Engineering

Course summary

Learning about engineering design at A level strengthens learners’ critical thinking and problem solving skills within a creative environment, enabling them to develop and make prototypes/products that solve real-world problems, considering their own and others’ needs, wants, aspirations and values. This A Level qualification requires learners to identify market needs and opportunities for new products, initiate and develop design solutions, and make and test prototypes/products. Learners should acquire subject knowledge in engineering design, including how a product can be developed through the stages of prototyping, realisation and commercial manufacture. Practical Project Work - A range of practical activities, theory sessions and tutorials designed to equip learners for the two exams and their iterative design project. Students will develop the confidence to: • identify, investigate and outline design possibilities • design and make prototypes • analyse and evaluate design decisions and wider issues in design and technology Unit 1: Principles of Design Engineering This paper is set out through four sets of questions that predominantly cover technical principles. Unit 2: Problem Solving in Design Engineering This component has a series of longer answer questions that require learners to demonstrate their problem solving and critical evaluation skills. Unit 3/4 Iterative Design & Make Project The ‘Iterative Design Project’ requires learners to initiate, develop and make a prototype(s) through iterations of exploring, creating and evaluating that identify opportunities and constantly respond to stakeholder needs, wants and interests. This process should be followed and evidenced to demonstrate an accurate account of their progress