Design Technology
What is Design Technology?
Design and Technology helps to prepare children for the developing world. The subject encourages children to become creative problem solvers, both as individuals and as part of a team. Through the study of design and technology, they combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetic, social and environmental issues. Design and Technology helps all children to become discriminating and informed consumers and potential innovators. It should assist children in developing a greater awareness and understanding of how everyday products are designed and made.
What are the aims of the National Curriculum in Design Technology?
- develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world
- build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users
- critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others
- understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.
How do we teach in school?
At Hetton Lyons we follow the ‘Design, Make, Evaluate and Technical Knowledge’ approach to the teaching of DT, as outlined in the National Curriculum Programmes of Study document. Where possible, this will be linked to the technical skills which we teach which encompass the following areas: Construction, Materials, Textiles, Cooking and Nutrition. We feel that the teaching of cooking and nutrition is a great importance and holds great relevance in current times. For this reason, children will study a cooking and nutrition unit every year linked to an area of learning e.g. History, Geography. Additionally, a Construction unit will be covered, along with Materials and a Textiles unit. Part of the textiles unit is a whole school focus where a specific skill is achieved through Christmas calendars or cards. This highlights the build on of skills throughout each year group and progression is shown. Detailed assessment objectives taken from the curriculum ensure individual children are appropriately. This ensures that the technical skills are covered with greater depth and that, by the end of each key stage, children will have reached the expectations of the National Curriculum.
What skills are covered during lessons?
Through a variety of creative and practical activities, pupils will be taught the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in an iterative process of designing and making.
How is progression achieved?
Progression is ensured by detailed action planning on a yearly basis which specifically looks at evaluation and feedback. It outlines the priorities, action, success and how often this area should be reviewed. In depth skills focus in all areas which show skills being built upon year on year. This includes ‘sticky knowledge’ and vocabulary that is always reinforced and reviewed. DT sessions carried out in our school ensure that the children gain technological capability (designing, making and making worthwhile products) and technological perspective (how things work and thinking critically.) Evaluation of products play a key part in the children’s learning.
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