CLEAPSS - Technology

Latest FutureMinds

The summer term copy of FutureMinds is now available from the website tab above. It has a number of interesting articles from a range authors:

Robots in the curriculum
Techsoft talks about Finite Element Analysis
Non-specialist Food Teachers support
Preparing for the new D&T GCSE
GoPrint 3D give examples of projects using new technologies
Foodoppi an Irish, online food resource
Landrover 4x4 competition
Material technology - metal coatings
Top tips for the new GCSE
The Smallprint

3D Printing ideas

The current Design and Technology national curriculum includes the topic of 'new and emerging technologies'. The breadth of hardware and support available to meet this area is vast. From programmable components to 3D printing, students have never had it so good.For our students to compete in the ever-growing global economy, we must prepare them for jobs that possibly don't exist yet. The only way we can ensure that students achieve a worldclass education is by exposing them to the latest innovations such as 3D printing.

For more on 3D printing see this term's FutureMinds.

What is a STEM Club?

STEM clubs offer a powerful way to engage you students with science, design and technology, computing, engineering and mathematics (STEM). They can be an opportunity to go beyond the curriculum and explore exciting ideas and technology, and give students a chance to build up 'soft' skills such as communicating effectively, teamwork and confidence. But more importantly they are fun!

For more on STEM clubs and some ideas to get you started see this term's FutureMinds.

Greenpower Racing Challenge

On Tuesday 22nd March the Greenpower Education Trust announced the award of a grant in the region of £150,000 for a special programme in the Humber region: Project Blyth.The funding, from the Careers & Enterprise Company, will enable the creation of 33 high school teams in the area over the next 18 months, culminating in a race in Hull in the summer of 2017. Each team will design, build and race an Electric single seat race car and will be twinned with a local company, providing over 600 participating students (50% female participation) with real-life work place inspiration – the main focus of the Fund.

For more information see the Summer 2016 issue of FutureMinds

Textiles but not as you know it!

Changes in D&T at KS3, 4and 5 mean some teachers, including Heads of Department and curriculum managers, feel uncertain about where textiles fits in, even though it’s clearly referenced at both KS3 and 4, has its own qualification at KS5, as well as being part of the new KS5 Product Design specification. The wider focus of thenew curriculum means non textiles teachers have dismissed references to timber and metals as irrelevant to textiles, and textiles teachers have seen thesereferences, along with keywords like electronics, thermoforming and ferrous, as scary, and not the textiles curriculum they are used to.

For more information see the Spring 2016 issue of FutureMinds