Since the spring term of 2011 the Design Technology Centre has been equipped with new computers in its Drawing Office. After an initial settling in and familiarisation period these computers are now becoming more and more regularly employed by our pupils.
The design procedure that is followed in DT involves five main stages;
1. the generation of ideas
2. the analysis of options
3. the planning of practical actions
4. the realisation the final product and finally,
5. an evaluation of the finished item.
Information Technology can play an important role in each of these five stages:
Ideas are rarely truly original; when the Internet is used for researching design topics the flow of ideas is much increased by the ability of pupils to quickly see items and processes that are clearly related to their areas of interest. More ideas; grounded in reality by adaptation from real examples, means more options for analysis in stage two.
Pupils now have their ‘Design Folders, a written record of the supporting work in the design process, in electronic form. This creates neat and colourful documents whilst cutting down on the proportion of time spent in planning.
The process of selecting from a number of options for further development is also enhanced by the ability to research on line. It is possible to learn from those with experience; an excellent example is when one of our Year 6 pupils found the ‘desertdomes.com’ website when researching geodesic structures. Those who maintained ‘desertdomes.com’ had a direct influence upon shaping our plans of action when we set out to finalise our designs. Errors were avoided having learned from their experience.
On many other occasions, stage 3 is going to involve the use of our Computer Aided Design (CAD) package to produce neat drawings that can be shared electronically. Even our youngest Prep School children have used the computers to produce photographs and graphics to enhance work that at one time would have been done by pencil and crayon.
In addition, the DT Department has a plotter/cutter machine which will cut out shapes and letters in coloured vinyl and card directly from the computer screen, thereby representing a beginning to the Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM) element of our curriculum. A process of evaluation lends itself to the production of forms and tables and pupils e-mail questionnaires to others.
Very early in the New Year we shall increase our capacity to manufacture directly from the computer with the addition of a special printer using heat-resistant Artanium ink. In a process of sublimation and in conjunction with a heated mug-press this will enable us to produce practical, dishwasher-proof mugs to our own design. It is a small step further to producing similarly individually designed ‘T’- shirts; incidentally introducing fabric technology into our programme for the first time.
One of our pupils is currently studying a programme of work aimed at gaining a scholarship to a prestigious Senior School. His efforts to research, analyse and plan are greatly aided by IT as set out above, but in particular the ability to communicate with the teacher via e-mail is a huge benefit. Photographs and drawings can be shared and questions answered very quickly and efficiently, creating additional time during lessons as a result.
Lastly, but importantly, the school now has an additional room equipped with computers which can be used as a secondary ICT room. Other regular users of this facility currently are Year 5 Maths and Year 8 Geography and it is anticipated that usage for other year groups and subjects will increase going forward.
Taverham Hall School – Independent Schools Norfolk
