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Super Sonic intrigue at Barton Peveril
Sonic the Hedgehog made an unusual appearance at Barton Peveril College in Eastleigh thanks to the creativity of aspiring computer games designer, Kieran Gates.Kieran put his graphic art, film and ICT skills to the test in front of staff and students by filming his entry for an international competition run by SEGA in the college quad on Leavers’ Day.
Public participation was one of the contest’s entry criteria and Kieran enrolled the help of fellow students to scrunch, smooth, shape and lay out bed sheets and other materials throughout the day to create a giant collage. Video cameras set up on the first floor of college buildings captured the action which Kieran then condensed into a five minute film. “It took me a week to plan and design the Sonic 19th Birthday collage and it was great fun putting the whole thing together on the day,” said Kieran, who is also studying Japanese at Barton Peveril. “I really hope it’s good enough to win me the grand prize of a trip to Tokyo to meet the SEGA team!”
At the last count, Kieran’s video had made it to the top 10 and was ranked second highest among all UK entries to the competition.
Adult learners log on to computer literacy
A determination to keep pace with the times and become computer literate has resulted in a group of Chandler’s Ford adult learners gaining a whole lot more knowledge than they bargained for – and the qualifications to prove it. Nine members of a daytime Enjoying Education class run by Barton Peveril College, Eastleigh, have gained formal literacy and numeracy qualifications as well as receiving personal IT instruction since they began meeting in 2005.
Now members produce everything from spreadsheets to presentations, newsletters to Christmas card labels and share a camaraderie few thought computers could bring. One group member used her PC to help organise her recent 80th birthday celebrations while others are putting their knowledge to good use in their work as volunteers or to keep in touch with family and friends.
“Once we got the idea that a computer is a tool for a job and not a machine that becomes your master there was no stopping us,” explained the group’s founder member, Malcolm Wallach. “We’ve all benefitted from great personal tuition over the months and years – something which would have cost us a fortune on an individual basis. There’s been tremendous loyalty within the group and Enjoying Education certainly sums up our whole experience.”
Barton Peveril Adult Learning tutor Heather Soanes said: “It’s been a real privilege to teach such an interesting and keen group of individuals and watch their confidence grow. Most members have faced health challenges at one time or another but the class has given them a new interest and something to aim for. I’m immensely proud of their achievements.”
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