2nd Level Curriculum for Excellence Literacydownloads.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/site/bitesize-brief...About this commission Purpose We want to commission short online videos to help

Bitesize 2

nd Level

Curriculum for Excellence

Literacy

Creating texts

Video/Animation Commissioning Brief

3rd August 2017

Contents About this commission ................................................................................................................................... 4

Purpose ........................................................................................................................................................ 4

Use case ...................................................................................................................................................... 4

Look and feel ............................................................................................................................................... 4

Outline of work ............................................................................................................................................ 5

Reversioning of content ............................................................................................................................. 5

We welcome proposals that clearly set out how reversioning assets into Gaelic has been

considered with particular thought to in-vision graphics, text, speech and any other aspect in which

English is used About BBC Bitesize ............................................................................................................ 5

Who is the BBC Bitesize audience? ........................................................................................................ 6

Style, tone and the Bitesize brand ........................................................................................................... 6

About the content- Curriculum ......................................................................................................................... 7

Literacy across learning: Principles and practice - Education Scotland - http://bit.ly/2uZOOuc . 7

Literacy: Experiences and outcomes - Education Scotland - http://bit.ly/2u3CeH6 .............. Error!

Bookmark not defined.

Benchmarks for Literacy and English - Education Scotland - http://bit.ly/2khxj0x ........................ 7

General points on content ......................................................................................................................... 7

Storyboards and scripts ............................................................................................................................. 7

Education consultant .................................................................................................................................. 8

About this commission ................................................................................................................................... 9

Diversity ........................................................................................................................................................ 9

User-testing.................................................................................................................................................. 9

Deliverables ................................................................................................................................................. 9

Working together ........................................................................................................................................... 10

Who’s responsible for what? ................................................................................................................... 10

Supplier .................................................................................................................................................. 10

BBC ......................................................................................................................................................... 10

The BBC Learning team .......................................................................................................................... 10

Schedule/project management ............................................................................................................... 11

Out of scope .............................................................................................................................................. 11

The process ................................................................................................................................................... 12

Proposal ..................................................................................................................................................... 12

Resourcing ................................................................................................................................................. 13

Budget ........................................................................................................................................................ 13

Proposal deliverable list ........................................................................................................................... 13

Schedule Pitch .......................................................................................................................................... 13

Key dates ................................................................................................................................................... 14

Selection ..................................................................................................................................................... 14

About this commission

Purpose

We want to commission short online videos to help learners working on their Literacy as part of

Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence.

The videos will sit alongside new text content, graphics and quizzes that cover creating and

presenting written texts.

Video content should complement these resources but also act as memorable and entertaining

guides in their own right. The films are intended to fufill three purposes:

To build understanding of different texts and their key features

To support learners in creating their own texts

To present reading, writing, listening and talking as enjoyable activities

Use case

The videos and related resources are intended to be used by learners on their own and outwith

class time. Planning and creating texts forms a regular part of project work and homework

assignments.

The video resources should provide inspiration and support that will directly assist learners who

are working on a text assignment.

Look and feel

Quick, clear visual and scripted storytelling and the ability to convey key information in a thought-

provoking way is a priority.

Bold visuals that will read well on a range of devices are essential. These must be eye-catching

with imagery that reflects real texts and how they are presented.

On screen text must be shown to reflect real written material but key information should be kept to

short phrases in simple, straightforward language. (Bear in mind that the audience will have very

varied levels of literacy)

Reflecting the interests, language and humour of the audience should all be considered and the

contexts used must be relevant.

It is critical to the success of this commission that the films clearly break down producing and

presenting each text into key components. It should be clear that each one of these components

can be approached creatively and involves personal choice.

The films must provide students with an idea of how to approach each type of text and use this as

a guide to best plan, write, edit and present their own creative activity.

While the main audience for these films is learners working at 2nd Level of Scotland’s Curriculum

for Excellence (roughly aged 9 – 11 but including some younger or older learners), the principles

covered will be relevant at all levels of writing. It should be borne in mind that learners of a variety

of ages and abilities could benefit from the films.

We will commission films that:

demonstrate an approach that will appeal to the target age group but could also appeal to

older learners without feeling too young or embarrassing.

have a strong and relevant concept that clearly brands the films as a suite and as part of

Bitesize

Outline of work

10 short-form videos, or videos with animation, each of approximately 2 minutes, with a total

duration of approximately 20 minutes.

Videos should be linear - interactivity is out of scope for this commission.

Videos should help learners at 2nd Level of Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence (roughly 9 – 11

years old) understand the process of planning, writing and presenting texts. Films are required to

cover the following areas:

Functional writing

News article

Report

Poster

Leaflet

Slide show/oral presentation

Imaginative writing

Story – structure/plot

Story – character

Story – setting

Comic

Poetry

Video/animation content should be engaging and informative while at the same time getting the

learning points across in an accessible way. The video/animation content should present the key

points using a practical approach that can act as a model and/or inspiration for learners. We are

open to all fresh, creative ideas.

Reversioning of content

While the films are to be created in English we are interested in ideas that can be reversioned to

create Gaelic language versions of the video.

This may be work that would be carried out as part of the main commission or through delivering

assets that can be reversioned by BBC Scotland at a later date.

We welcome proposals that clearly set out how reversioning assets into Gaelic has been

considered with particular thought to in-vision graphics, text, speech and any other aspect in which

English is used

About BBC Bitesize

Who is the BBC Bitesize audience?

Bitesize is the BBC’s study support service for students, helping 6-16-year-olds with their

coursework, homework and preparation for tests and exams. Bitesize covers core subjects for

Primary pupils, and a much wider range of subjects at secondary, including Scottish National 4 and

5 and Higher qualifications, GCSE and Welsh TGAU.

Bitesize is used by approximately three-quarters of secondary school students in the UK, and

traffic has peaked this year –so far – at just over 3.3m unique UK users per week.

Although Bitesize now incorporates video clips for use in class by teachers, this commission is part

of our student-facing content and will sit within our study guides.

Style, tone and the Bitesize brand

BBC Bitesize is a highly trusted brand that students know they can turn to for reliable and

trustworthy information produced in a high quality and entertaining way.

Bitesize brand values:

high production values

tailored to the needs of our audience

clear, concise delivery of the key educational points - bite-sized chunks

inclusive: accessible to every level of academic ability and learning style

factually correct, high-quality and curriculum-relevant content

simple, straightforward language

funny tone, where appropriate

innovative and distinctive educational media formats

The video links below - whilst not being representative of the style we’re looking for from this

specific commission - give an indication of the scope and wide variety of Bitesize videos currently

available. Note that these films are aimed at an older audience of learners working towards specific

qualifications:

National 5 Art and Design: Experimenting with materials

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0496bsd

National 5 Art and Design: Pattern http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0452455

National 4 Biology: Genetics http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p050r67x

Higher English: The Testament of Gideon Mack http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03ntwsy

Higher Maths: Trigonometry http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00rdlfw

The style and tone of the video and animation content should be pitched beyond the 9 - 11 age

range. At this stage we would prefer to see proposals that look too old rather than too young.

Special thought should be given to how the videos can be made as accessible as possible to

learners with visual, hearing or cognitive impairments.

About the content- Curriculum

The content is principally for use by learners at 2nd Level in Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence.

While 2nd Level roughly equates to ages 9 – 11 years, the curriculum is flexible and learners

progress at their own pace. It is likely that younger and older learners will also be at this level in

their literacy education.

Literacy runs through all areas of the curriculum so texts that learners engage with or create will

range across a wide set of contexts.

Particular focus is given in CfE to the idea of Enjoyment and choice and it is considered that texts

that are enjoyable and engaging will be more able to contribute to learning.

The learner is at the centre of learning, so texts and contexts should be relevant to learners’

experiences and interests.

Further information on literacy in CfE is outlined in the following Education Scotland documents:

Literacy across learning: Principles and practice - http://bit.ly/2uZOOuc

Literacy: Experiences and outcomes - http://bit.ly/2u3CeH6

Benchmarks for Literacy and English - http://bit.ly/2khxj0x

General points on content

All video/animation should use the learning points or principles provided as the basis for

their scripts or storyboards

Videos must use appropriate terminology as agreed with Bitesize

Each video should stand alone in its own right as an engaging piece of content but also

should feel part of a connected, albeit varied, suite.

Bitesize requires full consultation during the scripting process, including the viewing of

drafts to ensure the scripts hit the learning points, and full sign-off on completed scripts.

The videos/animations should encourage multiple viewings and sharing with friends.

Video/animation content typically remains live on Bitesize for at least 4-5 years, so topical

references should be avoided to ensure that the content does not date too quickly.

Bitesize will require final sign-off of on-screen or voice talent.

Where used, music should be production/mood music rather than commercial.

Submitted proposals should not be longer than 15 pages in length.

Storyboards and scripts

The company awarded the contract will produce scripts for all videos and visual storyboards and

scripts for every animation based on the topics above.

Bitesize requires full consultation during the scripting process, including the viewing of drafts to

ensure the scripts hit the learning points, and full signoff on completed scripts.

Bitesize will provide the learning points required on which to base the scripts.

Education consultant

You will need to contract and work with one or more educational specialists/consultants who will be

involved throughout the process to ensure all learning objectives are covered and content is

accurate and relevant.

All content (ie video concept, initial script, final script, rough cut stages, fine cut etc.) will need to be

reviewed by the consultant before it is sent to us.

Separately the BBC will employ our own consultant to assist us in reviewing deliveries, however

we would expect all content to have been reviewed by a named consultant prior to delivery.

About this commission

The overall tone should be informal, conversational and appealing to the audience.

Dialogue should avoid sounding too didactic or teacher-like. Equally it should not be over-

friendly or ‘try too hard’.

It is vital that the content feels part of the students’ world – the subject area can seem

daunting so using easily-accessible examples should pique their interest.

Pace and tone should be consistent with successful media aimed at this age group.

Consideration should be given to balancing pacey delivery with ensuring that learners have

time to absorb key information. Clarity is very important.

Language should be straightforward and easy to understand. If specific terminology is

needed it may need to be explained.

The video content should represent the diversity of the Bitesize audience

Subtitles in English will be required - as per the BBC guidelines –

http://www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/futuremedia/accessibility/subtitling.shtml

We will provide an .xml template for delivery of subtitles

The overall budget for the commission should include any consultant fees.

Diversity

BBC Learning is committed to representing the diversity of our audience.

User-testing

Companies should user-test visuals to ensure suitability for the audience. The BBC will also aim to

user-test content.

Deliverables

Final videos in electronic format 50 x HD (a technical specification will be provided), both

compressed and uncompressed. Uncompressed audio provided in multiple channels.

XML transcripts for subtitles (template will be provided).

Post-production paperwork (template will be provided).

All content should be cleared for all rights in perpetuity. Any exceptions to this must be agreed with

BBC in advance of inclusion. This commission will be based on a framework 2 contract.

This link provides further information:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/online/articles/how-we-work#framework

Working together

Who’s responsible for what?

Supplier

You will be responsible for:

project management and production of deliverables to agreed deadline and budget

producing an editorial specification of the project

chairing regular production meetings and communicating project plans and status

quality assurance of content

working with consultant to provide all learning objectives for each topic area

ensuring that teaching consultant(s) works closely with script writer

post-production paperwork to be completed in format supplied by BBC (WebasC)

BBC

We will be responsible for:

sharing project documentation from the wider suite of Bitesize content where available

collaboration throughout the production and delivery

sign-off on contexts and scenarios, creative treatment, storylines, look and feel, shooting

scripts, casting, voice-over samples, rough-cuts and final delivery – within an agreed

timeframe.

We will be jointly responsible for:

ensuring the learning outcomes are met

ensuring that content is best-fit for the Bitesize audience

The BBC Learning team

Executive producer: Sarah Proctor

Senior producer: Derek Farrell

Senior producer: Neil Scott

Schedule/project management

Although key points such as casting, contexts, voice-over, script and sign-off points, etc will be

identified on the Editorial Specification, all Bitesize production follows an iterative development

process and we would aim to feed back as soon as possible on all editorial decisions.

Final delivery for the project is 15/12/2017

This project is highly dependent on specific delivery dates that will be defined in the contract. As

such we would like you to give particular attention to clause 9 in our standard terms which states

the following:

If you fail or are due to fail to deliver a Deliverable (or any part thereof) due at any stage specified

in Schedule 2 for any reason not directly and solely attributable to the BBC, the BBC shall (without

prejudice to any other rights or remedies available to the BBC under this Agreement or at law) be

entitled to terminate this Agreement

Should this situation arise and the BBC is forced to terminate, the BBC would only be liable to you

for anything delivered prior to termination. For this reason we would ask that you give timeframes

and delivery the highest priority.

Out of scope

Interactivity within the videos/animations is out of scope.

The process

Proposal

Proposals should be provided as either MS Word documents or PDFs. They should be a maximum

of 15 pages long.

Please submit proposals to:

Neil Scott, Senior Producer, Bitesize at [email protected]

and

Derek Farrell, Senior Producer, Bitesize at [email protected]

Please base your proposal on the following:

A detailed treatment of how you would cover

Creating a leaflet

Additional overviews of how you would cover

Creating a comic strip

Creating character in a story

Please include a suggestion of your approach to creating Gaelic versions or reversions of the films.

Learning experience is not a prerequisite, but a thorough understanding of the needs of the

Bitesize audience and a clear approach to addressing those needs are expected.

Companies should have experience delivering engaging video and/or animated content, ideally

for or able to be appreciated by a preteen, early-teen audience and including short-form content.

All content must be passed through an Education Consultant (from initial concepts to fine cut), and

this must occur before the BBC sees the content as all deliverables must be teacher-accepted.

When we sign off all the scripts, we are aware that some minor things might change in

filming/animating, if things don’t flow as they should in practice. We are happy to be flexible about

this, so long as all changes are passed through the Education Consultant, and are changed in the

transcripts etc so the post-production paperwork is up to date.

Resourcing

Please define your project team within your response – including an indication of core staff

members and freelance support. Please outline any talent, including writer, director and subject

matter experts/consultants.

Budget

The maximum budget for this content is £50,000. Please provide a budget breakdown to show how

you intend to cost the project.

Payment schedule to be agreed upon award of contract. Typical payment might be:

40% on signature of contract

30% divided upon completion of defined production milestones

30% upon final delivery

Proposal deliverable list

Company overview.

Project overview/storyline

Indication of proposed visuals

Resourcing.

Technical / production / project management approach.

Budget.

Schedule Pitch

Shortlisted companies will be invited to a face-to-face pitch at BBC Scotland, Pacific Quay,

Glasgow between 06/09/17 and 08/09/15.

Key dates

Deadline for submissions – for guideline only

Brief published: 03/08/2017

Deadline for proposal submissions: 10am, 30/08/2017

Face-to-face pitch to BBC: 06/09/2017 - 08/09/2017

Notification of Contract Award: 11/09/2017

Final delivery: 15/12/2017

These dates are indicative and they may be amended during the process to allow for sufficient time

to undertake each phase of the exercise.

Selection

The BBC will use the following standard criteria to evaluate the pitches submitted:

quality of the idea proposed – originality / suitability for Bitesize audience

ability to meet editorial requirements

core staff experience

project management / production plan

pricing / value for money

presentation of response

prior experience of company

Any queries on this commission should be emailed to Derek Farrell ([email protected]) and

Neil Scott ([email protected])