James Dyson Foundation Product Analysis Resources

These James Dyson Foundation Product Analysis resources help design and technology teachers to lead hands-on design classes through a series of workshops. The resources can also be used in science and mathematics lessons and for enterprise projects.

In the workshops, students disassemble Dyson products and learn about:
• The design engineering process – how and why decisions are made.
• How the technology works (by disassembling a vacuum cleaner and turbine head).
• Materials, their properties and why they’re used.
• How to writing a design brief and specification.
• Historical engineering achievements.

The pack contains materials for both teachers and students. The workshops include a series of activities that take around six hours in total to complete. Each workshop is supported with a PowerPoint presentation, activities and detailed planning documents.

It is important to note that the workshops have been developed around the James Dyson Foundation Education Box, this is obtainable from the Foundation for a free loan period of four weeks.

The resources are presented at three age levels 11-14 (Key Stage Three), 14-16 (Key Stage Four) and16-19 (Key Stage Five). While the language and expectations of the activities are suitably differentiated at each level, the step-by-step disassembly and reassembly activities are common to all three levels. Depending on the ability and previous experience of their students, some schools might feel it more appropriate to use a higher or lower Key Stage package.

• URL: http://stem.org.uk/cxd7