Step One is the College’s programme for students designed to help develop skills for learning, life and work. The magazine has been produced by the students as part of their National 3 Literacy unit.

Margaret Higgins is Lecturer in Communications in the College’s Essential Skills department, and worked with the students throughout the project.

“This magazine is their creation. It involved writing, planning, research, holding meetings, and making decisions about the content, the design, the colour, and order of articles. It’s been a great project for them; it’s a big deal that they managed to create this.”

“We also had the help of West College Scotland Media Graduate Fiona Peters, who volunteered to assist with the production. Her assistance was invaluable and the students really appreciated it. It was great to welcome her back to the College.”

The project was a big boost to the students’ confidence.

Robyn McInally, 19 and from Yoker , “liked being able to offer to help with jobs without being scared,” saying “it has helped with my confidence.”

“It’s made me write more and read too.  I enjoyed it because it was really fun and enjoyable.  I now talk to more people in the class.”

- Ryan Mills, 16 from Duntocher

The chance to improve their writing skills while enjoying themselves was a winning combination for the students.

Steven Campbell, 16 and from Faifley, “liked it because it was fun,” adding “it has helped a lot with my writing, I didn’t write a lot before,” while Scott Cuthbertson, 18 from Clydebank, said “It was good, my typing has improved.”

“It helped me learn how to make a magazine.  I like learning new things, and it helped my writing skills”  

- Stephanie Watson, 19 from Glasgow

Gareth Charles, 18, said “The magazine was fun, it was really amazing having chill time to create it, and it helped with my punctuation.”

The chilled but productive atmosphere was something the students enjoyed. Jordan Chisholm “liked the group work”, while Cameron Robertson, 18 from West Dunbartonshire, “Liked chill time and was more focused.”

Lisa McLaughlin, 20 from Wyndford, said, “the things I liked doing with the magazine was writing about my dream home and looking up my perfect dream home on the computer to get a photograph”

Margaret was keen that the students took responsibility for their own learning.

“The students were very aware of the skills they were building, and discussed this during our evaluation of the project. The opportunity to develop planning, research, drafting, speaking to others and writing, and to see the final product, has been fantastic.”

“The finished magazine serves as a great example of the students’ hard work, and their progress on the course. It’s full of articles chosen by and written by the students, covering music, comedy, sports, trivia, fundraising, food and more. They’re very happy with the final product, and so is everyone in the department.”