Design & Technology Product Design - Examination Board: AQA Why choose to study GCSE Design and Technology? “Design and Technology is a phenomenally important subject. Logical, creative and practical, it’s the only opportunity pupils have to apply what they learn in Mathematics and Science.” Sir James Dyson.
a final working prototype; Evaluating throughout and communication skills. All designs start with basic sketching which play an important part of the course as your ideas evolve and new communication skills such as Computer Aided Design (CAD), and Fusion 360 will be further developed. Many new technologies have been brought into the department over the past years as well as a bespoke CAD suite to support the pupil’s creative work.
From the light bulb, radio and television to mobile phones, laptops and iPods; products have defined each generation. They change the way we live our lives. The new Design and Technology syllabus is How is GCSE D&T: Product Design assessed? the perfect subject for those that love to create and At the end of the 4th Form year the examination innovate. board will provide a range of contexts that will provide the starting block for the NEA. Recent With rapidly changing global challenges ahead, controlled assessment contexts include, designing for designers will be at the forefront of solving the a teenage lifestyle, designing for a sustainable future problems that we will all face. If you enjoy being or designing for a high-profile activity or occasion. creative, get satisfaction from problem solving and Pupils are required to research these areas, identify can spot what people want, you could be a great problems they would like to solve, design a suitable designer and innovator; maybe even the next Jony solution and create a working prototype for a chosen Ive. client. The whole project is evaluated and justified as it goes along, telling the story of the products What will I learn? conception. Projects are limited to around 25 A3 Design and Technology builds on key skills taught pages from start to finish and count for 50% of the both in prep schools and in the 3rd Form, further overall GCSE qualification. A written examination extending learning through the introduction of new makes up the remaining 50% of the GCSE. The concepts. Topics include: Manufacturing Techniques, examination is a two-hour paper which covers all New and Emerging Markets, Developments in New grades from 1-9. The content of the examination Materials, System Approached Designing, Materials looks at core technical principles and designing and and their working properties, Client Centric Design, making principles from the NEA as well as specialist New and emerging Technologies, and 3D Printing. technical principals selected from the school, The Non-Exam Assessment (NEA) starts in the June currently paper and board. of the 4th Form and includes: Research into a design context provided by the exam board; the opportunity to identify different design problems; creative drawn design concepts and modelling based on the research Mr Griffin-Raphael carried out; Development of the design solution using Head of Design Technology the iterative design process and live client; Making sagr@kingsbruton.com
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