New Resources for Technology Teachers
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New Resources for Technology Teachers Many teachers of technology, particularly those new to the subject believe that 'megadoses' of new hi-tech hardware and software are essential if the National Curriculum is to be delivered. They are encouraged to think so by a legion of enthusiastic suppliers. But they are only partially correct. Much of the technology curriculum, particularly in the crucial but neglected Business Studies area, is about understanding the systems that control everyday life. Fortunately there is a rapidly growing range of new equipment that can help and much of it is free to teachers. Particularly interesting is What is a Barcode? an information pack for classroom projects produced by the Article Number Association. Consisting of lesson notes, diagrams, teachers' notes and technical notes, it provides the basis for a wide spectrum of work ranging from Key Stage 1 shopping projects to Key Stage 4 marketing studies - involving a range of understandings in topics such as shopping Above: A Cessna 150 two-seat light the centuries old traditional drawing behaviour, cost and quality control aircraft being made ready at Flightlab. instruments. through to algorithmic mathematics, and The other product is Circlemaster which yet building on the everyday experience requirements as the showrooms are not eliminates the traditional compass with of the pupils. planned as a 'resource' for schools. all its hazards. Designed to take ballpoint There is also a very attractive range of pen, pencil or felt tips the 'Circlemaster' Elsewhere the range of commercial visits available for schools. Pride of place draws circles in increments of 1 products expands unceasingly. Recent must go to Flightlab at the Science millimetre, creates lines at given angles items of interest include Wey Adhesives Museum where a new gallery is devoted and can locate the centre of a circle easily Magic Princess glue gun - which, it is to hands on exhibits which explain the and efficiently. claimed, is easy to use by small children principles of flight simply and effectively. and safer because it operates at low Stanley Tools have devised an improved The culminating exhibit is a sit-in Cessna temperatures. range of screwdrivers - the Magnum cockpit in which the visitor can range - with significantly increased experience, with an instructor in Energy Facilities Management have new gripping power, to give even young hands attendance, all the pre-flight routines up modular home economics furniture which much better turning strength. to take off. A teachers' guide is available offers multifunctional work areas suitable for pre-visit preparation. for a wide range of home economics and The difference lies in the unusual handle technology use in primary and secondary shape and composition. The tri-Iobular Well worth a visit for senior pupils schools. shaped, seamless handle is made from a working in the development of design composition of hard and soft synthetic and technology is the Wilkhahn Typical innovative items are two new materials chemically bonded for strength Showroom in the Watermill development products from Wellgate, instruments that and durability. This creates a smooth, at Newton Abbey Mills, South London. are likely to be invaluable in designing 'rubber-like' feel for the maximum This famous German chair-making and modelling. The Anglemaster is a comfort whilst ensuring optimum grip company has established a remarkable combination of protractor, set square, even when hands are wet or greasy. display of its outstandingly designed centre finder and ruler which allows the Strength comes from the 'power panels' furniture in the historic and attractive old user to construct angles, find angles and around the handle, enabling even young industrial site. Small numbers and draw with a speed, accuracy and hands to turn difficult or worn screws. advance discussion are obvious efficiency that is difficult to achieve with There are 46 sizes in various patterns. SCULPTORS' materials-tools-studio equipment _,::,,;o.~: j Home Economics teachers will be woodcarving & stonecarving tools, arkansas enthusiastic about the intriguing prospect slips & stones, pyrography, clay modelling of embroidery with a Macintosh with the aid of the Japanese Poem system. tools, modelling & carving stands, square Claimed to be as simple as using a aluminium wire, armatures, waxes, clays, printer, complex designs can be drawn plasters, metal modelling tools, ciment with bit map images using a Hyper Card fondu, mod-roc, newclay, newplast, base. polyester & urethane resins, silicone rubber, MacEmbroidery transforms the alginate, latex, vinamold, glassfibre, bitmapped image into high-resolution, metal fillers, pewter, low melt metals (for picture-perfect embroidery. The Macintosh display lets pupils do casting into silicone rubber), swann morton, actual-size embroidery with the POEM CENTRICAST centrifugal casting & machine: what they edit with the display mouldmaking machines corresponds exactly to the actual embroidered result. Once drawing data is transformed to embroidery data and the embroidery process is simulated on screen all that is SEND FOR CATALOGUE needed is to put the relevant thread and 70 High Street, TheaJe, Reading, Berks. RG7 5AR the embroidery frame into the POEM (0734 302775) machine. Multiple layers can be used to achieve multiple colours. The Spiralux Electric Fretsaw from Neill Edding is now distributing perhaps the Addresses Tools is a tool for making models, toys, most ingenious and simple new product C WEdding, (UK) Limited, Merlin puzzles, wooden designs and even - the Assa, three-pronged, tempered Centre, Acrewood Way, St. Albans AU marquetry. Its vibratory action allows a steel thumb tack, produced in Italy. OJY wide variety of materials to be shaped The major problem with a traditional Energy Facilities Managment Limited, into intricate and accurate designs with a drawing pin is that it has only one single, Bridge Street, Manchester M27 IFJ professional finish. Its unique design central spoke, which must be thick allows it to cut a wide range of materials enough and long enough to hold MacSolutions (UK) Limited, 24 Cliffe Terrace, Keighley BD21 5DP including sheet metal with little risk to whatever needs to be affixed. fingers and it can be easily worked by Consequently the underlying surface Neill Tools, Handsworth Road, Sheffield adults or supervised children. always suffers damage. As the Assa tacks S13 9BR have three prongs to hold, they need be The Electric Fretsaw features a large Science Museum Education Service, reinforced surface with sliding gauge for neither thick nor long and so the underlying surface is hardly affected. Science Museum, Exhibition Road, securing and guiding the workpiece and London SW7 2DD the blade arm is also deeper than that of The upper surface of the tack is larger, other saws, so increasing manoevrability flatter and smoother than a standard Stanley Tools Limited, Woodside, of the workpiece and allowing a large drawing pin, so the pressure required to Sheffield S3 9PD piece to be cut. The controlled vibratory push it in is distributed over a wider area, Wellgate Drawing Instruments, 37 action will cut both solid and hollow plus with the lesser distance to push, Blackwellgate, Darlington, Co Durham materials working at 6,000 strokes a one's thumb is put under considerably DL15HW minute. The Electric Fretsaw comes less strain and stress. The wider, flatter supplied with spare blades and a top combined with the shorter prongs also Wey Adhesives Limited, Unit 2, Miltons balldriver for the blade replacement. A makes the Assa tack easy to remove. Assa Yard, Petworth Road, Witley, Godalming comprehensive range of blades is thumb tacks are £1.28 plus VAT for a box GU85LH supplied by Neill Tools but the Electric of 100. Wilkhahm Limited, The Old Showhouse, Fretsaw is also compatible with other Watermill Way, Merton Abbey Mills, fretsaw blades available from tool and London SW19 2RH hobby shops..