Staying Safe
At Wolsey Hall we want you to stay safe whilst you undertake your studies with us. This can mean handling equipment safely and it can also mean using the internet safely.
Firstly, your physical safety: please view this Safety Guide [not available with the sample course] which explains how to use common art equipment.
Secondly, staying safe online: you should also be alert to common errors that people can make when searching the internet or using work by other people:
- Safe Searching Guidance - if using Google, or other search engines, you can turn on Safe Search. This is important when searching for images. You may also be able to set a filter on your internet connection to filter out unwanted or inappropriate images.
Please note, many art galleries and online art resources contain images portraying distressing subjects such as war or provocative topics such as love or sexuality. Whilst these art images are not illegal or inappropriate within their context, it may be that you filter carefully what you search and view, if you are likely to be disturbed or offended by any such images.
- Effective Searching Guidance - when researching art themes, topics or artists online, try to use keywords and terms that are specific as possible to help your search engine track down the information you want. For example, if you are searching for paintings by the artist Vincent Van Gogh, then try typing 'paintings Vincent Van Gogh', and using the artists full name, this will get you to sites such as museums and galleries. If you only type Van Gogh paintings, you could be taken to selling sites that sell reproductions of Van Gogh's art.
- Fake information Guidance – remember, not everything you read online is true! This includes information and image reproductions of artists, designers and craftspeople, and also includes Wikipedia. It is always recommended that you use Gallery and Museum websites for artist research and exploring/ using visual images.
Pearson have provided a comprehensive list of recommended websites for International GCSE Art and Design Links to an external site..
- Using someone else’s images from the internet for your own research, including image ideas and artist research: when you include any images that are not your own within your portfolio, you must reference the source of the image. You should write near or somewhere visible on the surface the website where the image was obtained. You will be asked to sign a declaration to confirm that all sources and any AI tools used within your work is clearly referenced. Any false declaration or missing information is a form of malpractice.
- Digital art and image manipulation - you should reference all software used to manipulate and edit images.
As an essential part of this course, you will be asked to use Canva (a free graphic design software) to create your Topic Check-ins and your assignments. As part of this process, you will be required to upload photos and videos which include your clearly identifiable face (to verify that it is you completing the work). You are not at any time expected to upload images of yourself to a public platform which others can view. You will use the Canva software to fill in a template created by Wolsey Hall with your photos and videos to create your Topic Check-ins and assignments, and then export as a file which is then uploaded to Canvas. Canvas is not a public platform so your images will not be viewed by anyone other than yourself, your tutor and the exam board.