Design and Technology - Product Design in Years 10 and 11.

Design and Technology Product Design helps us to plan projects and understand about the way things work.

This course is based around Product Design following on from the work done previously in Resistant Materials (wood, metal and plastic) and Graphics. The course is project assignment based and requires a high degree of initiative on the part of the individual.

Competent use, knowledge and application of the Design Process are central to all the work done. This includes establishing a real need for a certain product, the assessment of the specification requirements, the formation of initial ideas including market research and what is currently available. Developing these ideas using a range of various graphic and academic skills and understanding the full range of materials follows on from this. Production plans and manufacturing techniques need to be understood before a prototype is finally made. Eventually an evaluation of the product outcome needs to be analysed.

The use of computers is important in this subject, and they will be used, but the use of hand skills is a specific requirement.

Each piece of coursework as an artefact with the design work folder to accompany it.

Naturally some expense is incurred in the product making but this will be determined by the students' ideas.

The final written examination accounts for 40% of the G.C.S.E. and the coursework completed over the two years, 60%.

This course is definitely not an easy option. However, with the right attitude it develops into a genuine purposeful challenge that proves to be particularly rewarding.