Resistant Materials (Product Design)
Subject Leader: Mr Nick Heal - n.heal@lavington.wilts.sch.uk
Product Design is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. They acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing, art and geography.
Year 7
What are we studying?
Students will complete a twenty week course in Resistant Materials (RMT) comprising of one double lesson a week. In year 7 we focus on developing design and making skills using a broad range of workshop tools and machinery to shape and form metals and wood materials, and also teach students CAD design through the use of our laser cutter. There is an emphasis on health and safety and good workshop practises. There are two main projects; designing and making a brass key tag, and a wooden litter picker. The key tag introduces students to the concept of designing to a specific brief and specification considering the materials and equipment they have to make the tag. Students begin to develop skills in the use of metal working equipment including saws, files, drills and polishing equipment. The litter picker project teaches students a variety of woodworking skills using hand tools and machinery, used extensively at KS3. Additionally students begin using a CAD package to design the head of their litter picker which is then cut out on our laser cutter. Both projects also include a number of design, research and analysis tasks looking at materials, manufacturing process and environmental concerns.
How are we assessed?
Classwork (practical and theory work) and homework is assessed throughout the Resistant Materials course. Students will be given success criteria linked to the work. For each practical and/or theory task students will be given a national curriculum level, which enables their progress to be monitored. The assessments may be carried out in lessons or set as homework. Assessment focuses on all elements of the design and make process: Analysis, research (gathering and using information), product design, modelling, manufacture, testing and evaluation.
How are we grouped?
Students are in mixed ability groups in Art, Design and Technology, and are timetabled for two double lessons a week in this subject area. The maximum class size is 23.
What homework are we expected to do?
There will usually be one homework task set per fortnight, of which the majority are set in order to consolidate learning from that day’s lesson or preparation for the following lesson.
The home work tasks should take around 30 minutes to complete. This will include research activities, worksheets, design and development work or completion of class tasks. Students are encouraged to read around the subject area to support their understanding and development of subject specific vocabulary.
What can parents do to help?
- Ask your child to explain the meaning of the subject vocabulary that is new to each module.
- Encourage your child to discuss what they have learnt each week, and the homework tasks they have been set
- Look out for articles in newspapers or television and discuss them with your child.
- Where possible encourage your child with their own design and make projects at home. Independent designing and modelling with materials from Lego to cardboard are all valuable skills. Working alongside a qualified adult on larger projects and learning to use DIY tools and equipment safely is all beneficial.
- Students who enjoy CAD, can explore free 3D Design software such as Sketch-up, Fusion 360, Tinkercad and Blender.
Useful resources and equipment:
- Ruler, colouring pencils, HB pencil, rubber, sharpener and compass.
- Computer is useful for research tasks and presentation, but not essential.
More information on levels:
Year 8
What are we studying?
Students will complete a twenty week course in Resistant Materials (RMT) comprising of one double lesson a week. In year 8 again there are two main projects; designing and making an acrylic nightlight, and making a USB-powered desk lamp. The nightlight introduces students to electronics, where they make their own light-sensitive circuit by soldering together components on a circuit board. They then have to produce their own “character” design for the nightlight casing which is drawn in CAD, building on the skills from Year 7 but involving a much higher level of accuracy in their drawing. Modelling their designs in cardboard introduces the concept of “iterative design” to students in a practical format. The final product is constructed from laser-cut acrylic pieces. The second project, the USB-powered desk lamp, concentrates on developing their practical skills in the use of a variety of woodworking equipment and different forms of temporary fixings. The use of recycled materials for the lamp shade explores how environmental concerns are central to the modern design process. Additionally students are introduced to 3D modelling of their lamp using Sketch-up. Both projects also include a number of design, research and analysis tasks looking at materials, manufacturing process and environmental concerns.
How are we assessed?
Students will be given Assessment Criteria for each project based on the National Curriculum level descriptors. For each design and make project students will be given a national curriculum level, which enables their progress to be monitored and feedback on how they can improve. Homework will be assessed throughout the course.
How are we grouped?
Students are in mixed ability groups for Resistant Materials Technology and are timetabled for one double lesson a week in this subject area. The maximum class size is 23.
What homework are we expected to do?
There will be one homework task set per week, which should take around 30 minutes to complete. Occasionally longer tasks will be set over a number of weeks. This will include research activities, work sheets, design and development work.
Students are encouraged to read around the subject area to support their understanding and development of the specific vocabulary required for this subject.
What can parents do to help?
- Support students in ensuring that home work is completed punctually and to a good standard.
- Discuss house hold products with your child with regards to the materials used, method of construction and reasons for material choice.
- Ask your child to name the tools and equipment they have been using during the week and what they are used for.
- Test your child on their subject specific spellings.
- Encourage your child to discuss what they have learnt each week.
- Look out for articles in newspapers or television and discuss them with your child.
Useful resources and equipment:
- Ruler, colouring pencils
- Computer is useful for presentation, but not essential.
Year 9
What are we studying?
Students will complete a twenty week course in Resistant Materials (RMT) comprising of one double lesson a week. In year 9 the two main projects are: a plywood acoustic speaker and a piece of pewter jewellery. The acoustic speaker project allows a high level of independence both in the design and the manufacture of the final speaker. During the initial design process, the use of specific drawing techniques such as one and two point perspective and isometric drawing are explored Students are encouraged to use the iterative design process, repeatedly testing the practical and acoustic properties of their designs with a series of cardboard models before manufacturing their final speaker. They are also expected to consider the best manufacturing methods for the speaker and must include a bent laminated element to create an attractive curved wooden product. There is a real emphasis on the quality and finish of their final product.
The second project, pewter jewellery teaches students how to cast with metal. They are given freedom in their choice of designs, and are able to create a range of jewellery pieces from earrings to cufflinks, and may include coloured inserts. Students then have to learn how to create a design for the mould which will accurately reproduce their design idea in pewter when cast. CAD is used to draw up the mould so this can be laser-cut, and highly intricate design elements added. Once cast, students build on their metal working skills learnt in year 7, to shape and finish their final piece. Both projects include a number of design, research and analysis tasks looking at materials, manufacturing process and the work of other designers.
How are we assessed?
Students will be given Assessment Criteria based on the National Curriculum level descriptors for each project. Used in conjunction with their end of Year 9 target level they will be able to monitor their own progress across the 6 areas of Design Technology and be able to identify where they need to improve. For each completed project students will be given a national curriculum level, which enables their progress to be monitored and feedback on how they can improve. Homework will be assessed throughout the course.
How are we grouped?
Students are in mixed ability groups for Resistant Materials Technology and are timetabled for one double lesson a week in this subject area. The maximum class size is 23.
What homework are we expected to do?
There will usually be one homework task set per week, which should take around 30 minutes to complete. Occasionally longer tasks will be set over a number of weeks. This will include research activities, work sheets, design and development work.
Students are encouraged to read around the subject area to support their understanding and development of the specific vocabulary required for this subject.
What can parents do to help?
There will usually be one homework task set per week, which should take around 40 minutes to complete. Occasionally longer tasks will be set over a number of weeks. This will include research activities, work sheets, design and development work.
Students are encouraged to read around the subject area to support their understanding and development of the specific vocabulary required for this subject.
What can parents do to help?
- Support students in ensuring that home work is completed punctually and to a good standard.
- Discuss house hold products with your child with regards to the materials used, method of construction and reasons for material choice.
- Ask your child to name the tools and equipment they have been using during the week and what they are used for.
- Encourage your child to discuss what they have learnt each week.
- Test them on their subject specific spellings.
- Look out for articles in newspapers or television and discuss them with your child.
Useful resources and equipment:
- Ruler, colouring pencils
- Computer is useful for presentation, but not essential.
Years 10 and 11 - Product Design
What are we studying?
GCSE - AQA Design and Technology (8552)
Further information can be found from www.aqa.org.uk
GCSE Design and Technology will prepare students to participate confidently and successfully in an increasingly technological world. Students will gain awareness and learn from wider influences on Design and Technology including historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic factors. Students will get the opportunity to work creatively when designing and making and apply technical and practical expertise.
The GCSE allows students to study core technical and designing and making principles, including a broad range of design processes, materials techniques and equipment. They will also have the opportunity to study specialist technical principles in greater depth. KS4 Design Technology covers a wide range of topics, including materials and components, industrial and commercial processes, analysing products, designing products, technology, sustainability, ethical design and manufacture. Over the course of two years students will develop a whole range of creative designing and making skills, technical knowledge and understanding relating to wood, metal and plastic products and invaluable transferable skills such as problem solving and time management.
A significant proportion of the course is based on practical skills focusing on creative design in order to make and produce desirable, quality products to meet the needs of clients/groups. Time management, personal organisation, health, safety and independence of working are important areas of focus. Students will develop knowledge and understanding of a wide range of materials, skills and techniques in practical work focusing on designing and making, systems and control, computer aided design and manufacture (CAD/CAM), digital media and new technologies (where appropriate), analysis and evaluation of processes and products.
The areas of study within GCSE Resistant Materials Technology are:
- Analysis of the task and research.
- Creative design and communication skills.
- Production planning and quality control.
- High quality manufacture.
- Health and safety, tool and machine use.
- Testing and evaluation.
- Gathering research and investigation are essential learning skills in Product Design and therefore we actively encourage students to be dynamic and proactive in their use of Product Design skills beyond the classroom.
How are we assessed?
Classwork (practical and theory work) and home learning is assessed throughout the Product Design course. Students will be given success criteria and GCSE grade descriptors linked to the work. Pupils final GCSE grade will be a combination of their controlled assessment and a written exam, each is worth 50% of their final grade.
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Controlled assessment (GCSE)
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Worth 50% of overall qualification:
Students have approximately 35 hours to complete the design and make activity under controlled conditions. This will equate to about two full terms of curriculum time, but planned within single and double lessons on a flexible basis. This is communicated to parents via letter to develop the partnership of learning between home and school.
Coursework activities are during the summer term in Year 10 and autumn/spring terms in Year 11. Students must complete the following:
- A coursework project submitted in A3 format on 20 - 25 pages.
- A design and make activity starting with a design brief that fits with one of AQAs set task themes.
- Construction of a product designed to demonstrate a wide range of technical skills with independence, creativity and accuracy using effective time management and demonstrating competent safety procedures.
- Use of communication techniques is also assessed, including ICT and CAD to produce the portfolio of creative skills.
Examination (GCSE)
Worth 50% of overall qualification
120 minute examination in Year 11
How are we grouped?
Students are in mixed ability groups in Product Design. The maximum class size is 18.
What home learning are we expected to do?
There will be at least one home learning task set per week, which should take around 45 minutes to complete. This will include research activities, work sheets, design and development work, evaluation of practical work and project based activities. In addition, students are expected to plan for their practical activities at home, by organising and preparing research, client interviews, sketches/presentation, photographs and additional components etc. for various practical lessons. Instructions will be given out by the class teacher one week prior to the practical lesson. Practise of any practical skills in the holidays or at weekends is desirable i.e. sketching practice/presentation skills, preparation. Students need an A3 folder to store and transport their classwork and home learning to and from school. Students are encouraged to keep up to date with all aspects of technology as well as familiarising themselves with past technology, which is either iconic, or proven and still relative today, by reading around the subject area to support their understanding and development of all its aspects, and to improve their understanding and technical vocabulary.
What can parents do to help?
Help/allow students to participate in any DIY projects or cleaning/maintenance or repair of equipment e.g. lawnmower. Encourage the reading of related books/magazines or the watching of programmes. Collect a variety of interesting objects to study and or use as reference or to help generate ideas. Family visits to museums (especially design/industrial) places of interest with technical interest e.g. windmills/waterwheels and more modern. Ask your child to explain the meaning of the technical vocabulary that is new to each topic.