This resources uses 5 key questions to develop a rationale for assessment within D&T. Through answering each question, the responses are intended to support, challenge or structure department discussions on your own assessment in D&T in your school.

• What does it mean to be a successful student...

Telemedicine is a new and fast developing field in healthcare. Even 20 years ago the idea of a surgeon being able to operate a robot from hundreds of miles away in order to perform an operation seemed like science fiction. Today, this is not only possible but engineers, working with scientists and doctors, are now...

Understand the engineering principles of hovering by building your own craft that can glide effortlessly across the table. This practical engineering activity provides instructions and teaching content to create a hovercraft out of a CD and balloon. 

From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet provides an introduction to the properties and advantages of renewable building materials. Renewable materials based on plants offer a sustainable alternative to conventional products in many applications. The factsheets give information on:

• ...

This report by HM Inspectors begins by outlining the history of the British School Technology (BST), its terms of reference and the extent of the operation in terms of the numbers of teachers trained. Details are given of inspections carried out and a more detailed description of the work carried out by BST at...

A report from the National Curriculum Council (NCC). The change in approach was in turn widely criticised by respondents, and further revisions made by the NCC. While the move towards two Attainment Targets (ATs) and the separation of Information Technology was accepted, there were wide concerns about perceived...

The purpose of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Mapping Review, published by the Department for Education in 2004, was broadly to:

• investigate whether STEM initiatives currently being taken forward address the concerns raised about the decline in demand of university places in...

The Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) funds and produces research in areas of post-16 education and training in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). These resources are some of the reports, research and guidance that have been published. They include the areas of:
* Progression into...

In this activity, from Practical Action, students are challenged to design and make a good quality textiles product from some throwaway textiles collected from home or bought from a charity shop. Further resources are available from the Practical Action’s Sustainable Design and Technology database.

This starter activity can be used as an introduction to reverse engineering. Using the presentation Earphones and Headphones, students are asked to identify the product and its function. They consider the following questions:

This report, by Dr Alison Wolf and published in March 2011, was commissioned to investigate the state of vocational education for young people aged 14 to 19. It was found that many courses offered very little value, offering no route to further education or prospects for meaningful employment.

Many...

This STEMNET resource describes the background and career of STEM Ambassador Ross Wattie, a risk management coordinator at an international integrated energy company.

Ross is currently involved in risk modelling to simulate different scenarios and assess their possible impacts. He has also found that his...