D&T Week : 23-27 June 2008

Each year, D&T Week celebrates pupils' achievements in design and technology and provides an opportunity to bring schools together to get involved in D&T. This year the pupils took part in activities which ranged from specific challenges for year groups, to integrated challenges with local enterprise. A case study from D&T News September 08 is available below. This addition is available inside the Resource Vault.

 Aylesbury High School for Girls

Year 10 pupils at Aylesbury High School, embarked on an 'Activity Day' with a difference for National Design and Technology Week 2008. They were set the challenge of designing and constructing Go Karts from recycled newspaper. The teams had just over five hours to produce Go Karts, using wheelbarrow wheels, which could be steered around a course with the driver being pushed by one other team member. 

The frame of the karts were all made from rolled newspaper – recycling at its best! The final prototypes were all different shapes and sizes although the engineering and structural elements of triangulation and strength wre a common theme.

The whole day was an excellent advert for teamwork, communication, decision making, designing, manufacturing and acheivement. Jeremy King, the activity provider, complemented the girls and said it was the most successful day ever!

Activities

• A design and technology challenge for whole year groups
• Having a designer in residence
• Industry-based design and make activities
• Mini-enterprise activities
• Exhibition of work in school or in the local community
• Visits to local companies, museums or activity centres
• A design and technology conference for teachers

Organising activities

As a wide range of activities is possible, organisation may have to be at many different levels, but the following key steps may be helpful for planning:

• Draft ideas for an activity
• Hold a meeting with colleagues in schools, or with local schools or LA staff
• Agree the proposals then develop an action plan to set up the event
• Advertise the event - use the D&T Association website, D&T Stream or D&T News, your LA and your local Learning and Skills council, which has responsibility for supporting engineering and technology education.
• Seek sponsors if required
• Plan venues and activities
• Ensure local press, radio, television are invited to the launch