The impact of new and emerging technologies
A collection of resources collated for the Design and Technology GCSE, to support the teaching of the impact of new and emerging technologies.
The development of the mobile phone
This resource uses the mobile phone as an example for how technology can develop over time. Using a card sort activity and classroom presentation, it describes the reasons why technology develops (i.e. technology push, market pull) and provides students with an activity where they create a timeline for mobile phone development from the cards provided.
Product life cycle and planned obsolescence
This classroom presentation supports the teaching of planned obsolescence and a product lifecycle. Using the example of a mobile phone, students explore the volume of phone sales over time and discuss how manufacturers can plan a product's lifespan, looking at product growth, maturity of sales and decline over time. Worksheets are provided to record key points raised in the presentation.
Globalisation and product manufacture
This resource explores the impact of globalisation on the manufacturing market. It explores the advantages and disadvantages of global product manufacture, looking at topics such as transport, sustainability, delivery, consumer rights, legislation. The presentation and worksheets combine to create a learning mat that students can use for later revision activity. In addition to globalisation, this resource also looks briefly at Just In Time manufacture.
The ethical implications of design
This resource looks briefly at the moral implications of design and the design of products. It touches on the impact that products (such as mobile phones) have had on society and asks students to explore issues around sustainable manufacture.
What is CAD and CAM?
This resource supports students to understand the terms Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) manufacture. It provides an overview of manufacturing methods such as CNC vinyl cutting, CNC router, laser cutting.
New and Emerging technologies revision materials
These resources provide revision materials for testing student understanding of the new and emerging technology section of the GCSE Design and Technology specification. The resources include a revision presentation, mock exams and revision cards.
Robots and artificial intelligence AI: lessons in the ethics of robots
This resource supports students to research and discuss the field of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI). The resource provides a series of student tasks that explore the topic of whether robots are a threat to humanity. This resource would work well as a research topic for students undertaking projects in either robotics or emerging technologies (design and technology).
Car Wars
In this activity students imagine it is 2020 and they are about to get their first car. They also imagine that increased carbon dioxide emissions have led to huge financial incentives to buy renewable fuels. Filling stations provide hydrogen and biodiesel fuels, and recharging points for electric cars are commonplace. Students are presented with a choice – to buy an electric car, a hydrogen fuel cell car, or one which runs on biodiesel. But which is best? Students consider the options and choose a winner and two losers.
The power of prosthetics
This lesson plan and classroom presentation explores some of the skills and knowledge needed to work in the field of biomechanical engineering. Combining knowledge from Biology, Design and Technology and Engineering, it asks students to investigate the design and development of a prosthetic arm.
Drones: friend or foe?
The drone resource box is aimed at key stage 3 or key stage 4 students and could be used as a six-session curriculum resource or a drop down activity day. The resource explores how drones work and how they can be used for civilian, humanitarian and commercial purposes. Each session will be based around a different system in the drone.
Designing the future
This interactive online game and series of lessons contextualise computer-aided design (CAD) within current engineering practice and digital technologies, by following the development of a new product. An excellent resource to demonstrate the variety of roles and functions within a factory and how a product goes from an idea to manufacture.
