Design and technology
This area of TeacherNet points to guidance and resources for design and
technology teachers at all key stages.
Design and technology will continue to play an important role in the National Curriculum. Pupils apply their knowledge and understanding to develop ideas, plan, produce products and evaluate them. They design and make products using a range of materials including food, textiles, electronics, graphics and resistant materials (wood, metal, plastics, etc). Food technology as part of design and technology will remain compulsory at Key Stages 1 and 2 and will continue to occupy an important position in the curriculum at Key Stage 3. Pupils can go on and study for GCSEs in food, textiles, graphics, resistant materials, systems and control and electronics technology.
DCSF is working with the Department of Health (DH) on a food in schools programme. The programme aims to include: increasing teachers' confidence and competence in teaching about food and nutrition and increasing pupils' experience of working with food and their knowledge of diet, nutrition, food hygiene and safety.
Schemes of work for design and technology
The following are essential sources of information:
- National Curriculum's programmes of study
- QCDA/DCSF's schemes of work for design and technology at Key Stages 1 and 2 and Key Stage 3
ICT in design and technology teaching
For practical help on using ICT in your teaching, visit Learning and Teaching Using ICT — Practical Support Pack, a TeacherNet website which has lesson plans, multimedia resources, video case studies and ICT support materials. Written by experts in teaching subjects using ICT, and with the support of the Primary and Secondary National Strategies, the support pack has everything needed to teach Design and Technology using ICT, from preparation and planning to homework and evaluation.
Becta: Curriculum entitlement documents
Becta has produced a set of documents on the use of ICT across the curriculum. Each of these documents provides:
- an explanation of how ICT supports curriculum teaching and learning
- a set of lesson ideas by key stage
- links to the National Curriculum and QCDA schemes of work.
ICT in primary design and technology: A pupil's
entitlement
This document describes lessons such as:
- designing a box to be used for food packaging
- making bread
- designing and making personalised T-shirts
- building a model Ferris wheel.
ICT in secondary design and technology: A pupil's
entitlement
This document contains lesson ideas to help pupils develop their skills
by:
- researching information about materials, situations and products
- using modelling software
- testing control and operating systems
- using 3D CAD to create a virtual model.
QCDA has developed support materials for the Teacher Assessment Activities series in design and technology, and ICT. These materials are fully integrated with the national curriculum, and provide examples of assessment activities to help identify, track and enhance pupil progress. Each book includes activities and teacher guidance.
More ideas for how to integrate ICT into your teaching can be found in the National Curriculum in Action section of the QCDA website and on the Becta website.
Key Stage 4 design and technology
Design and technology became an entitlement and not compulsory at Key Stage 4 (ages 14 to 16) from September 2004. As a statutory requirement, schools must provide access to a minimum of one course which gives students the opportunity to obtain an approved qualification in design and technology. Suggested areas include:
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product design (including textiles technology, resistant materials and graphic products) or manufacturing
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food technology, hospitality and catering, or home economics
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systems and control, electronic products, electronics and communication technology, industrial technology or engineering.
It is expected that schools will actually provide two courses in design and technology, and continue to offer as wide a range of courses as they do currently. Design and technology can remain as part of a school's compulsory Key Stage 4 curriculum, for example if the school is a specialist technology college. For more information visit TeacherNet's design and technology in schools area.
Work is going ahead across Government to fund teacher and curriculum development projects in electronics and food technology. Together with the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, the DCSF is funding Electronics in Schools Strategy to raise the capability of schools to engage their pupils in learning about electronics. It includes professional development for D&T teachers at Key Stage 3, many of whom have had no initial teacher training in electronics.
Teachers' recommendations
Forums and chat rooms are a great way to share ideas with fellow design and technology teachers. The Education Forum hosts discussions on all curriculum subjects.
Teachers TV
Don't forget that Teachers TV offers a wealth of resources for teachers, including curriculum-based programmes for use in the classroom.
Teacher training
The Design and Technology Association (DATA) has information on resources being developed for teacher training.
Last updated: 26 January 2010
