Design & Technology - Parents Page
Why Include Design & Technology In Home Schooling
Design and Technology (D&T) is one of the most creative and useful subjects we offer. It helps our learners earn money while they learn, and many choose this pathway for their studies.
D&T teaches you to take risks, think creatively, and solve real problems. It helps you become more resourceful, inventive, and confident. You also learn how design and technology affect your trade, your community, and the wider world.
Design and Technology includes Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics — often called STEM. In D&T, you will:
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Be creative and imaginative
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Solve real-life problems
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Learn skills you can use in future jobs
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Discover how materials, tools, and processes work
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Understand how products affect people and the environment
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Make things using different materials
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Develop practical, hands-on skills
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Use what you learn in other subjects
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Create finished products you can take home
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See how design connects to the world and to others
D&T builds on what you already know. You might start with something simple, then improve it step by step, learning new techniques as you go. You don’t need to know everything right away — you’ll build your knowledge and skills over time, just like improving your project with each new idea.
In the past, Design and Technology used to be split into subjects like Domestic Science (for girls),
Woodwork and Metalwork (for boys), and Technical Drawing (for the most academic students). Over time, these areas were combined so that everyone could learn all parts of the subject.
Later, Domestic Science became Cookery, then Food Technology. But as the focus moved toward designing packaging instead of cooking, many people grew up not knowing how to make healthy meals from scratch.
That’s why, at Orchard Training, we focus on advanced cooking skills, combined with nutrition, science, and exercise. We also include woodwork and metalwork in our projects, especially during November.
Many of our learners go on to college to study Design and Technology at higher levels, continuing to grow their creativity and practical skills.
Recording The Learning
For our learners on the Autistic Spectrum, following instructions carefully and creating the finished product can be very rewarding. It feels good to see something work just as planned. The challenge often comes when they’re asked to change or adapt the original design to make it their own. Sometimes, it takes making the same recipe or project several times before even small changes feel comfortable.
Design and Technology also works really well for our dyslexic learners. It allows them to show their ideas through drawings, labelled pictures, and photos of each stage of their work. It’s a subject that uses their strengths and helps them shine through practical creativity.
Including Information, Communication and Technology in to the Learning Routine
At Orchard Training, we include Design and Technology in our projects wherever it fits naturally and can be fun to do.
You don’t need any special or expensive equipment to take part. Our projects are designed with the home-school budgetin mind. The biggest cost is usually getting the materials, but we try to use recycled items whenever possible. Each project includes a list of what you’ll need and ideas for places you can visit to learn more.
Sometimes, parents help by donating materials or sharing their skills, which helps keep projects low-cost or even free.
One of our favourite projects is called Rocking Boxers. We made them using simple items:
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A wire coat hanger for the rocking mechanism
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Plasticine for the counterweight
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Card for the body
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Kitchen paper for the head
It was great fun working out how to make the boxers move — and even more fun holding competitions to see whose boxer was the best!
How To Deliver Design & Technology At Home
Rewrite for Y7 reader: How we can do this at home, by starting with the idea that all of the projects are for both boys and girls.
Cooking healthy meals as well as treats, learning how to sew, this can be as little as sewing on button, but should include knitting, quilting, cross stitch, making items to use, pyjama bottoms or a useful bag.
Making things out of wood like helping to construct a shed, allow potential pinball wizards to flourish with a wood game project, or making Christmas decorations from willow. Making things with metal like tea light holders.
To make things from paper by making a paper bridge strong enough to take the weight of a toy car. or making a piñata for celebrations.
