在佛山市霍利斯外籍人员子女学校，我们开设了“设计与技术”学科。这是一门结合了设计、工程和技术方面知识技能的重要学科，具有非常强的实践性，可以帮助学生培养问题解决能力、批判性思维和创造力。

学科老师介绍

(资料图片)

Mr Nestor Benavides

设计与技术学科主任

Benavides先生以设计与技术学科主任一职加入佛山霍利斯。此前，他曾在哥伦比亚、阿拉伯联合酋长国和卡塔尔的学校任职超5年。在上一任工作中，他在卡塔尔的一所英国国际学校担任设计科技学科的中学教师。他擅长设计以问题为导向型的学习计划，确保学生在课堂上不仅能够获得学科知识和技能，还能掌握和提升21世纪所需的社会意识和领导能力。Benavides先生拥有哥伦比亚国立教育大学设计技术专业的学士学位。

Q1

请问您对佛山霍利斯的设计与技术学科有什么目标和愿景？

在预备部，STEAM（科学、技术、工程、艺术和数学）课程能够帮助学生掌握一些基础知识技能，让他们为未来中学部的课程内容和实践做好充分准备。

目前，在设计与技术课堂上，我的主要目标是通过富有吸引力的学科知识和技能，发展学生们的创造力，激励他们去思考和创造，并培养他们的耐心和毅力，因为他们很多时候需要从零开始来完成一个项目。

我们一直给学生们提供充分的设计实践机会，因此我们拥有专业的教室用于图形产品、建模和电子工程，并且配置3D建模软件、3D打印设备和自动化套件等，让学生们能够在最高安全标准的环境下，拥有专业的学习体验。

Q2

对于从未接触过设计与技术学科的学生，您会怎样帮助他们入门和学习这个学科？

在设计与技术学部，我们清楚有一些学生从未接触过这一学科的内容和实践。第一点我们要做的是确保所有学生的安全，这是放在首要位置的。课堂上除了有学科老师任教，还有专业技术人员 Mr Lingard的辅助和支持，他会监督并确保所有工具和机器都在良好和安全的状态下运行。这使任何实践和教学活动都能安全有序进行。此外我们还会与英语语言学习部门合作，给学生们提供英语支持和教学支持，重点是提高语言技能，掌握 IGCSE和A Level考试所需的学术词汇。

设计与技术课程内容充分平衡了理论学习和动手实践，从而帮助学生建立对学科的信心。我们采取“项目式学习”方法，让学生们能够将所学知识应用到实践中，设计和创造出一些有趣的产品。例如最近我们的学生设计了拉力车模型的框架和外壳结构，中间放置一枚鸡蛋，目标是要保护车里面的乘客（鸡蛋）免受撞击的伤害。在实践中，我们用篮球撞击来模拟汽车撞击的效果。

为了吸引学生们的兴趣，让他们对设计与技术有更广泛的了解，我们还会开设一些课外活动项目，例如手工工作坊和绘画，这里面都会涉及设计与技术所需的技能。

Q3

在佛山霍利斯，为什么设计与技术那么受学生们欢迎？

设计与技术是佛山霍利斯的一个热门科目，因为它能够为学生提供自由设计和创造的挑战和机会。学生们需要利用他们的数学、物理和艺术知识技能来解决实际问题。

设计与技术课程内容简介

设计与技术课程能够丰富学生们在设计、开发和制作原型产品方面的经验、认知和能力，让他们意识到设计所关注的并不只是精妙的设计（good design），而且还必须是合适的设计（designs for good），创造出真正能帮助人们解决实际问题的产品。

关键阶段二（3-6年级）

课程重点在于培养孩子们对设计和产品制作的理解和基础技能，培养和提升他们的创造力、问题解决能力和批判性思维。学生们通过跟纸材料有关的实践来学习图形产品，例如纸艺、折纸或技术绘画。

关键阶段三（7-9年级）

学生们进一步发展他们的设计和制作技能，学习新的材料和技术。课程重点是设计和创造功能性产品，以及探索和挑战传统观念。模块主题包括产品分析、电子和工程，展开来说是图形产品（技术制图和包装）、抗性材料（木材、塑料和金属）以及系统和控制（结构、机械和电子）。

IGCSE (10-11年级)

在IGCSE课程中，学生们会学习与产品设计有关的新概念，并选择一个专业领域（图形产品、抗性材料或系统和控制）在考试中展示他们对该领域的知识掌握情况。在课程学习中，学生们将会运用他们的知识和技能来设计和制作一个实体产品，这个过程包括问题分析、设计规范、想法的发展和完善、制定计划、产品制作和根据设计规范评估产品等一系列环节。

A Level (12-13年级)

在A Level 阶段，设计与技术课程将会带学生们深入探讨设计、工程和技术的高级知识，主题包括产品分析、设计理论和可持续设计。学生们需要学习工程制图、包装、建筑材料、结构计算、电路、电子元件等方面更高水平的知识和技能，并按照设计流程制作两个不同的产品。学生们还需要完成自己的作品集，记录每个步骤，展示所有的分析、草图、思考、建模、建造和测试过程。

所有学习设计与技术课的学生们都有机会参加与设计相关的课外活动，例如参观设计咨询公司、展览和会议，和参加国内和国际比赛。此外，学生们也可以参加一系列的校内工作坊，拓展自己对设计及相关学科领域的知识。

先进设施

佛山霍利斯的设计与技术课程经过专业设计和改造，配置了相应的重型桌椅和一系列的工具设施：

绘图工具和辅助工具

学生可以使用全套的尺子、三角板、圆规、量角器、绘图板和切割板、不同类型的纸张、切割机、胶水及其他工具，用于设计和开发图形产品。

耐用材料工具

我们有多种手工工具，包括锤子、螺丝刀、锉刀、不同类型的锯子、夹子、胶水枪、钳子、扳手和测量带，使学生能够使用不同的材料进行学习实践。

耐用材料机器

为了方便对材料进行加工，特别是那些重复性的加工，学生可以使用卷锯、钻头、冲击式驱动器、曲线锯和砂轮机。教室里还有一台圆盘锯、一台带锯、一台铣床、一台打标计算机数字控制（CNC）机器和一台激光切割机。

电子设备

我们有大量的电子零件，包括开关、电阻器、晶体管、二极管、电容器和集成电路，以及不同的电路板和焊接套件。

升学和职业前景

从升学的角度来看，设计与技术是一门结合了设计、工程和技术等多元学科领域的科目。许多大学都提供设计与技术或相关领域的本科和研究生学位课程，如工业设计、产品设计、机械工程和计算机科学。

再进一步看，设计与技术能够为学生提供广泛的职业发展机会。这个领域的毕业生可以在产品设计、工业设计、工程、建筑和其他许多领域开展职业生涯。这些人才的创造力、问题解决能力和技术专长在目前和未来都会受到就业市场的高度欢迎。

2023年6月3日 - 佛山霍利斯

中学部开放日活动

At LEH International School Foshan, Design and Technology(DT) is an essential subject that combines elements of design, engineering, and technology. It is a practical, hands-on subject that helps students to develop problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and creativity.

Meet the Teacher

Mr Nestor Benavides

Head of Design & Technology

Mr Benavides joins LEH Foshan as Head of Design and Technology with over 6 years of teaching experience in Colombia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. In his last position, he worked as a Secondary Design Technology Teacher in a British international school in Qatar. In his classroom, he is dedicated to devising problem-based learning schemes to ensure students acquire not only disciplinary knowledge and skills but also essential social awareness and leadership skills for the 21st century. Mr Benavides holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Design Technology from Universidad Pedagógica Nacional.

Q1

What are your visions for the DT subjectat LEH Foshan?

In the Prep School, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) modules help students develop the fundamental skills and give them the knowledge and understanding they will require to approach the future practices and contents of Design & Technology in Secondary School.

Currently, in Design & Technology lessons, my main goal is to engage subject content and methodologies which will incentivise creativity and motivate students to be thinkers and creators and to embrace the process of creating something from scratch.

We are constantly trying to offer a wide range of design experiences, which is why the department has specialised classrooms for graphic products, modelling and electronics, we also have 3D modelling software, 3D printing equipment and automation kits. This will offer the students the best possible educational experiences with the highest safety standards.

Q2

How do you help new students to engage in this subject, especially those who haven’t been exposed to DT before?

In the Design & Technology department, we are conscious that some students have never been in contact with the type of content and practices that this subject offers. We firstly make sure that all students are safe; the safety of all students is paramount, therefore we make sure the subject teacher has the support of a specialised technician, Mr Lingard who supervises and helps ensure that tools and machines are in good working order, allowing practical lessons to be taught to the highest safety standards. Furthermore, we liaise with the ELL department to offer support and pedagogical support that focuses on improving language skills and developing the academic vocabulary required at IGCSE and A Level.

Lessons are planned to be balanced between theory and practice in order to build student’s confidence. Our Project Based Learning scheme, allows the students to comfortably balance practices and content while creating products that are interesting and relevant for their age. A recent example includes the design of the frame and shell structure of a Rally car model that would try to protect an egg on the inside (simulating a passenger) from a car crash (simulated by a basketball crash).

To engage students and give them a wider experience of D&T approaches we offer Extra Curricular Activities that include crafting and drawing for Design & Technology.

Q3

Why is DT such a popular subject amongst students?

Design & Technology is a popular subject at LEH, because it offers the students the freedom and creativity of design, whilst presenting exciting challenges where students need to use their mathematical, physical and artistic skills to solve problems in a practical way.

DT Curriculum at LEH Foshan

The Design and Technology course aims to broaden the experience, awareness and capability of students to design, develop and build prototype products which are not only examples of ‘good design’ but are in themselves ‘designs for good’, creating products which solve real problems for real people.

Key Stage 2 (Year 3-6)

The curriculum focuses on children"s understanding and skills in designing and making products, it develops their creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Students learn about Graphic Products with experiences related to the use of paper, such as papercraft, origami or technical drawing.

Key Stage 3 (Year 7-9)

Students continue to develop their design and making skills and learn about new materials and technologies. The focuses are on both designing and creating functional products, as well as exploring and challenging conventional ideas. Module topics include product analysis, electronics, and engineering. The three main specialist fields are Graphic Products (Technical drawing and packaging), Resistant Materials (Using wood, plastic and metal) and Systems and Control (Structures, mechanics and electronics).

IGCSE (Year 10-11)

During the IGCSE course, the students learn new concepts related to Product design and choose a specialist field (Graphic Products, Resistant Materials or Systems and Control) to then demonstrate their mastery of the topics presenting an international exam. As part of their course, they follow a design methodology to design, from scratch, a physical product that solves a problem in their known context, during the process they need to identify a need, generate ideas, develop a plan, build and finally evaluate their products to determine the success of their project.

A Level (Year 12-13)

A Level D&T provides an in-depth education in design, engineering, and technology with topics including product analysis, design theory, and sustainable design. Students are expected to learn a higher level of knowledge and skills related to all three specialist fields (engineering drawing, packaging, building materials, structural calculations, circuits, electronic components) to build two different products by following a design methodology. As evidence of their journey, they complete a portfolio that shows step by step all the analysis, sketching, thinking, modelling, building, and testing to ensure the success of their products.

All students studying Design and Technology have opportunities to undertake design-related events such as visits to design consultancies, exhibitions and conferences, and to compete in national and international competitions. In addition, student participate in a range of in-house workshops will help to broaden each student’s knowledge of design and its associated disciplines.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

The students work in a properly adapted design workshop with benches and heavy-duty tables. The Design & Technology facilities can be summarised in four categories:

Drawing tools and aids

With the students have access to complete sets of rulers, triangles, compasses, protractors, drawing and cutting boards, different types of paper, cutters, glues and in general every requirement to properly develop Graphic Products with the students.

Resistant materials tools

We have multiple hand tools including hammers, screwdrivers, files, different types of saws, clamps, glue guns, pliers, wrenches and measure tapes to enable the students to work with different materials

Resistant materials machines

To facilitate processes, especially those repetitive ones, the students can use scroll saws, drills, impact drivers, jigsaws and sanders. The classroom also has a circular table saw, a band saw, a miller saw, a marking Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine and a laser cutter.

Electronics

We have a great supply of electronic parts including switches, resistors, transistors, diodes, capacitors and integrated circuits, along with different boards and soldering kits.

University & Career Perspectives

From a university perspective, Design and Technology is often considered as a multidisciplinary subject that combines elements of design, engineering, and technology. Many universities offer undergraduate and graduate degree programmes in D&T or related fields such as industrial design, product design, mechanical engineering, and computer science.

Looking further, Design and Technology offers a wide range of career opportunities for students. Graduates in this field can pursue careers in areas such as product design, industrial design, engineering, architecture, and many others. These professionals are highly valued for their creative problem-solving abilities and their technical expertise today and in the future.