ID Student Insight – David Frame

I have chosen the International Diploma program which consists of two BTEC courses: one at a Major level and one at a Minor level. These courses are fully coursework based with no formal examinations, although verifiers do frequently visit to check over work and ensure that all students are being graded fairly and accurately. I have also chosen two IB subjects to complement my course and extend my learning challenge within school.

I chose a Major in Engineering, where I am able to work hands-on to experience problems and ways to overcome them using the skills and knowledge that we gain from class discussions. Engineering has taught me about how marvels of the modern world operate, and how humans can design products to solve world issues. In Engineering, I have been able to develop my problem solving skills further by creating hands-on situations in which problems are faced and students must find a solution. Engineering has also helped to boost my ability to think outside the box in order to come up with design solutions and solve engineering problems. When writing reports and explanations in Engineering, I have had the opportunity to learn about how to write reports that are technical, descriptive and with time pressures; these skills will help me in the workplace.

My Minor subject that I have chosen is Business. Through this subject, I am able to learn the logistics of what makes a business successful in the competitive corporate world. I have learned about the laws that are in place to ensure that businesses operate ethically, the techniques that businesses have used to successfully promote their products and the way that businesses in Hong Kong and around the world operate. This has allowed me to understand the impact of a business’s choices on society. Business has helped me to develop my research, communication and fieldwork skills. In Business, we have been on field trips in which we have been able to see the way that businesses, that we have been studying in class operate in a real life situation. The skills that I learn in Business are transferable into my life in the future where I will be able to understand the inner workings of both small and larger businesses and to engineering where I will be able to consider the demand and forecasted success of new products in the development and design process.

I have also chosen both IB standard Mathematics and Psychics, which have supported my BTEC subjects – particularly engineering where I am able to use the theory that I learn in psychics on engineering situations and the mathematics that I learn, can be used to calculate engineering problems.

I have chosen this course because it suits my learning style; I have always preferred continual assessment and enjoyed being given the opportunity to learn things in a hands-on style. BTEC has taught me to have a consistent and good work ethic. With the BTEC course, I have to work effectively throughout the entire course. This course has allowed me to learn lots of content which is relevant to the real working environment that I will enter in the future.