4.3 Project

• What a project is, and its stages
• Exploring the locality to identify problems
• Choosing a problem that Pre-Technical Studies skills can solve
• Writing a design brief
• Brainstorming possible solutions
• Researching possible items and writing a specification
• Discussing possible items
• Selecting one item to make
• Sketching the item
• The working drawing
• The cutting list
• Estimating the cost of materials
• Planning the order of making
• A risk assessment for the making
• Preparing locally available and reclaimed materials
• Marking out and cutting
• Assembling the item
• Finishing the item
• Estimating the cost to determine the price
• Testing, evaluating and presenting the item

• identify a problem in the locality that can be solved using the skills acquired in Pre-Technical Studies
• select an item that can be made to solve the identified problem
• make an item to solve the problem using locally available materials
• utilise skills acquired in Pre-Technical Studies to solve problems in day-to-day life

“How are skills acquired in Pre-Technical Studies used to solve problems in the community?”

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1. What a project is
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Nine stages from a real problem to a finished item, and one running example to follow.
2. Exploring the locality for problems
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Look, and write down exactly what you see and where.
3. Choosing a problem worth solving
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Score every problem on the same four questions, then choose and give reasons.
4. The design brief
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   What is needed, for whom, within what limits, and no answer yet.
5. Brainstorming solutions
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Quantity first. Every idea goes down, and judging comes later.
6. Research and the specification
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Find out what others have made, then set targets that can be tested.
7. Developing possible items
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Sketch three ideas fast, and name a strength and a weakness for each.
8. Selecting the item
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Score the ideas, then give the reasons in words.
9. Sketching the item
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   True front, depth at 45 degrees and half scale: the oblique skills of 2.1 at work.
10. The working drawing
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Every size needed to make it, the parts lettered, and the units stated.
11. The cutting list
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Every piece, its size and its source, and the boards set out on paper first.
12. Estimating the cost of materials
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Count it from the cutting list, price it locally, and check it against the brief.
13. Planning the making
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Nine operations in order, each with its holding tool, driving tool and time.
14. A risk assessment
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Hazard, harm, control. Written and signed before any tool is picked up.
15. Preparing the materials
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    HT yes, MB never. Prise gently, pull every nail, and keep what splits for kindling.
16. Marking out and cutting
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Measure from one end, square across, and put the kerf in the waste.
17. Assembling the item
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Ends, then sides, then base, then check the diagonals.
18. Finishing the item
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Sanded, rounded, punched, and bare, because it holds food.
19. From cost to price
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Cost is materials, labour and overheads. Price adds a fair profit.
20. Testing, evaluating and presenting
    40 min · 2 practice tasks · quiz
    Test it against the specification, report what did not work, and ask the user.