B: Produce a plan for an investigative project based on the proposal
Project Planning
The first step when producing the investigation project proposal this is the first
step and helps provide a clear direction into the chosen topic to study. The
project plan was considered in stages of the timing of each part of the project,
outlining the method and relevant uses of resources; there are also important
aspects of health and safety and identifying if there are any hazards involved in
the project and the level of risk.
Producing and adhering strictly to a timeline for the project is vital when
completing the task with sufficient time allocated for specific tasks within the
investigation, for example the literature review. It was vital that all of the
information and times of start, achievements and milestones are noted, any
possibility of any issues arising such as:
- Running out of time.
- Need to carry out any repeats of experiments.
- Lack of equipment.
The timeline for the project consisted of the start date, milestones, and the
completion date.
Start date: After discussions with the tutor and science technicians, a suitable
date for starting the practical part of the project needs to be set. This involved
the gathering of equipment, collecting data or results, gathering any evidence,
and analysing and presenting any data available. Any times when undertaking
tutorials and lesson times it is beneficial for it to be noted down and to be kept
on record, so all work is kept track of, and work can be kept on top of.
Milestones: This involves the important sections of the practical work which
need to be recognised. This could include the checking operation for
equipment, identifying any health and safety aspects, performing the main
functions, and observing recording results, analysing data, and presenting any
data available.
Completion data: Depending on the chosen timetable that is provided, a
suitable date to draw the physical aspects of the project needs to be identified
so it can close. There will need to be sufficient time to be able to finalise the
report with a full evaluation of all the findings and results.
When producing the working plan and the method for the investigation it
involved mainly the use of any notes that were made from lessons (online
resources, guidance and presentations made by the teacher), and the literature
review. If the working plan is thorough than the investigation should produce
valid and reliable results. When making the working plan it should include
useful descriptions of the following:
- Hypothesis= this is useful for suggestions on explaining what may be
happening in the experiment, for this working plan the hypothesis states
that “as dilution increases, the viscosity of the liquid will decrease”.
, - Theory= any of the literature review notes on the topic viscosity for the
project proposal.
- Equipment to be used for the experiment= the specific equipment
that is needed and if its available, including number and sizes.
- Step by step instructions (method)= details of the how the
experiment and investigation will be performed, generally in a bullet
numbered format. The method needs to be written in third person past
tense and in enough detail so that someone else can replicate the
experiment exactly how it was performed, without any questions asked
to how it was done before.
- A prediction= what is most likely to happen, guided by any research
notes.
- Variables= these will be kept constant and how they will be kept
constant and if they change.
The planning stage of the investigation will take time to develop, and the
completed plan will be monitored by the teacher regularly before the
investigation can be given the go-head.
Action plan:
The action plan is a list of tasks that need to be completed towards a simple
objective and contributes to the project (Mind Tools, 2022).
Actions By when? Rationale- why? Review- how is it going?
Background Completed To understand and The work was completed
research on by: 16/09/21 gain a efficiently however the
viscosity fundamental information online was
concept of difficult to gain any
viscosity, this was sources on how to write a
done first to get a literature review.
good insight of the Nevertheless, there was a
topic before clear understanding after
starting the the teacher explained
assignment which how to tackle a literature
helped to form an review and this
appropriate information was used in
working plan and the assignment
method for the correlating to the topic of
investigation. viscosity.
Writing a literature Completed The literature With all of the knowledge
review and project by: 14/10/21 review helped gain gained from looking at
2
BTEC Assignment Brief v1.0
BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM January 2015
, plan on the subject a further sources and researching
of viscosity understanding into the literature review
onto the topic of the project proposal was
viscosity. It helped how dilution affects the
establish the rate of viscosity, this has
familiarity in this been implemented as the
particular field and main focus of the project
gave a better and has helped create the
insight on what to working plan.
research for the
project proposal.
Start practical Completed The purpose of the Needs to be completed.
by: 8/11/21 experiment is to
achieve the aim
and to fulfil the
hypothesis for the
project proposal.
Create a health Completed This was put in The health and safety
and safety and risk by: 8/11/21 place to reduce procedure and risk
assessment plan and eliminate assessment has been
for the chosen potential hazards successfully completed
practical that has in the lab. and was ready to be used
been done. when conducting the
experiment. Any factors
that could be identified to
effect the experiment had
been eliminated.
The chosen investigation was to conduct an experiment looking into the effect
dilution has on viscosity. Many things were considered when planning this
investigation and these are discussed below.
With any activity consisting of substances or equipment that could cause
potential harm it requires that all operations and experiments involving
hazardous materials that must have some sort of documentation showing an
assessment of the risks involved and the implementation of control to minimise
exposure or chance of an emergency. When applying the risk management
approach safety in the laboratory, a risk assessment must be completed of any
research project or experiment before anything is conducted. Every time a new
experiment is to be carried out, a risk assessment must be performed and
documented by the individual in consultation with the supervisor of the lab.
The risk assessment should consist of identifying potential hazards and
determine the actions or controls required to reduce and eliminate any risks to
an individual.
3
BTEC Assignment Brief v1.0
BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM January 2015
Project Planning
The first step when producing the investigation project proposal this is the first
step and helps provide a clear direction into the chosen topic to study. The
project plan was considered in stages of the timing of each part of the project,
outlining the method and relevant uses of resources; there are also important
aspects of health and safety and identifying if there are any hazards involved in
the project and the level of risk.
Producing and adhering strictly to a timeline for the project is vital when
completing the task with sufficient time allocated for specific tasks within the
investigation, for example the literature review. It was vital that all of the
information and times of start, achievements and milestones are noted, any
possibility of any issues arising such as:
- Running out of time.
- Need to carry out any repeats of experiments.
- Lack of equipment.
The timeline for the project consisted of the start date, milestones, and the
completion date.
Start date: After discussions with the tutor and science technicians, a suitable
date for starting the practical part of the project needs to be set. This involved
the gathering of equipment, collecting data or results, gathering any evidence,
and analysing and presenting any data available. Any times when undertaking
tutorials and lesson times it is beneficial for it to be noted down and to be kept
on record, so all work is kept track of, and work can be kept on top of.
Milestones: This involves the important sections of the practical work which
need to be recognised. This could include the checking operation for
equipment, identifying any health and safety aspects, performing the main
functions, and observing recording results, analysing data, and presenting any
data available.
Completion data: Depending on the chosen timetable that is provided, a
suitable date to draw the physical aspects of the project needs to be identified
so it can close. There will need to be sufficient time to be able to finalise the
report with a full evaluation of all the findings and results.
When producing the working plan and the method for the investigation it
involved mainly the use of any notes that were made from lessons (online
resources, guidance and presentations made by the teacher), and the literature
review. If the working plan is thorough than the investigation should produce
valid and reliable results. When making the working plan it should include
useful descriptions of the following:
- Hypothesis= this is useful for suggestions on explaining what may be
happening in the experiment, for this working plan the hypothesis states
that “as dilution increases, the viscosity of the liquid will decrease”.
, - Theory= any of the literature review notes on the topic viscosity for the
project proposal.
- Equipment to be used for the experiment= the specific equipment
that is needed and if its available, including number and sizes.
- Step by step instructions (method)= details of the how the
experiment and investigation will be performed, generally in a bullet
numbered format. The method needs to be written in third person past
tense and in enough detail so that someone else can replicate the
experiment exactly how it was performed, without any questions asked
to how it was done before.
- A prediction= what is most likely to happen, guided by any research
notes.
- Variables= these will be kept constant and how they will be kept
constant and if they change.
The planning stage of the investigation will take time to develop, and the
completed plan will be monitored by the teacher regularly before the
investigation can be given the go-head.
Action plan:
The action plan is a list of tasks that need to be completed towards a simple
objective and contributes to the project (Mind Tools, 2022).
Actions By when? Rationale- why? Review- how is it going?
Background Completed To understand and The work was completed
research on by: 16/09/21 gain a efficiently however the
viscosity fundamental information online was
concept of difficult to gain any
viscosity, this was sources on how to write a
done first to get a literature review.
good insight of the Nevertheless, there was a
topic before clear understanding after
starting the the teacher explained
assignment which how to tackle a literature
helped to form an review and this
appropriate information was used in
working plan and the assignment
method for the correlating to the topic of
investigation. viscosity.
Writing a literature Completed The literature With all of the knowledge
review and project by: 14/10/21 review helped gain gained from looking at
2
BTEC Assignment Brief v1.0
BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM January 2015
, plan on the subject a further sources and researching
of viscosity understanding into the literature review
onto the topic of the project proposal was
viscosity. It helped how dilution affects the
establish the rate of viscosity, this has
familiarity in this been implemented as the
particular field and main focus of the project
gave a better and has helped create the
insight on what to working plan.
research for the
project proposal.
Start practical Completed The purpose of the Needs to be completed.
by: 8/11/21 experiment is to
achieve the aim
and to fulfil the
hypothesis for the
project proposal.
Create a health Completed This was put in The health and safety
and safety and risk by: 8/11/21 place to reduce procedure and risk
assessment plan and eliminate assessment has been
for the chosen potential hazards successfully completed
practical that has in the lab. and was ready to be used
been done. when conducting the
experiment. Any factors
that could be identified to
effect the experiment had
been eliminated.
The chosen investigation was to conduct an experiment looking into the effect
dilution has on viscosity. Many things were considered when planning this
investigation and these are discussed below.
With any activity consisting of substances or equipment that could cause
potential harm it requires that all operations and experiments involving
hazardous materials that must have some sort of documentation showing an
assessment of the risks involved and the implementation of control to minimise
exposure or chance of an emergency. When applying the risk management
approach safety in the laboratory, a risk assessment must be completed of any
research project or experiment before anything is conducted. Every time a new
experiment is to be carried out, a risk assessment must be performed and
documented by the individual in consultation with the supervisor of the lab.
The risk assessment should consist of identifying potential hazards and
determine the actions or controls required to reduce and eliminate any risks to
an individual.
3
BTEC Assignment Brief v1.0
BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM January 2015
