Design Technology – Our intent, aims and concepts
Aim
Design and Technology provides exciting opportunities for children to solve problems, take risks and work creatively whilst designing, making and evaluating innovative solutions and products. The subject provides an authentic, relevant and purposeful context for learning specific knowledge about design and build projects, as well as providing opportunities to develop character traits such as enterprising, resilience, resourcefulness, curiosity, innovation and aspiration. Children will develop the ability to consider the user’s needs and values (e.g. aesthetic, environmental, technical) whilst creating their design. Whilst engaged in the Design Technology curriculum, children will acquire deep knowledge of the designing, making and evaluating process, working with a range of tools and materials in a wide range of ‘real’ contexts. They will also develop the habits of a designer learning to improvetheir skills and ability to self-evaluate and improve.Learning in Design and Technology has its own body of knowledge but is also a multi-disciplinary subject with strong links to other subjects including Mathematics, Art and Design and Science. Developing children’s knowledge of Design Technology will have a positive impact (in terms of developing creativity, culture, wealth and wellbeing) on the children and their communities.
Design and Technology will primarily be taught through learning experiences that will:
• Be framed by enquiry questions to develop curiosity and innovation
• Be authentic, relevant and purposeful to the context of the individual school
•Develop a love and curiosity of design and technology through rich and engaging visits, visitorsand experiences
• Use and develop clear design criteria
• Investigate, analyse, evaluate and explore a range of
existing products
• Incorporate a range of stages of design including talking, drawing, templates, mock-ups, annotated sketches, exploded and cross sectional diagrams and computer-aided design.
• Use a range of tools, equipment and materials to build structures and mechanisms which are fit to purpose, which increase
in complexity
• Develop technical knowledge
• Build in the use of a range of forms of research
Design and Technology
At Totnes St. Joh's our DT curriculum provides pupils with a first-hand understanding of the importance of design. Our progression model helps pupils develop practical skills and effectively joins the knowledge, skills, and attributes learned within school to wider society and the world of work.
Our Design technology learning experiences are carefully planned to ensure we are building on previous knowledge and that children are increasingly developing their DT knowledge and skills. We begin developing these skills from the moment children enter our school. Our reception children understand how to 'plan, do review' their activities and in our construction areas there are always models being created waiting for the reviewer to give the 'approval' stamp!
We are very fortunate to have a shared area where children can develop their cooking skills as part of our design technology curriculum. We ensure all pupils learn to cook at least twice a year, developing a range of cookery knowledge and skills. As part of our DT offer we also have a cookery after school club. We are very proud of the design work that has contributed to our 'Food for Life' award.
DESIGN TECHNOLOGY– Examples of Design Technology Experiences at Totnes St. John's
DESIGN TECHNOLOGY – Examples of Design Technology Learning Journals