The Continuum of Design Education for Engineering
This booklet examines the development of engineering expertise and makes recommendations on ways to harness, encourage, facilitate and reward it. Covering all Key Stages from Foundation Stage to post-16 and higher education, the booklet states the case for design and technology in schools to encourage an understanding of engineering,…
Primary Solutions in Design and Technology
This resource, produced by the Design and Technology Association (DATA), contains 24 innovative design and technology units for use in the primary classroom together with a handbook to advise teachers of the best use of the materials. The resource begins by making the argument for including design and technology in the primary…
Education for a Technologically Advanced Nation: Design and Technology in Schools
This report evaluates design and technology provision based on a three-year evaluation of design and technology in primary and secondary schools. Evidence was drawn from school inspections during the period 2004–05 as well as from focused surveys by Her Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI) from 2004 to 2007. The surveys evaluated…
Meeting Technological Challenges?
This report draws upon evidence from design and technology (design and technology) subject survey visits by Her Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI) to primary and secondary schools between September 2007 and July 2010. The inspections evaluated how well the subject was meeting its National Curriculum aims and promoting high levels of…
Subject Professional Development Materials: Design and Technology
This resource from Ofsted is aimed at subject leaders to help improve teaching and learning by reflecting on the main messages from the design and technology report, Meeting Technological Challenges? The resource draws upon evidence from design and technology subject survey visits by Her Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI) to a range…
Report on the STEM Mapping Review 2004
The purpose of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Mapping Review, published by the Department for Education in 2004, was broadly to: • investigate whether STEM initiatives currently being taken forward address the concerns raised about the decline in demand of university places in STEM. •…
Planning, Teaching and Assessing the Curriculum for Pupils with Learning Difficulties: Design and Technology
Produced by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in 2009, this guidance supports the planning, development and implementation of the curriculum for students with learning difficulties. It draws on effective practice across a range of schools and can be used in mainstream and special primary and secondary schools, specialised…
Professional Standards for Teachers in England from September 2007
Produced in 2007, these professional standards were intended to help guide teachers' professional development and career choices. The professional standards cover the following career stages: Q – qualified teacher status C – core standards for main scale teachers who have successfully completed their induction…
Fighting Crime Through More Effective Design
This case study, from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), examines the impact of grant awarded to the Design Against Crime Research Centre at the University of the Arts, London. The Centre works on solutions to reduce criminal activity through the effective design of places, products, communications and services. The…
Design and Technology: National Curriculum for England 2004
This Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) document contains the 2004 revision of the Design and Technology National Curriculum. As with previous documents, there were no substantial revisions, and none at all to the Attainment Target statements. The role of CAD-CAM and new materials continued to be emphasised. Sustainability…
Products and Applications at Key Stage Two: a Collection of Tiny Tasks for Evaluating Food
One of the trial units from the Nuffield Primary Solutions in Design and Technology. Children consider testing proceedures to evaluate what food they like and don't like. Testing food products requires a more subjective response than the testing of other products. It is important to develop a considered view of why one food…
Products and Applications at Key Stage Two: a Collection of Small Tasks for Looking At Simple Tools
One of the trial units from the Nuffield Primary Solutions in Design and Technology. In this unit, children examine different every day tools, such as potato peelers. The aim of the task is to examine how a number of tools are used and consider how they could be designed differently.
Products and Applications at Key Stage Two: Finding Out about Products
One of the trial units from the Nuffield Primary Solutions in Design and Technology. In this unit, teachers can examine what children already know about a particular sort of product, some of the values they have with regard to the product and set the scene for them to find out more.
Products and Applications at Key Stage Two: a Small Task Looking At Containers
One of the trial units from the Nuffield Primary Solutions in Design and Technology. In this unit, children examine containers of varying sorts, their contents and why they are the shape they are - everyday items. Use questions to guide the students' thinking about the purpose and possible uses for a number of different containers.
Designing and Making with Textiles at Mid Key Stage Two: Fabulous Flowers
One of the trial units from the Nuffield Primary Solutions in Design and Technology. In this unit, children design and make a fabulous artificial flower from a range of materials such as card, paper, fabric, art straws, pipe cleaners. Each child's flower will be used in a class display of flowers. The flowers should provide…
Designing and Making with Food at Key Stage Two: Baking Bread
One of the trial units from the Nuffield Primary Solutions in Design and Technology. In this unit, children are tasked to make bread rolls. It is necessary to set the context for the activity. This may be to agree a theme as a class or group, such as 'to make bread rolls for a children's party' or to base their…
Computers Helping Design at Lower Key Stage Two: Design and Make a Mosaic Picture
One of the trial units from the Nuffield Primary Solutions in Design and Technology. Children design and make a framed clay mosaic which can be displayed at school before being taken home to be displayed there. The purpose of this activity is to learn the skills necessary to design and make a mosaic from clay, using computer…
Designing Using Computers at Key Stage 2: Parking Cars
One of the trial units from the Nuffield Primary Solutions in Design and Technology. In this unit, children design a supermarket car park to a detailed design specification. This task could be linked with a geography local study, as it will highlight the varying needs of the people using a car park. The purpose of this activity…
Datalogging in the Environment
All you need to know about datalogging - and more! This ASE SYCD: Science Year Primary resource includes a step by step guide to the setting-up process, with pictures and diagrams. Worksheets for KS1 and KS2 pupils help teachers to make the best use of datalogging in supporting their science teaching.