Design and technology
This area of TeacherNet points to guidance and resources for design and technology teachers at all Key Stages.
Schemes of work for design and technology
The following are essential sources of information:
- National Curriculum's programme of study
- QCA/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.
QCA 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 at the National Curriculum's 'In Action' website and the Becta website.
Changes to Key Stage 4 design and technology
Following the 14 to 19 opportunity and excellence consultation, and a further
consultation by the QCA specifically on changes to the Key Stage 4 curriculum,
design and technology became an entitlement and not compulsory at Key
Stage 4 (ages 14 to 16) from September 2004. Entitlement areas, introduced in September 2004, are
part of the Government's 14 to 19 reforms.
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.
No change was made to the legal requirement to teach design and technology to all students at Key Stages 1 to 3, or to the programmes of study for these Key Stages.
Lesson plans
Visit the TeacherNet lesson plans pages for free online design and
technology resources for both primary and secondary schools.
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.
Design and Technology accommodation
Visit TeacherNet's practical advice pages to help with the process of creating or
adapting accommodation for design and technology teaching in secondary schools.
It covers:
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planning an individual room layout
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furniture
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health and safety.
In addition, case studies describe the experiences of real schools and highlight the advantages and disadvantages of their chosen schemes.
Useful websites and organisations:
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Cracking Ideas uses lessons plans, a nationwide invention competition and teaching resources to bring innovation into lessons for Key Stage 2 as a part of the National Curriculum.
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DATA
DATA is the recognised professional association which represents all those involved in design and technology education and associated subject areas. -
Design Council
A teaching and learning resource containing case studies, product profiles, projects and information on Designers Into Schools Week. -
The Design Museum
This website contains an education section which provides five free downloadable projects from chair design to innovative designs such as Dyson. Different projects are are suitable for different Key Stages. - D+T Online
Resources and explanations for secondary pupils on a variety of topics. - Engineering Education Scheme
This website encourages gifted and talented Year 12 students to consider engineering as a career by helping them work with a professional engineer on a project over a period of five months. - helenhudspith.com
This website collects together free resources to share and adapt when teaching a wide range of design and technology subjects including food, graphics and textiles. -
Help Your Child Discover
A website dedicated to parents whose children are learning through design and technology at school in Key Stages 1 and 2. This site is part of a wider site from the DCSF and QCA and will help children investigate their subject further at home. It also contains downloadable activities. -
How Stuff Works
This American website is a fantastic resource, explaining in clear terms how everything around us works. There are often great animations that can be incorporated into class teaching. -
Kitronik
These free resources offer a number of topics to do with electronics that students at Key Stages 3 and 4 can read about before checking their knowledge on a multiple choice test. The resources can be downloaded as PDFs for future reference. -
Primary Design and Technology
The place to find Key Stages 1 and 2 classroom materials to download and other resources for teachers.
Don't forget you can also search for resources by subject in TeacherNet's useful sites directory.
Last updated: 15 January 2008
