Using website builder applications

We would like to clarify the use of website builder applications for Unit R085: Creating a multipage website of the Cambridge Nationals in Creative iMedia qualification.

When creating websites for Unit R085, we recommend that students do not use online site builders such as WIX, Weebly, WordPress and Google Sites, for the following reasons:

1. It limits the opportunity to achieve the marking descriptors in mark band 3 (MB3) for learning objective 3 (LO3).
2. The final website must be submitted for external moderation and not just supplied as a link to an active website on the Internet. For further details, please see the assessment guidance for LO3 in our specification for Creative iMedia. 

We appreciate that access to web authoring software is more difficult for students working at home. Therefore it is not disallowed for students to use online site builders to create their website, but students, teachers and internal assessors must consider the following issues:

• Online site builders use a different skillset that is outside the scope of the marking descriptors for unit R085. Therefore, students are unlikely to be able to achieve a mark higher than mid MB2 in LO3. Evidence of using tools and techniques must be clear for any achievement in MB2, whereas adapting a pre-designed template will more appropriately be credited within MB1.
• The finished website must also be exported/saved locally, so that it can be submitted for moderation. A number of utilities such as HTTrack can be used for this purpose, which effectively copies an existing published website and creates a mirror copy on a local machine.

The use of online site builders wouldn't constrain the opportunity for students to achieve MB3 for LO1, LO2 or LO4.

Please note, this guidance does not apply to installed WYSIWYG editors, such as Serif WebPlus, Adobe Dreamweaver, Microsoft Expression Web and Ambiera RocketCake, which would not limit students’ potential level of achievement in LO3.

If you have any queries, please call our Customer Support Centre on 01223 553998 or email us at support@ocr.org.uk.

Qualification

• Creative iMedia Level 1/2 Award/Certificate - J807, J817