Design & Technology

What is the nature of Design & Technology at IGCSE level?

IGCSE in Design & Technology is a two year course that encourages students to think creatively, problem solve and build their capacity for imagination, innovative thinking, creativity and independence. We follow the Cambridge course that offers one year to develop understanding and practical skills, and one year to complete all assessed coursework and prepare for the final IGCSE exam.

What is the approach to learning?

Students will develop the skills which designers use within the context of materials and their processing. Students will gain practical experience so they can get a broad understanding of materials, processes and technology, in order to become competent in using resistant materials. Students will solve real life problems by applying their design skills to practical situations. They will utilise the skills learned in Math, Science and Art and Design to produce solutions that meet the needs of people. All homework is to support and enrich the class work.

What is the subject content?

The projects during the first year encourage students to identify, consider and solve problems through creative thinking, planning and design, and by working with different media, materials and tools to produce made products. Students gain technical and design awareness and develop skills such as initiative, resourcefulness, enquiry and ingenuity. They also develop the communication skills central to the design process. Students who choose Design & Technology usually spend additional free time working outside of normal class time using the Facilities. e.g. 3D printing, laser cutting etc. In the second half of the first year, students will begin their assessed coursework component.

WHAT DOES THE COURSE LOOK LIKE…

Grade 9 Jan – August – Non assessed (for the final IGCSE Grade) part of the course.

Students will work with different materials such as wood, metal, plastic, textiles, paper and boards, improving practical skills through a range of focused practical tasks. As the students gain confidence they will develop interdisciplinary skills and their capacity for imaginative and innovative thinking. The students will design and manufacture projects based on real life situations. Students will be introduced to advanced Computer Aided Design software packages. They will learn a foundation of key skills before building on them to produce a range of challenging 3D models.

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COURSEWORK

Component 2: Project (50% of final grade)

In August of Grade 9, the students will begin their coursework. This is an individual project. The students will produce a folder of work and a made product. This is a School based assessment. This is internally assessed and externally moderated. Students will work through the following assessment criteria:

1. Identify a need or opportunity 2. Analyse research leading to a design brief 3. Research into the design brief resulting in a specification. 4. Generation and exploration of design ideas 5. Development of proposed solution 6. Planning for production 7. Product realisation 8. Testing and evaluation.

Component 2 (the individual Project) forms a significant part of the teaching assessment requirement of this syllabus. The coursework goes on until June of Grade 10. It is important that students select a project by which they are really inspired. Examples of these are: Lighting, storage, body adornment,

EXTERNALLY ASSESSED EXAM

During the IGCSE exam period students will have two examinations which are externally assessed:

Component 1

Paper 1 (25% of the final grade) 1 hour 15 minutes Product Design Exam This is a written and drawing paper. Paper 1 tests the Common content: Product Design and also knowledge of the specialist option: Resistant Materials

Component 3

Paper 3 (25% of the final grade) 1 hour Section A contains 10 compulsory questions, worth 25 marks. In Section B candidates choose one out of three questions, each worth 25 marks. Resistant Materials content and Common content may be assessed in either section of the examination paper. Candidates may use a calculator in the examination.

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