The D+T with ICT Education Show 2006 is filled with opportunities for teachers to discover more about their subject, from interactive features and displays to a diverse range of free lectures and seminars covering all ages and curriculum topics. The D+T Show at the NEC, Birmingham from Thursday 16th to Saturday 18th November gives Design & Technology teaching a high profile, offering inspiration, advice and ideas for primary and secondary teaching and a chance for D&T teachers to come together to discuss the subject.
Colin Whitfield, Education Consultant for the D+T Show says that in the UK “we do not value those who make things, our engineers, our trades people, our designers. If we did our education system would reflect this and practical subjects such as design and technology and engineering would have a much higher profile in the school curriculum.”
He continues, “In my 46 years in education I have always felt under pressure to justify why students should be involved in practical subjects. Why do schools, the government and society in general not understand the educational value of making, designing and being creative? We are in danger of creating a technically illiterate society by not giving this aspect of the curriculum the importance it deserves. In the bicentenary year of the birth of Brunel let us celebrate practical activities and acknowledge the vital role design and technology can play in the curriculum for every student.”
Engineering is under the spotlight at the 2006 D+T Show with a number of speakers in the three-day programme of free seminars and a good practice demonstration concentrating on this relatively new topic in the D&T curriculum. Seminars following this year’s D+T Show theme of engineering include Tim Brotherhood, independent consultant for D&T demonstrating the new Pro/Engineer software; Bob Cater, adviser for Technology in South Wales outlining ideas and practical activities to help primary school teachers develop CAD/CAM activities; the TEP (Technology Enhancement Programme) Team passing on tips and advice for teachers planning or teaching engineering at 14-19 and Barry McGregor, Specialist Schools Trust asking what the way forward is for Engineering in schools
The daily programme of free seminars and talks at the Design + Technology with ICT Education Show 2006 presenting ideas and issues affecting D&T in schools and colleges will, for the first time, take place within the exhibition hall, making them even easier to attend. As well as a Keynote Lecture by Peter Toft HMI, Ofsted’s specialist subject adviser for Design and Technology - “What is Design and Technology like in our Schools?” a further 24 free seminars from education specialists cover a range of topics - see below for a preview of some of the highlights.
On Thursday 16th November the TEP Team presents Moving on the Primary Making Agenda with a compelling range of new and sometimes forgotten ideas for high-impact activities to ‘move on’ the making agenda in the primary sector. Looking at a range of low-cost strategies to implement knowledge, skills and understanding, particularly at KS2, visitors will receive exemplar teaching materials and practical resources to kick start some new thinking and a ‘hands-on’ approach. Richard Green, Chief Executive, Design and Technology Association looks at 14-19 Diplomas - the new challenge - discussing the implications for planning, running and resourcing 14-19 courses for the D&T department and giving visitors the chance to discuss the issues and find out how DATA can help. Presenting a vision for KS3 and KS4 food technology for the next five years, Stephanie Valentine and Roy Ballam from the British Nutrition Foundation ask where food will fit and who will teach it in a lively debate - Can’t Cook, Can’t Eat - helping the BNF to plan for the future.
On Friday 17th November, The Chips are Down presented by Anita Cormac, Director, Focus on Food, Design Dimension discusses how schools can rise to the challenge to do more cooking and addresses the issues surrounding the teaching of cooking in classrooms in a hard- hitting presentation illustrated by findings from a small sample study of food technology teachers. Jane Wheeldon, Independent Consultant for Design and Technology looks at Shape, Form, Modelling and Design offering an opportunity to understand how generic skills taught in art and food technology could be applied to help children design modelling with real materials. David Prest, County Adviser for Design and Technology in Cornwall and manager of the highly respected Design and Making Centre (DMC) asks the million dollar question in Design and Technology - do some children just have a gift for Design and Technology or are there simple and logical steps which educators can use to inspire all students to be creative and innovative? and Julie Boyd, AST Lutterworth Grammar School and Community College Challenges Stereotypes in Textiles discussing the work her school has done to break down these stereotypes and providing practical and easy-to-implement tips on how to engage boys in a textiles environment.
On Saturday 18th November, Sandie Kendall demonstrates how with a free piece of software from Wild Ginger, an old deskjet printer and a can of spray starch pupils can begin on the road of CAD/CAM for textiles in Spray, Starch, DeskJet and Wild Things. Barbara Mottershead, Teacher Advisor in Lancashire addresses the Whole Food Agenda and offers top tips for ‘stretched’ food technology teachers on how to achieve the balance between practical skills versus industrial knowledge; implementing the Secondary Strategy; working towards a healthy schools status and supporting Primary colleagues under the Food in Schools scheme. In Personalised Learning - What’s in it for me and what can D&T offer? Jonathan Gershon, Senior Adviser, Harrow looks at this much-abused jargon to explode the myths behind Personalised Learning.
Full details of what is happening at D+T 2006 are on the show’s website at www.ichf.co.uk/d+t. Show organisers ICHF will also meet all or part of travel costs to the show for groups travelling together. For details about travel subsidies and an application form visit the website or call 01425 272711.