UPDATE: April 2021 additional pages added to support the use of the Braille Box to teach about branding, IP, patents, crowdfunding, ecological footprint and more. Specification updated to match the new theory presentations that will soon be available. This is my own take on what I believe a level 9 folder could look like for the new AQA GCSE in Design and Technology and was produced when no examplar material was avalable from examination boards. It is appropriate for the ‘children’s learning and play’ sample context and covers exploring a context, iterative design, prototyping and client led brief along with investigations, analysis and evaluations. Supplied as both self-running Powerpoint Show and printable PDF file, there are 40 slides in the folder as per the AQA suggested limit, each with a commentary and a summary at the end of each A0 as well as extra slides at the end to support the process. In total there are now 68 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 new NEA 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. Recent additions (July 2018) include 16 extra slides to show a summary of modelling, drawing, CAD etc. and further development of the product beyond the GCSE prototype into AS/A Level territory with the outcome being a completely 3D printed prototype. August 2018 update simply adds some extra info.

This is the first set of supporting resources for the Modular Desk Organiser project. Its is in itself a modular approach to teaching a wide range of skills for Design and Technology ay KS3 including aspects of 2D and 3D drawing, CAD modelling, CAM manufacture and rapid protoyping, orthographic projections, materials (Wood, Polymers, Paper and Card), processes, packaging, scales of production and much more. It could provide a whole year’s worth of work or aspects that you want to cover can be taken from it and added to the design booklet template which is available separately. This set also contains maths and science worksheets which can be used for class work or to set as prep/homework. Several approaches can be taken to using this scheme of work and a range of outcomes is possible. Images of real outcomes are provided for reference and a step by step guide to CAD modelling using SketchUp is also available.

Update February 2022: A mark scheme has been added to help with assessment of the theory questions A set of 22 lessons in editable Powerpoint Show format divided into units which match the specification. Each lesson in the unit includes a lesson outcome, introduction, summary of the lesson and revision tips as well as links to maths and science. Questions and past paper questions are matched to those in the AQA DT tracker (recently updated) so you can deliver theory as well as assessing knowledge and tracking progress.

This workbook supports the compulsory theory for the AQA GCSE in D&T (8552). The workbook is designed to match the theory presentations. Without these, the contents and questions in the workbooks may not seem as relevant, but they do address the syllabus criteria. The workbook is in PowerPoint format so you can edit it to suit your needs but a PDF version is also included. The resource includes: 3.3: Designing and making principles

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.

A completed AS and A Level project checklist ideal for digital folders. The sections can be changed to suit the centre, subject or syllabus. Ideal for producing a matching digital folder or as a checklist for NEA work.

UPDATE 2: This tracker has been updated to support just A Level D&T and has new featres added. This version remains for those still running AS Level D&T or who want access to this particualr version of the tracker. You can still edit the grade boundaries as long as the AS exam is still available. UPDATE1 The May/June 2019 exams have been added so this is up to date and the grade boundaries have also been updated from the results on 15th August 2019. An 8 page spreadsheet which tracks NEA progress and allows for mock and real examination analysis based on the AQA syllabus 7551 and 7552 but it can be adapted for other AO’s. It has been used to successfully predict final grades for many years and is a useful interactive tool to use in the classroom or during progression meetings. It uses a traffic light system to show weaker areas in performance and a look up table to predict final grades and to compare against targets. A Level grade boundaries are not yet known but can be changed as needed. AS level boundaries from 2018 have been added to the AS tab. This currently uses the standard 2/4 module boundaries for grades. This is for the new GCE syllabus with first AS exam in 2018. It has been updated June 2019 to allow up to 26 students on one sheet and looks up student name and number from the information tabs. Cells not needed to be edited are locked off but the password to unlock each sheet is ‘advanced’.

A colourful chart to help show levels of progress with target based on 4 levels of progress being on target but this can be adjusted.

An exemplar folder produced to accompany the new AQA GCSE to illustrate how students can approach the NEA. This is NOT endorsed by the AQA but is produced by an experienced designer, teacher, moderator and consultant to reflect expectations for a Level 9 NEA project. It is supported by a new GCSE student guide, a checklist (which should not be used as a writing frame) and a tracker and grade prediction spreadsheet which uses grade boundaries derived from the boundaries on the old spec. There will be no official boundaries for some time so this will help you to give some prediction in the meantime. This now includes a comprehensive assessment spreadsheet that generates comment banks to minimise requests for remarks. Updated August 2018 with a new exemplar folder, student guide and a tracker with 26 name slots.

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.

An A3 poster which shows the main Apple products in several categories and the years they were released. Updated 2020 with recent products.

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.

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 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.

This resource consists of 29 lessons that cover the theory to support the Paper 1 written examination and the major project that is Component 1. It can be used with the updated IGCSE tracker (grade and level versions) to check and consolidate learning after each lesson and to form an assessment of the project and the student’s theoretical knowledge. The presentations are in Powerpoint Show format so they will run without having MS Office installed, but they can be opened in Power Point for editing. Please consider these as a companion to the Collins textbook and adapt to support your own teaching style.

This resource consists of 20 lessons that cover the theory to support the written examination Paper 3: Resistant Materials. It can be used with the updated IGCSE tracker (grades and level versions) to check and consolidate the learning after each lesson and to form an assessment of the student’s theoretical knowledge. The presentations are in Powerpoint Show format so they will run without having MS Office installed, but they can be opened in Power Point for editing. Please consider these as a companion to the Collins textbook and adapt to support your own teaching style. They provide a structured framework with assessments but we all have our own teaching styles so please personalise them to your needs.

A resource aimed at Primary level teaching that encourages the use of Tinkercad to design components using CAD which can then be 3D printed. The resource contains a 40 PDF cocument with guides for how to create all the components but also has the components ready to 3D print in a zipped file. The resource also considers the use of mechanisms within the curriculum.

This is an experimental project provided free of charge for teachers, technicians or educators to adapt for their own use.

A DIY kit for making a rotational moulding machine. Unzip the parts, 3D print them, then follow the instructions supplied to build your own working Rotational Moulding kit. All you need to provide, other than a 3D printer, is 10mm square wood, glue, screws and washers.