Course map
Core technical principles AQA Section 3.1 · Edexcel Topic 1 · OCR Areas 3, 5 and 6
- AQA 3.1.1, Edexcel 1.1, Edexcel 1.2, OCR 3.1, OCR 7.6
New and emerging technologies
- Explain how automation, robotics, CAD/CAM and the internet of things change industry and enterprise
- Weigh the impact of new technology on people, culture, society and the environment
- Evaluate products for planned obsolescence and design for maintenance
- AQA 3.1.2, Edexcel 1.3, OCR 3.2
Energy generation and storage
- Compare fossil fuels, nuclear and renewable energy sources
- Explain how energy is stored in batteries, kinetic pumped storage and other systems
- Choose a power source for a product and justify it
- AQA 3.1.3, Edexcel 1.4, OCR 5.1
Modern, smart and composite materials
- Tell modern materials from smart materials and give examples of each
- Explain how shape memory alloys, thermochromic pigments and photochromic materials respond to stimuli
- Explain why composites and technical textiles outperform their separate parts
- AQA 3.1.4, Edexcel 1.6, Edexcel 1.7, OCR 6.4
Systems, electronics and programmable components
- Break a system into input, process and output and name typical components
- Explain how sensors, control devices and outputs work together
- Explain what a microcontroller adds to a product
- AQA 3.1.5, Edexcel 1.5, OCR 6.3
Mechanical devices, levers and gears
- Name the four types of motion and the mechanisms that change one into another
- Classify levers and work out mechanical advantage
- Work out gear ratios, velocity ratios and output speeds
Materials and their properties AQA Section 3.1.6 · Edexcel Topic 1 · OCR Area 5
- AQA 3.1.6.1, Edexcel 1.9, OCR 5.1
Papers and boards
- Name common papers and boards and their uses
- Describe paper weight in gsm and board thickness in microns
- Choose a paper or board for a product and justify it
- AQA 3.1.6.1, Edexcel 1.12, OCR 5.1
Natural and manufactured timbers
- Tell hardwoods, softwoods and manufactured boards apart
- Match common timbers to their properties and uses
- Explain why manufactured boards are made
- AQA 3.1.6.1, Edexcel 1.8, OCR 5.1
Metals and alloys
- Tell ferrous from non-ferrous metals and know what an alloy is
- Match common metals and alloys to their properties and uses
- Explain why alloys are made
- AQA 3.1.6.1, Edexcel 1.10, OCR 5.1
Polymers
- Tell thermoforming from thermosetting polymers and explain why they behave differently
- Match common polymers to their properties and uses
- Explain how polymers are recycled and why some cannot be
- AQA 3.1.6.1, Edexcel 1.11, OCR 5.1
Natural, synthetic and blended textiles
- Tell natural, synthetic and blended fibres apart
- Compare woven, knitted and non-woven fabrics
- Choose a fabric for a product and justify it
- AQA 3.1.6.2, Edexcel 1.13, OCR 5.2
Physical and working properties of materials
- Define strength, hardness, toughness, malleability, ductility and elasticity
- Define density, absorbency and electrical and thermal conductivity
- Work out a mass or density and pick the material a property points to
Specialist technical principles AQA Section 3.2 · Edexcel Topics 2 to 7 · OCR Areas 5 to 7
- AQA 3.2.1, Edexcel 2.3, Edexcel 3.3, Edexcel 4.3, Edexcel 5.3, Edexcel 6.3, Edexcel 7.3, OCR 5.2, OCR 8.1
Selecting materials and components
- Weigh function, aesthetics, environment, availability, cost and social factors
- Justify a material choice for a given product
- Compare the cost of material options
- AQA 3.2.2, Edexcel 2.4, Edexcel 3.4, Edexcel 4.4, Edexcel 5.4, Edexcel 6.4, Edexcel 7.4, OCR 6.1
Forces, stresses and reinforcement
- Name tension, compression, bending, torsion and shear in a product
- Explain how materials are reinforced and stiffened: laminating, ribs, webs, fabric interfacing
- Choose a way to make a product stronger
- AQA 3.2.3, Edexcel 1.14, OCR 3.3
Ecological and social footprint
- Explain the six Rs and the life cycle of a product
- Explain the environmental cost of extracting and processing materials
- Weigh working conditions, fair trade and the carbon footprint of production
- AQA 3.2.4, Edexcel 2.2, Edexcel 3.2, Edexcel 4.2, Edexcel 5.2, Edexcel 6.2, Edexcel 7.2, OCR 5.3
Sources and origins of materials
- Trace a material from raw source to usable stock
- Explain how timber is seasoned, metals are extracted and polymers are made from crude oil
- Explain how paper and fibres are produced
- AQA 3.2.6, Edexcel 2.5, Edexcel 3.5, Edexcel 4.5, Edexcel 5.5, Edexcel 6.5, Edexcel 7.5, OCR 5.4
Stock forms, sizes and quantities
- Name stock forms and the units they are sold in
- Work out how much material a batch needs, with waste
- Work out how many parts fit a sheet
- AQA 3.2.7, Edexcel 2.6, Edexcel 3.6, Edexcel 4.6, Edexcel 5.6, Edexcel 6.6, Edexcel 7.6, OCR 7.5
Scales of production
- Tell one-off, batch, mass and continuous production apart
- Explain just-in-time and lean manufacturing
- Choose a scale of production and a process for a quantity
- AQA 3.2.5, AQA 3.2.8, Edexcel 2.7, Edexcel 3.7, Edexcel 4.7, Edexcel 5.7, Edexcel 6.7, Edexcel 7.7, OCR 7.2, OCR 7.4, OCR 7.5
Specialist techniques and processes
- Group processes as wasting, addition, deforming and reforming
- Explain how CAD/CAM, moulding, casting, joining and printing processes work
- Choose a process for a product and quantity
- AQA 3.2.9, Edexcel 2.8, Edexcel 3.8, Edexcel 4.8, Edexcel 5.8, Edexcel 6.8, Edexcel 7.8, OCR 6.2
Surface treatments and finishes
- Explain why materials are finished: protection and appearance
- Match finishes to materials: paints, varnishes, galvanising, powder coating, lamination, printing, dyeing
- Choose a finish for a product's use
Designing and making principles AQA Section 3.3 · Edexcel Topic 1 · OCR Areas 1, 2, 4, 7 and 8
- AQA 3.3.1, Edexcel 1.16, OCR 1.1, OCR 1.2
Investigation, users and specifications
- Plan primary and secondary research and say what each gives
- Turn research into a design brief and a measurable specification
- Explain why usability and ergonomics matter, with anthropometric data
- AQA 3.3.2, Edexcel 1.14, OCR 3.3
Environmental, social and economic challenges
- Explain the challenges designers face: deforestation, waste, pollution, global warming
- Weigh inclusive design, fair trade and cultural and ethical factors
- Judge a product's impact across its life
- AQA 3.3.3, Edexcel 1.15, OCR 2.1, OCR 2.2
The work of others
- Analyse an existing product for strengths and weaknesses
- Explain how designers and companies have influenced design
- Explain how product analysis informs new designs
- AQA 3.3.4, Edexcel 1.16, OCR 4.2
Design strategies
- Explain iterative, user-centred and systems approaches
- Use strategies that avoid design fixation: collaboration, sketching, modelling
- Choose a strategy for a design problem
- AQA 3.3.5, Edexcel 1.17, OCR 4.1
Communicating design ideas
- Tell isometric, oblique, perspective, orthographic and exploded drawings apart
- Read dimensions, scales and drawing conventions
- Explain when CAD, models and schematics communicate best
- AQA 3.3.6, Edexcel 1.16, Edexcel 1.17, OCR 1.2, OCR 7.1
Prototypes, testing and evaluation
- Explain why designers model and prototype
- Test a prototype against its specification and its user
- Evaluate and suggest improvements
- AQA 3.3.8, AQA 3.3.9, Edexcel 2.7, Edexcel 3.7, Edexcel 4.7, Edexcel 5.7, Edexcel 6.7, Edexcel 7.7, OCR 7.3
Tolerances, marking out and quality
- Work out the limits of a tolerance
- Explain marking out, templates, jigs and patterns
- Explain quality control and quality assurance
- AQA 3.3.10, AQA 3.3.11, Edexcel 2.7, Edexcel 3.7, Edexcel 4.7, Edexcel 5.7, Edexcel 6.7, Edexcel 7.7, OCR 7.2
Tools, equipment and safe working
- Match tools and machines to tasks and materials
- Explain risk assessment and safe working
- Choose personal protective equipment for a task
- AQA 7.1, Edexcel Appendix 1, OCR 7.3, OCR 8.1
Maths in design and technology
- Work out costs, percentages, ratios and scale
- Work out areas, volumes and material quantities
- Read and interpret charts and data from user research
