School woodwork

[Nick Gibbs]

The big challenge, then, is helping students understand the benefits of continuing practical subjects beyond GCSE. Any ideas, anyone?

Nick

 

[TrimTheKing]

I am about halfway through my DT folder at the moment and only recently started actually making it. But it is true that there is alot of coursework that goes with the subject which does take up alot of your making time. but when i mean about challenging the student, i mean in a way the project that they choose to do. the majority of my class pick things like bird-tables and bird-boxes, nothing that really gives a chance for the student to do something a little bit different. For my project i picked to design and make a bedside table, which was a massive project in comparison to the other students in my class. The reason i picked to do this is that i wanted to challenge myself so that i personally would learn things from this course, i think the my other class members should be encouraged to do this too.

One other this i found very interesting at my school is that down by the DT department they have put up all of the old pictures of the past final pieces on the wall going to as late as about 1990. I found it really interesting to see the comparison to what they made then to what they make now. At one end of the wall they would be making garden chairs, tables and all well made. But at the other end of the wall you would see the quality dramatically decrease and the projects getting far smaller and less challenging, which i find quite sad.

Woody.

Can I ask how old you are Woodyone? I don't mean to be condescending, the exact opposite, this is meant as a compliment, but if you are still in school you must be what, around 15-17 and yet you write in a very mature way. Much more mature than I remember myself being around your age.

I certainly wish I had your mentality and maturity when I was in school. Don't get me wrong, I did well in my work, classes and exams, and I guess I have made a success of my career to date, but I'm 32 now and only really feel like I am starting to get control of what I want to do with my life.

Good on you I say, carry on with that attitude and you won't go far wrong.

Cheers

Mark

 

[woodyone]

Thank you, and to answer your question I am 15 going on 16 and i suppose i really enjoy talking about this subject. I suppose i put alot of thought into what i was going to say so that my point would come out clearly.I hope what i said earlier was what you were looking for nick. Glad to be of some help.

Woody.

 

[ginsters]

i was very lucky at school because when i was 14 i was able to do a foundation construction foundation course at the local technical colleage on saturdays,it opened my eyes up an a month later id left school and was on a full time nvq course.I think this should be avalible to all students to try they dont need gcse's and A levels and a mass of student debt to get on in life just the opertunates to find out what there skills are

 

[Chems]

The big challenge, then, is helping students understand the benefits of continuing practical subjects beyond GCSE. Any ideas, anyone?

Nick

Nick, I did Systems and Controls at GCSE, I enjoyed it but wished I had done Resistant Materials (woodwork) so when it came to A level time I choose 4 book studies, ICT, Geography, Law and Bio and what I thought was woodwork. What I ended up doing was jewelery and other things like that. I did get to make a nice little box but other than sanding and some gluing it was more like the technician made most of it as it was all saw work. I got an A, but I wish it had been more woodwork than messing about with other things.