This document contains reflections from a student named Kieran Bradley about their final major project on alcoholism. Over several weeks, Kieran reflects on researching and planning for their project. They discuss feeling more confident after deciding on their topic. Kieran recognizes the need to conduct further research through surveys and interviews. Planning activities include arranging an interview and producing questions. Potential issues around equipment and permissions are noted. Overall, Kieran's reflections show progress in researching, planning, and problem-solving for their final project on the topic of alcoholism.

1. FINAL MAJOR
PROJECT
REFLECTION
By Kieran Bradley

2. REFLECTION, WEEK 1

3. REFLECTION
How did you feel about writing your Proposal?
Before I started thinking about ideas for my Final Major Project, I found it
hard, I didn’t have a clue about what I wanted to make, and then it came to
me, “Why not do my project on Alcoholism” after that I felt more confident,
and found that my proposal, fell in to place, I now know what I want to do my
project on and what direction I want it to go in.

4. REFLECTION
Do you think you have enough knowledge to proceed?
I think I have started well with my research, I was asked to talk about what people inspire me,
and I think I have done that well. I have a clear understanding of the topic that I want to
pressure, I also know what I want to be in my project, and I know the places to contact to
hopefully make this happen.

5. REFLECTION
What further research do you need to do?
This week, in the regards to research, I haven’t done much in relation to my project, what I
mean by that is, facts, statistics, and general research around my topic. In the coming
weeks, I need to start contacting different organisations and services to hopefully pin down
an interview with a professional in the field I’m covering.

6. REFLECTION
Do you think you have produced enough work?
I think this week I have produced a good amount of work, I have looked at
more than the minimum set when it comes to practitioners. I have just started
my research and I still have a few weeks of it left, so I will be doing more in
the weeks to come.

7. REFLECTION
What could you do to improve this work?
I think I could of improved my research further, by looking at radio in a
greater detail, next week I will be conducting more research in greater
detail therefore I will ensure this happens.

8. REFLECTION, WEEK 2

9. REFLECTION
What you have you learned from your research so far?
This week I have started my research, looking at several different existing
products, in detail, in regards to what I have extended my knowledge on analysing
results, I have also seen how research existing charities and originations can
benefit my product, when coming to producing it.

10. REFLECTION
What other research do you need to do, to support your product?
After starting my first week of research, I have found that I need to conduct a survey, I will
do this to collect idea and see what my audience think, about the topic I’m going to be
covering and if they would listen to my product. I also need to research a number of
different existing products, that are similar to the one that I’m planning to create, I also
need to look at the BBC’s guidelines on producing and have a look at what Ofcom say,
surrounding this.

11. REFLECTION
What do you think you can take forward, from your research in to your product?
When I start my research, I think I will be able to take a lot of different elements, from my research, for
example, I will be able to take forward the langue that I will look at in my existing products, the way that
they speak and conduct themselves, I will also be able to take forward the general themes of the topic I’m
covering and the themes that it expresses, for example, music and general sound bites.

12. REFLECTION
Has your researched changed how you will approach your product?
I think in a way it has changed it yes, I think I wasn’t fully aware of the challenges I
would face, when researching, for example it’s been difficult to get an interview with
the police or at least someone who is an expert in the field I’m covering. I think I’ll
have to keep pursuing this, in order to get the results, I want.

13. REFLECTION
Has your research highlighted any problems that you need to solve?
I think it has to an extent, yes, I have faced challenges, when it comes to
getting interviews, and finding someone to talk to, but in regards to just
general research, looking at existing products and analysing results, I
haven’t faced any issues.

14. REFLECTION
Which aspect of your research do you think is the most
successful so far?
When I start my research I think my survey will be the
most successful, because it gives me the chance to
understand what my audience think, when it comes to my
product. I also think that when I come to research existing
products that will be helpful because it will give me the
chance to look at products similar to mine, that are
already out there.

15. REFLECTION, WEEK 3

16. REFLECTION
What you have you learned from your research so far?
Coming towards the end of my second and final week of research, I have found that I have learned a lot, I
have seen how to analyse results from my survey, in greater detail.

17. REFLECTION
What other research do you need to do, to support your product?
I need do finish up analysing my survey results, I also need to
research more services and try to get an interview with someone that
knows more about the subject I’m covering.

18. REFLECTION
What do you think you can take forward, from your research in to your
product?
I think after completing nearly two weeks of research, I will take forward
certain elements of my survey, I will be taking in to consideration the
answers that people have given me. I will also be taking forward, some
elements of the existing products that I have researched, I will be looking
at the langue, presenters have used and the music that they have
chosen, to see how it can help me when I come to produce my product,.

19. REFLECTION, WEEK 4

20. REFLECTION
What have you identified as potential issues so far in your problem solving?
I have identified a number of potential issues that I could face while doing my
project, I have seen that one issue is, that I am having problems with getting a
response for interviews to do with my product. I will have to keep sending out
emails. I have identified, equipment, location and the Release Forms as all
potential issues.

21. REFLECTION
What have you done so far to solve those potential problems?
I’m continuously sent out emails, in hope to get a response, this is on-going. I am
also going to do an experiment, using different types of recorders, to try and see
what the best one would be to use.

22. REFLECTION
Has the initial problem solving process influenced your project?
I think it has influenced my project, in a way that I tend to look at different
aspects more now. Problem has also influenced my project, because it has
allowed me to make it the best it can be, by me exploring of these different
routes.

23. REFLECTION
What practical activities can you do to help solve potential production
problems?
I can do an experiment using different types of recorders to see what one,
would be the best.

24. REFLECTION
How will you record your solutions to problems as you go through planning
and production?
I will be recording my solutions, as I go through my planning and
production by doing weekly Reflection Diary’s. I also be getting feedback
from my tutor, in order to help me improve.

25. REFLECTION
How good do you feel you are solving problems? What could you do to get
better at it?
I think I’m doing good, when it comes to problem solving, and finding
solutions, with regards to my project. I think I’m in a bit of a different
situation, because I’m doing Audio/Radio, where as everyone else is doing
video for there Final Major Product. So it’s hard for me to come up with the
different aspect, as there isn’t usually many.

26. REFLECTION, WEEK 5

27. REFLECTION
How has your planning gone so far this week?
This week I started my planning, I have found this relatively easy, I know
how I want my product to go, and I have already planned to meet with my
contact to interview them, I have one more week of planning and then it
will be completed.

28. REFLECTION
What plans have you already made? Be specific?
I have already planned to meet with my contact, in London. I plan to go down towards the
end of March to interview them. I have also planned the location that I will be conducting my
interview and the location that I will be airing my show.

29. REFLECTION
How good do you think you are at planning? Give examples.
I would say I’m pretty good at planning, I’m quite organized, especially when my college work,
and a piece work that I’m interested in. Another example of this, would be my pursuing of
contacts for this project, I sent out a dozen emails, hoping for a response, that was the most
difficult part, because there’s a lot of red tape over this topic, some people just aren’t willing to
talk about it.

30. REFLECTION
Is you website up to date?
My website is up to date and I have made sure it has been throughout the year, in
order for me to get feedback in a good time frame.

31. REFLECTION
What have you got on your to do list?
I still need to arrange a date for airing my show, with Two Rivers Radio.
Add more to research.

32. REFLECTION, WEEK 6

33. REFLECTION
How well are you planned for you production?
After having two weeks of planning, I’d say I’m quite confident with how my production is
going to go, I have arranged a meet up with my contact to interview on 26th March for
interviewing. I have also started producing the question, that I intend to ask. I have also
started my script for my show.

34. REFLECTION
What has worked well in your planning?
I think quite a few things worked well, the health and safety aspect of it, and the
contingency planning all came together nicely, also in the end, finding someone to
contribute in my show worked out well.

35. REFLECTION
• What things have you still got to on?
• I still have to complete my questions and script for my show. I still have
to also source the music the music that I’m going to use in my show. I
also still have record one of my peers, stating facts on drink awareness.

36. REFLECTION
• What have you learned during the planning stages of this work?
• Doing planning for the last two weeks, I have learned to look at different
aspects of my project in closer detail, I have also learned more about
the topic I’m covering, and how much of a big issue it really is.

37. REFLECTION, WEEK 7

38. REFLECTION
What have you done this week?
This week I started the production side, of my Final Major Project, I
recorded one of my peers, talking about facts around drinking, I also
caught up other work, improving it for a better grade.

39. REFLECTION
This is my imported
audio, that I have edited
Here I imported my recorded audio, in to a software called Adobe Audition, I
then went on to edit it down, get rid of any unwanted bits, that I didn't’t need. I
had chosen to use Adobe Audition, because having used it several times in
the past, I have found it is the best software to use, for editing my audio, and I
am quite familiar with the tools, and different sound levels within the software.

40. REFLECTION
I then sourced some instrumental music, that I thought was
most fitting for what was being said, for example I have
recorded someone, talking about negative facts, surrounding
alcohol, so therefore I needed to have music playing in the
background that would grab the listeners emotions, and make
them think, I needed to chosen a piece of music that wasn’t
happy or upbeat, I needed something that would be a bit sad
and somewhat emotional. After I had found this, I then went
on to edit it, and cut out all of the bits I didn’t want.
Music

41. REFLECTION
I then sourced, a piece of high quality sound effects, to put in the
background of the music, to bring his little segment, to life. I added
sound effects because, I wanted to give my listeners the chance to
make a picture in there minds of what I’m talking about, and by
adding sound effects, that is possible.
Sound Effects

42. REFLECTION
I used a number of different tools, during my production this week, I used the Razor tool,
for cutting down and removing the pieces of audio that I didn’t need. To do this, I selected
the Razor tool, then cut the piece of audio I wanted to remove, I then selected “delete”, I
then right clicked on the piece, then I selected “Gap” this then filled the gap that was left
after being I had deleted it. I also used the Select tool, when wanting to select different
parts of my audio, and when I wanted to move them to a different place.
Select Tool
Razor Tool

43. REFLECTION, WEEK 8

44. REFLECTION
Coming up to my final week of production, I have aired my radio show, at first I didn’t
think it went well, so I decided, to do an edited version and keep the normal version to
be reflected on. After editing it, I am happy with the outcome. Looking at the unedited
version I have seen what went wrong, I was nervous, I had not done a live show in
weeks, and I have had a lot of things happen in my personal life, that through me off
track, and I wasn’t in the right frame of mind. That’s why I decided to do an edited
version as well.
To edit my show, I have used the audio editing software, Adobe Audition. I’m a big fan
of this software and I use it whenever wanting to edit audio.