Project aims to inspire tomorrow's engineers

Working in partnership with a number of leading engineering firms, a team from the Department of Engineering and the Faculty of Education has developed a special resource kit for teachers to use in Key Stage 3 Design and Technology classes. Three boxes have been created so far; one called 'Inclusive Design', another titled 'Sensor Circuits' and one called 'Picture Holders'. Each contains a complete set of teaching resources, which would normally cover 12 D&T lessons. The 'Inclusive Design' kit sets the challenge of designing more inclusive cutlery. The box includes a set of gloves and glasses that mimic the effects of human aging: the gloves restrict dexterity in a similar way to arthritis, while the glasses mimic the way vision declines from the age of 47. The Designing our Tomorrow project, or DOT, has so far been piloted in a range of local schools, to make sure that the resources work for teachers and pupils. The aim is to make it available nationwide over the coming months. Bill Nichol, a lecturer in Design Education at the University of Cambridge's Faculty of Education, said: "Although 71% of 13 and 14 year olds interviewed for the project said that engineering was 'cool', less than half felt challenged by their lessons and only 38% said they were considering a career in design and technology. "By developing and delivering inspirational resources for teaching Design & Technology at secondary level, DOT hopes that all Key Stage 3 students will enjoy challenging lessons and be inspired to consider design as a real and rewarding career path."