Key Stage Three Resource Tasks

Nuffield Design and Technology has developed a specific type of learning activity called a resource task. These short, practical activities are designed to teach capabilities in an engaging way.

• Strategy resource tasks:
A suite of tasks that develop skills in using approaches to designing that are needed at all stages from generating design ideas to critical evaluation of finished products.

These tasks are divided into 1-6 Exploring the context, 7-20 Generating design ideas, 21-32 Developing design ideas 33-36 Systems thinking, 37-41 Evaluating outcomes.

• Communicating design ideas:
A suite of tasks that develop the skills required to present design ideas – who to, how, presenting data, presenting colour, relating to the market, presenting interiors, informing the manufacturer, fashion drawing and informing the user.

• Resistant materials:
A suite of tasks that enables students to consider the sales and marketing of products, develop skills in handling a wide range of resistant materials, appreciate their environmental impact, and understand structures.

• Textiles:
A suite of tasks that enables students to consider the sales and marketing of products, develop skills in handling textiles, match properties to purpose and test for different properties.

• Designing and making with food:
A suite of tasks that enables students to develop the cooking skills to handle food, test for consumer response, investigate and cost recipes, understand nutrition, and appreciate shelf life, preservation and labelling requirements.

• Designing and making safely:
A suite of tasks that enables students to understand safety requirements from the perspective of both the maker and the user of products.

• Mechanical control:
A suite of tasks that enables students to understand the performance characteristics of a wide range of mechanisms, their application in everyday devices, and tackle mechanism design and assembly.

• Electrical control:
A suite of tasks that enables students to understand the performance characteristics of simple electrical and electronic circuits, identify components and to draw circuit diagrams.

• Computer control:
A suite of tasks that introduces students to the principles of computer control.

HEALTH and SAFETY
Any use of a resource that includes a practical activity must include a risk assessment. Please note that collections may contain ARCHIVE resources, which were developed at a much earlier date. Since that time there have been significant changes in the rules and guidance affecting laboratory practical work. Further information is provided in our Health and Safety guidance.

• URL: http://stem.org.uk/rxzz