What can current and future students and their teachers learn from this?

During the learning:

• Note that your teachers’ experience and knowledge are invaluable. Consequently, you should consult with your teacher and heed his or her advice when selecting appropriate levels and approaches to the technology project and the practical skills examination.
• Develop a broad knowledge and understanding of a wide range of engineering materials, mechanisms, processes and technological applications.
• Develop and practice manipulative practical skills over the years of study leading to the examination.
• Gain maximum exposure in a practical setting to developing manufacturing skills using a range of appropriate materials, processes, equipment and resources.
• Integrate such knowledge and skills together with initiative, problem solving and creativity in the planning, design and development of a range of models and artefacts.
• Have a good knowledge and awareness of issues relating to health and safety.
• Take frequent opportunities to engage with design challenges over the years of study leading to the examination; use each such opportunity to research a technology-based project and communicate this technological information to classmates and/or your teacher through discussion, presentation, or in a design folio.
• Develop an appreciation for and strive to demonstrate high standards of accuracy and quality of finish during the manufacture of simple operational mechanisms based on the interpretation of working drawings.
• Develop a knowledge and understanding of the basic principles and applications of control technology, computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacture.
• Exploit the potential and capacity of using CAD software, such as Solidworks, early in the process, as it has immense potential as a design tool to aid the designer in developing, testing and making amendments to a design solution.
• Practice freehand sketching and drawing line diagrams, and be aware of the importance and effectiveness of well-proportioned labelled diagrams and sketches in supporting responses in both the written examination and the design folio.
• Be familiar with the requirements, instructions and the terminology used in the Engineering syllabus, past examination papers and marking schemes.

While doing the technology project:

• Take the opportunity to integrate knowledge and skills together with initiative, problem solving and creativity in the planning, design and development of design folios and manufacture of models using a wide variety of engineering processes and resources.
• Address project-management techniques prior to commencing the technology project in order to set appropriate targets and make optimal use of the time spent on project work.
• Ensure the design folio is completed in accordance with the headings and instructions outlined in the Project Brief section of the examination paper.
• The design folio should be developed in tandem with the model and should contain a complete contemporary record of work-in-progress, recording all the work and containing all the details of the design process from the initial ideas to the final evaluation.
• Pay particular attention to the finishing of the individual components that make up the model and folio, as well as the overall finish and presentation of each. Be aware of the importance of finish and presentation and of the significant quantity of marks allocated to each.
• Evaluation and reflection, along with the communication of these, should be ongoing with regard to each design challenge. Develop testing techniques in accordance with the criteria specified in the project brief.
• Where possible, use CAD software, such as Solidworks, early in the process, as it has immense potential as a design tool to aid the designer in developing, modelling, testing and making amendments to a design solution.
• Design folios will be further enhanced if particular attention is placed on producing wellproportioned, labelled and shaded sketches, producing accurate and well-dimensioned working drawings, producing the relevant circuit diagrams, and producing CAD diagrams if CAM is used to manufacture a specific component.
• Integrate ICT into the folio using digital media to record the on-going development of the model.
• For Ordinary level design folios: show clear evidence if planning or developing an alternative design; put dimensions on working drawings; show evidence of materials used and of finishing techniques used during manufacture.
• Complete all technology project coursework in school under the direct supervision of your teacher and according to the instructions issued by the State Examinations Commission. If you do not, your teacher cannot authenticate the work and the SEC will not be able to accept it. This is to ensure the integrity of the coursework being assessed and upholds the principle of fairness for all, by ensuring that everyone is subject to the same conditions. The SEC policy and practice for the acceptance of practical coursework for assessment are outlined in Circulars S68/04 and S69/04. Copies of these circulars are available on the SEC website www.examinations.ie.

During the practical skills examination Students:

• Take the opportunity to display your skills in precision filing, drilling, machining, fitting and accuracy, using a good range of materials.
• Process the marking out of all the pieces as one sequence of operations and check the marking out for accuracy before you start manufacturing the components. Be aware of the significant mark allocation for completing the marking-out process.
• Always strive for high-quality finishes on components, as this may significantly improve efficiency in movement, the potential for accurate assembly, and the overall appearance of the test piece. Parts that have sliding contact with others may work better or last longer if the surface finish is of high quality.
• Note that it is clearly stated on the examination paper that accuracy, finish and function are important elements in this examination and each is allocated a significant number of marks.
• Note that the accurate preparation of materials, as described in the instructions issued by the SEC prior to this examination, is essential to the functionality of the finished mechanism and this work is awarded a significant allocation of marks.
• Use the full six-hour time allocation available for the examination. For example, on completing the assembly and functioning of the test-piece, any remaining time could be used for final finishing and polishing.
• Do not use any machinery other than that specified in the equipment list to process any part of the examination material. If you do, you will lose marks under the relevant headings in the marking scheme.