Design & Technology
Staffing of the department
Mr Xavier – Head of Department
Mrs Woolgar – Teacher of Food Technology
Educational philosophy / Aims of the curriculum
Aims:
To develop a critical awareness of the made and natural environment and of the social contexts into which design technology plays an important role. Design and Technology aims to foster curiosity, ingenuity and imagination through personal involvement with concepts and materials. It also strives to increase pupils understanding of the physical, social, emotional, intellectual and aesthetic needs of people, which change throughout life.
Objectives:
Pupils should be able to:
- Identify real needs which may be solved through creative Design and Technology based activity;
- Identify the resources needed for the solution of problems and identify constraints which may influence proposed solution;
- Demonstrate communication skills necessary to give, in a clear and appropriate form, information about a product, system or environment;
- Demonstrate appropriate skill to create or model a product, system or environment and then be able to evaluate its success against the original specification.
KS3 Curriculum
Our Design and Technology curriculum ensures that all pupils:
- Develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world
- Build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users
- Critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others
- Understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.
KS3 Programme of study
Year 7 (Termly Carousel Cycle)
In year 7 pupils will learn how to work safely in a practical environment, learn about good graphic techniques and how to present their work to a high standard. As these lessons are taking place in year group bubble locations, there is limited opportunity for students to access the workshops. Pupils will learn about learning about Structures covering the following content areas:
- Natural / Synthetic structures
- Frame / Shell / Mixture structures
- Static and Dynamic Loads
- Types of Motions / Forces
- Levers and linkages
- Types of bridges
- Triangulation
- Researching bridges
- Creating ideas, evaluating and developing bridges.
- Bridge construction (teamwork) and budgeting
- Graphic drawing skills
- Women in Architecture
- Evaluating.
Year 8 (Termly Carousel Cycle)
Students will be working on a mixed resistant materials based project – lamps, linked with levers and linkages theme. There is an introduction into CAD / CAM within the project for students to incorporate into their practical. Students will work through the design cycle process:
- Design Brief
- Research
- Specification
- Initial Ideas
- Development
- Modelling
- Practical
- Evaluation
Year 9 (Termly Carousel Cycle)
Students will be working on a resistant materials based project – phone amplifier with an emphasis on design themes. There are opportunities within the project for students to further develop CAD / CAM skills. Students will work through the design cycle process:
- Design Brief
- Research
- Specification
- Initial Ideas
- Development
- Modelling
- Evaluation
Links to useful sites for KS3 students, parents and members of the public
http://www.design-technology.info/home.htm
http://www.technologystudent.com/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/design/