With over 30 years leading D&T departments and 20 years moderation and examining experience, the author is the winner of the 2021 Design and Technology Excellence in D&T award for 'Innovation and Creativity'.
He has extensive experience as a curriculum consultant, resource producer, trainer and presenter, and as a commercial designer, visualiser and illustrator. He is also a prolific writer on the subject of D&T whose Subject Genius D&T blog was shortlisted in the 2016 TES awards.
With over 30 years leading D&T departments and 20 years moderation and examining experience, the author is the winner of the 2021 Design and Technology Excellence in D&T award for 'Innovation and Creativity'.
He has extensive experience as a curriculum consultant, resource producer, trainer and presenter, and as a commercial designer, visualiser and illustrator. He is also a prolific writer on the subject of D&T whose Subject Genius D&T blog was shortlisted in the 2016 TES awards.
This is a poster with simple diagrams derived from the A Level presentations available in the TES shop. It is designed to provide students and teachers with a ‘quick glance’ revision of the material groups, processes and finishes.
It is included in the A Level Theory bundle.
UPDATED March 2021
This resource consists of several SketchUp files including exploded versions and orthographic views as well as a textured final model. It could be a practical lesson for students or a practical test for a technician or new teacher. Its makes a box of box joints which then fits into a frame of frame joints. It is also useful as an isometric or 3D drawing exercise or to teach CAD using SketchUP or any other 3D package.
NOTE: This will work with SketchUp Make 2017.
These resources are additional ‘breakout’ style lessons to support the various aspects of the course. This resource consists of:
EX1: Introduction to lateral thinking
EX2: Products and prototypes
EX3: An ugly prototype
EX4: Development methodology
EX5: Ergonomics
EX6: Communication methods
These will be included in the full bundle. Additional lessons will be added in due course and there may be a price increase but anyone buying the resource will get these free of charge.
Update (November 2023) Three printable workbooks are now added to the bundle.
Update (June 2020) Three additional lessons have been added to introduce the concept of lateral thinking at the beginning of the course and two presentations on prototypes. There are over 100 slides in the extra lessons.
This bundle has all the A Level presentations with integrated past paper questions and official mark scheme answers. It provides 60+ lessons worth of materials with approximately 1500 slides in Powerpoint Show format so MS Office is not needed to run them. However, if you open these files in Powerpoint, they can be edited.
Also bundled is the A Level tracker with an assessment sheet which matches these lessons presentations.
It allows you to track the students progress in theory and the NEA and to use this data to accurately predict an estimated grade.
This resource is all you need to deliver the theory content in a visual form and assess knowledge and understanding in preparation for mock and real examinations.
It is suggested to use this resource with the approved Hodder AQA A level book but it is not necessary.
Note: the sets are downloaded as compressed/zip files so please unzip/unpack before trying to use the presentations.
This is a set of lesson presentations in Powerpoint Show format which will run without having Office installed. However, they can be opened in Powerpoint and edited as necessary. Each lesson is approximately 20 slides with the following content:
Lesson outcomes
Introduction
Main content
Summary of unit
Revision notes
Past paper question.
It is recommended to use and/or edit these presentation slides to support your own style of teaching rather than relying on them to provide all the relevant information to your students.
All past papers in the slides match those in the AQA A Level tracker available and provide you with everything you need to deliver and assess theory learning for AQA A Level Design and Technology. It is recommended that they are used with this tracker to assess student progress in theory. The content of this section is based on the Hodder AQA approved A Level book.
A document with the official answers from the relevant AQA mark scheme is also included.
(Updated July 2020)
This is a set of lesson presentations in Powerpoint Show format which will run without having Office installed. However, they can be opened within Powerpoint and edited if you wish. Each lesson is approximately 20 slides with the following content:
Lesson outcomes
Introduction
Main content
Summary of unit
Revision notes
Past paper question.
It is recommended to use and/or edit these presentation slides to support your own style of teaching rather than relying on them to provide all the relevant information to your students.
All past papers in the slides match those in the AQA A Level tracker available and provide you with everything you need to deliver and assess theory learning for AQA A Level Design and Technology. It is recommended that they are used with this tracker to assess student progress in theory. The content of this section is based on the Hodder AQA approved A Level book.
A document with the official answers from the relevant AQA mark scheme is also included with each unit.
This is a new resource designed to encourage students of design and business to undertake an enterprise initiative to better understand the links between the two subjects.
It takes the form of a board game so it will appeal to students, but it is simply a graphical illustration of the process with a range of supporting documents; some of which are optional for the teachers to introduce additional challenges.
All files are supplied ready to print at school with instructions on how to make the physical resources.
An editable Excel spreadsheet and Photoshop document are included so you can make your own challenges, suggestions, setbacks and opportunities. A range of ready made cards are also provided should you wish to get started right away.
This is supported by a Powerpoint presentation for the teacher/instructor and a printable workbook/logbook for the students or teams to record their progress.
Also included are the files required to print and make the DICE cardholder and gamepieces.
Two products. One design.
UPDATE (August 2020):
The Solidworks tutorial has now been added to the resource in Powerpoint Show and PDF formats.
A pair of physical resources aimed at primary learners but also useful for teaching mechanisms at KS3 and KS4.
The resource contains a 96 page step-by-step Solidworks tutorial on how to model, render and animate the Automaton as well as how to make working drawings and process these to make laser cutting files.
The full 3D model for each product is supplied in Solidworks format with editable parts and they are already mated and animated.
Also provided are the laser cutting files to make your own if you dont wish to work through the tutorial. These are in Adobe Illustrator format and ready to cut. Alternatively they can be converted to .DXF to use in your program of choice.
This bundle consists of all you need to support the teaching of the IGCSE in Design and Technology with a focus on resistant materials/product design:
An comprehensive A* level exemplar folder with over 30 extra sheets of supporting information and graphics
A 36 page illustrated student guide
Detailed tracking and assessment spreadsheets for the 9-1 and A-E syllabus.
This PDF is intended as a guide for students to help them through their major project in the IGCSE Design and Technology. It is a 36-page printable booklet which can be used digitally or is ideal for an A5 size pamplet . It has no worksheets or questions but describes each component with illustrations taken from the accompanying exemplar folder which is available separately or as part of a bundle at a reduced price. Because this is a generic guide linked to a sample context, it does not constitute a writing frame so can be given to students to support them in their IGCSE.
It is adapted from my own AQA exemplar to match and support the Cambridge International syllabus but could be used for other examination boards.
This is my own take on what I believe an A* folder could look like for the new Cambridge IGCSE in Design and Technology. Supplied as both self-running Powerpoint Show and printable PDF file, there are around 40 slides in the folder each with a commentary, summary and checklist at the end of each component as well as extra slides at the end to support the process. In total there are now over 70 slides here but the extra slides are for the benefit of the teacher, or to explain and justify the marks awarded.
There is evidence in the folder of SketchUp, Solidworks, Photoshop and the use of CNC equipment and 3D printing. It is not endorsed by any examination board but can inspire you in your approach to teaching the IGCSE in your school to a very high standard.
I worked as an examiner and moderator for the AQA for 20 years with 27 years D&T teaching and leadership experience where many students achieved 100% for their coursework. This is based on that experience and a culmination of assessing thousands of folders coupled with industry design experience. Additionally, I have consulted for DATA, TES, V&A, Routledge, PGOnline, Doddle and the BBC.
When we all return to school why not celebrate being back with your colleagues by getting a ‘round in’…non-alcoholic of course.
This is a slot together system made from 4mm laser ply. It is in Adobe Illustrator format but you can easily use the trial version (if you dont already own or use Illustrator) to get it into a DXF format for other programs such as 2D Design.
The logo and text can be changed to suit your school or work.
Enjoy a coffee!
This is a free unit to introduce the format of the A Level theory lessons which are Power Point Show presentations for each aspect of the A Level sylllabus with past paper questions for each topic supported in the A Level tracker which is also available. They cover 60 hour long lessons with three more for mock exams.
This resource will make a comprehensive guide to the theory with ongoing assessment and tracking of the theory and NEA aspects of the course.
Further units will be made available then bundled together into more cost effective units.
This resource consists of the files and assembly instructions for a custom designed lightweight art and craft box. It has a small writing shelf which can also be used as a lightbox with a suitable light source and there is an ‘inlet’ to feed in a USB hub or other wiring.
All the parts can be laser cut with the optional handle clip, cable tidy and example tray supplied as .STL files for 3D printing.
This resource is an original design but you are encouraged to design your own extras and add-ons to customise it to your individual needs.
Please note: no physical materials are supplied with this resource, you have to supply your own but yo are buying this resources as an original product design. Sharing the files or adapting them to sell as your own would be a breach of copyright.
This is a resource designed specifically to support the teaching of Design and Technology at KS3 via remote learning. Rather than adapting an old classroom resource to try and teach remotely, this resource takes advantage of the situation to provide a unique learning experience. Students can learn many of the skills an industrial designer needs to work in industry often in a different location to manufacturing facilities. A wide range of skills and techniques can be incorporated into this project making it adaptable for a range of ages, abilities and environments. Several of these are suggested in the supporting documents.
The resource currently consists of a 52 page Powerpoint Show (Office not required to view), a 34 page PDF SketchUp tutorial document and three files for cutting the components. A printable packaging net is also included as well as a template for a paper diffuser should students wish to take that option.
We have also included a shortened version of the 40 page workbook that is designed to be used in Powerpoint so no need to print off paper copies. Hopefully this will inspire you to develop your own format and aid the move to a digital format in the future.
The laser cutting files are in Adobe Illustrator format but the
program is currently free to use for a few months so you can use it as it is or just to export to DXF or other format you may need during the trial period if you don’t already own and use this software.
UPDATE (August 2024): Updated with the summer 2024 grade boundaries from AQA.
UPDATE (August 2023): Updated with the summer 2023 grade boundaries from AQA.
All previous past papers are now added with the 2023 paper used for final/mock exams and 2022 paper for end of theory tests.
Added a guide to using the tracker with the theory presentation units.
!!Please use the 2022 spreadsheet. The previous tracker (2021 ) is just to be used for reference!!
UPDATE (August 2022): Updated with the summer 2022 grade boundaries from AQA.
UPDATE (September 2021): A new and updated spreadsheet has been added to the resource. This has comment banks from the syllabus which are generated from the marks awarded.
UPDATE February 2021): Suitable past paper questions are now added to each section which match the presentation slides that are now available. See product details for how to use these for ongoing assessment in the theoretical aspects of the A Level course. Titles now match those in the AQA Theory presentations. November 2020 grade boundaries have been used in the tracker.
This is a comprehensive tracker for AQA A Level Product Design although it could be adapted for other courses/exam boards.
If you complete the Student information sheet, all the relevant data will be copied to the corresponding sheets. The same with the Grade boundary sheet which sets last year’s grade boundaries for every aspect of the course.
There is an outline for delivering the course theory content spread over 60 lessons which will have supporting presentations at a later date. Teachers can choose the past papers to use for reinforcing learning and these are all mapped to the new content on the Content sheet.
For ongoing assessments, put the total score for the question in the top of the column for each lesson or unit and as you complete the score for the student, it will give an average of their results over the year and compare these to their mock results.
All this data is copied to the front page where the results from the NEA are added to give an accurate grade prediction based on the previous year’s grade boundaries.
There is scope for teachers to tweak this resource to suit but for now, cells that have formula or references are locked to prevent any errors. Each worksheet can be unlocked with the password ‘advanced’.
Important update November 2020: The two trackers have been updated to include a suggested time plan for delivering the theory content and mock exams over 51 lessons and assessing after each unit of work. The specialist material choice could be covered in as little as 23 lessons This replaces the Prep page of the previous version and is far more useful.
There is space for the teacher to choose a past paper question for each unit, add in the marks and keep an average of the students’ results. They can also take sample papers and compare these to the formal mock exam.
these additions make it a more comprehensive document and all cells that don’t need editing are locked.
Fill in the context page with details, use the sheets for Paper 1 and Paper 3 as well as the comments sheet and all will be copied to the Overall sheet for easy analysis and feedback.
Due to several requests, all the grade boundaries are now unlocked so the document is easier to edit. All relevant links have also been updated. Please re-download the new version.
These two trackers cover the A-E grade based iGCSE and the new 9-1 level based iGCSE in Design and Technology. Simply update the context page and the grade boundaries each year to keep this up-to-date and comprehensive.
A guide on how to use the trackers is now included.
This resource is intended to help you in planning out your D&T curriculum over 3, 5 or 7+ years and allows for work from the end of KS2 up to KS5. The resource contains a blank project/task mapping spreadsheet and one filled in with examples to help you get started. These cover the main areas in the national curriculum and examination level along with additional columns for maths, science and technical skills. Also included is a skills assessment spreadsheet to visualise how you have covered all the skills across Key Stages 3 and 4, and a comprehensive list of D&T skills to cover in editable Word format. Using this resource with the other KS3 resources available, you will have a comprehensive set of resources to help you plan and deliver an effective D&T curriculum.
Also included is a breakdown of the AQA GCSE theory requirements with additional sections to be used with the skills/project mapping or curriculum planning.
All the files necessary to make a design booklet for the Desktop Organiser comprising the 30 page generic booklet and over 50 additional supporting pages so you can create your own custom booklet for this project. Also includes a 44 page SketchUp tutorial and supporting files. The updated KS3 tracking spreadsheet based on 9-1 assessment is also included .