This activity, from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), explores how the antenna part of body centric antennas (BCAs) work and encourages students to consider ethical issues surrounding the use of advanced technology to control prosthetics.

This longer-duration activity involves prototyping a low-power lighting system. It could be used in an off-timetable workshop or across a series of lessons.

Students are challenged to work through the whole design process, and to place a micro-controller (in this case a BBC micro:bit) at the centre of the...

This activity, suitable for a multi-lesson sequence or a single extended session, challenges students to design and prototype a simple motion-sensing alarm. The device is intended to prevent theft or the accidental picking-up of a bag.

Motion is sensed using the accelerometer built-in to the BBC micro:bit,...

In this resource from the European Space Agency, students design and program a LEGO- built rover. Basic instructions are first programmed with the LEGO brick. Then, to remotely control the LEGO-built rover, students program it with the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 software. The objective is to conduct a space experiment...

In this activity, students investigate the use of binary numbers to explain how devices can be turned on or off. After a short introduction to binary numbers, students work in teams of four to demonstrate the number sequence from 1 to 15.

After learning about flooding, students consider the design problems caused by its early detection. Students are introduced to moisture sensors, and can build their own using the instructions provided or use a ready-made version. This is connected to the BBC micro:bit and used as an input device. After processing...

This topic, from the Association for Science Education, allows classes in schools across the world to explore and exchange information about the applications of photovoltaic devices. The version of the topic that can be downloaded here is a trial version and is provided only in English. This resource was edited by...

In this challenge, students are asked to consider the impact of people suffering from heart conditions, both to the individual and to wider society. They then generate ideas for using programmable systems to improve people’s health, and to monitor themselves. A video introduces the idea of a heart rate monitor, and...

In this activity, students consider the heating effects of infrared energy, and how this is used in a range of products. They design a simple experiment to measure the heating effect of toasters, thermal heaters, infrared mouse, kettles (with heating elements) and...

A series of STEM projects, bridging design and technology and computing, which make use of the BBC micro:bit microcontroller device.

This resource looks at what properties of infra-red make it so useful in gaming technology? Students develop a working prototype of a simple infra-red electronic circuit, identify an input and an output and test the performance of the circuit. They then explain how the findings of their research could affect their...

Using the context of the Nintendo Wii, this starter activity develops an understanding of the terms system, input, process, output and signal, and asks students to identify these features in some common products which are shown in the presentation.

These diagnostic questions and response activities (contained in the zip file) support students in being able to:

• Build simple circuits from pictures or demonstrations.
• Identify components from their circuit symbols, and draw the circuit symbol for common components.       
• Identify...

Aimed at the 11-14 age group, this is a unit of six one-hour design and technology lessons to develop an understanding of how systems on exploration robots are combined and collect data. Students are given a design brief to build their own model rover, experientially, to function in simulated Martian conditions....