responsible Citizenship’, ‘Aesthetics’, and ‘The Environment’. The emphasis of the project is to ‘experience’ what being a good citizen is, what it means to appreciate and/or create objects of aesthetic value, as well as what it means to be responsible towards the environment. Candidates are expected to perceive the role of science and technology within these areas."

It is highly recommended that a student chooses one focus, for example, 'Responsible Citizenship' and then develop a project through which s/he also experiences 'aesthetic' and 'environmental' values, and particularly, 'scientific and technological' values.

An example
PAINTING OF GRAFFITI TO EMBELISH A SECONDARY SCHOOL PLAYGROUND

STEP 1: Go to your assigned lecturer and discuss idea and approach.

STEP 2: Fill in the MATSEC booklet with all the details of the proposed project. It is strongly suggested that a rough copy of the pro posal will be first checked and approved by the tutor before it is written on the booklet.

STEP 3: Start a journal and/or diary and write down each step you take. It is important to write down your reflections as well as difficulties encountered.

STEP 4: Establish a contact within the establishment (in this example the secondary school) who will eventually give you his/her permission to work within the establishment.

STEP 5: Through your contact choose a person who can follow and report on your progress: the mentor (e.g. the headmaster or an art teacher at the same school). Please note that the lecturer might find difficulties in visiting the school you are working in.

STEP 6: Start your project and report your progress to your lecturer.


RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP

Work on projects with local Councils (students must write about their experience): i.e. surveys, assistance to the elderly, cultural activities, activities related to the environment (clean up the World program), road safety surveys, Europe’s Day (Jum il-Wirt Ewropew), conservation of neglected historical sites, competitions for the Primary Schools of the locality.

Social work: President’s Award, helping children’s homes (orphanages) Crèches, Missionary work (e.g. Palermo Project), Community radio station programs (programs related to youths, the elderly, people with special needs and other social conditions), Sedqa and other supporting groups.

Malta Government Trade services (i.e. starting a business), consumers rights project, local manufacturing establishments, Hotels and Catering establishments, How they work: Central Bank, Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Industries, Customs department, Malta International Airport, Air Malta, Malta Maritime Authority, Inland revenue, VAT department, Treasury Department, Euro department, Malta Stock Exchange, Customs department, Malta Enterprise, National statistic Office, Employment and Training Corporation, Hospital Services, Fisheries, Agriculture, Transport Authority, Theatres, and Mediterranean Conference Centre, National Orchestra, Malta Tourism Authority, Malta Shipyards etc..

Supporting evidence: Interviews, photographs, questionnaires (when possible), articles in newspapers, or other material related to the place or experience. Meeting people involved in the specialization or workers in the establishment will help students to identify their work in the project.


AESTHETICS
Painting: Any work related to painting is acceptable under the condition that the student should identify the technological aspect of the work It is highly recommended that a visit to a known artist would be part of the project and that the student is expected to take note in his journal of the problems encountered in the process of making a work of art.

Sculpture: Any work related to sculpture is acceptable under the condition that the student should identify the technological aspect of the work (It is highly recommended that a visit to a known sculptor or artist would be part of the project and that the student is expected to take note in his journal of the problems encountered in this field and explain the process of making a work of art).

Pottery: Any work related to pottery is acceptable under the condition that the student should identify the technological aspect of the work (recent technology of firing pottery, mass produced ceramic products, glazing materials, etc...It is highly suggested that the student should visit a local pottery factory and make a journal on the process of manufactured ceramic products, e.g. Bristow Potters, Alka ceramics, Potterware, Peter the Potter, etc. There are also many individual Potters/artists who would be willing to help.).

Craft: (i.e. ganutell, embroidery, tapestry, fret work, filigree –silver/gold, etc..) Any work related to craft is acceptable under the condition that the student should identify the technological aspect of the work.

Music: Any work related to music is acceptable under the condition that the student should identify the technological aspect of the work (i.e. how instruments are made, technology of sound, history of the development of the instrument, etc…).

Drama: Any work related to drama is acceptable under the condition that the student should identify the technological aspect of the work (i.e. modern design of theatres, props, lighting, scenery etc...) Any dramatic company (Manoel Theatre Group, etc.)

Dance: Any work related to dance is acceptable under the condition that the student should identify a link with technology (i.e. contemporary designs for theatre, lighting, music, scenery etc..).

Cookery: Any work related to Gastronomy (cookery) is acceptable under the condition that the student should identify the technological aspect of the work (food technology, new methods of cooking using recent technological equipment or devices, etc..).

Work in a Museum, historical site or any other artistic heritage place, or representation of object: Research work with the assistance of people in charge of the place or object (societies {archaeology society, historical society, Wirt Artna, Din l-Art Helwa, etc..} curators, guides, historians or other persons involved).

Supporting evidence: the work of art (model, painting, object), photographs, video, interviews, articles, pictures, books, or any other material related to the work.


THE ENVIRONMENT
Research work on how students could demonstrate how environmental problems could be solved by suggesting alternatives and how to minimize the effect of the heavily industrialized areas (urban or non-urban places) (Meeting with specialized people i.e. engineers, officers etc..is recommended).

The following places could be visited: Reverse Osmosis Plants, Power Stations, Recycling plants, Waste Management (Wasteserve Ltd.), engineered landfills etc..

Subjects which could be tackled: Alternative Energy, Sea, land and air pollution, Agricultural activities and alternatives, Fisheries, Waste management, industrial waste, coastal zones like beaches, sand dunes, garigue, Ghadira natural reserve etc..Wied Incita PPP embellishment projects.

Supporting evidence: interviews, photographs, models, questionnaires and surveys when possible, magazines and newspaper articles, or any other material depending on the nature of the project.

Tourism: How tourism affects the natural environment (beaches, countryside), when new hotel sites and beach concessions are approved by the Planning Authority.

Planning Authority: The workings of the Planning Authority. The Fisheries: The impact of fish-farming on the seabed.

Environmental hazards: Why the establishment of a cement factory might not be suitable for Malta (or Gozo for that matter).

Waste Management: How to boost the philosophy of the three Rs (reduce, re-use and recycle) so as to reduce the further production of waste.

Renewable Resources: The building of a device that exploits renewable sources of energy (e.g. solar waterheater) and how it works.

Renewable Energy: How renewable energy might help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and hence reduce pollution.

New Technologies: How the Ministry of the Environment works, and whether the various Government offices and departments use environment-friendly technologies.