Years 12 and 13 Design Technology Plan
Overview
AQA Design and Technology - Product Design is offered at GCE AS/A2.
The scheme of work provides opportunities for students to develop theircreativity, capability and entrepreneurial skills; to apply knowledgeand understanding to a range of technological activities and to developcritical thinking. Students will:
- Develop innovation, recognise constraints and produce high quality products.
- Develop an understanding of industrial practice.
- Use ICT to enhance technological capability.
- Develop as discerning consumers able to make informed choices.
- Develop positive attitudes of co-operation.
The AS course has two equally weighted units
• Learning through designing and making.
• Knowledge and understanding of materials, components and applications.
The A2 course has two equally weighted units.
• Design and making practice.
• Design and manufacture.
AS
Learning through designing and making.
This consists of a design and make activity. Students select their own context from which they design and make a product that meets a need. The product must be a functioning prototype that matches its specification and be manufactured full size in any appropriate material.
Knowledge and understanding of Materials, components and applications.
• Metals and alloys.
• Polymers.
• Woods.
• Composites and laminates.
• Components including nuts/bolts, rivets, gears and cams.
Working properties of materials.
• Mechanical properties including strength, elasticity and malleability.
• Alloying metals to change properties.
• Heat treatment.
Hand and commercial processes.
• CAD.
• Fabrication.
• CNC machining.
• Finishing processes including surface coatings and decoration.
Product manufacture.
• Scale of production.
• Quality control.
• Health and safety procedures.
Design in practice.
• Effects of design and technological changes on society.
• Influences on the development of products.
• Principles and application of anthropometrics and ergonomics.
A2
Design and making practice.
Students identify a client/user group for which they must design and make a product that meets an original need. Students must liase with their client to develop a commercial product.
Design and manufacture.
Design and Market influences.
• Creation and use by industry of smart materials including glass, solar panels, shape memory alloys and composites.
• Impact of modern technology on development of new materials.
• The marketing function.
• Safety legislation
• Design in the human context.
• Advertising and marketing.
Processes and Manufacture.
• Modification of properties of materials.
• Use of ICT including automated stock control, laser measurement machines and product marketing.
• Systems and control, including modelling and testing and production planning.
• Values issues, including life cycle assessment, global sustainable development and minimising waste production. For example, Timber Recycling.
• Economics of production.
