Inspired by Industry

Published 6th September 2023

In a bid to rejuvenate the field of design and technology education and provide creative learning opportunities for students, the Design & Technology Association are collaborating with businesses such as Mamas & Papas, Thrive Wearables, Yoto, Scalextric, Salsus, PTC, Elvie, Scalextric, and Mindful Chef to launch our initiative: ‘Inspired by Industry’.

Launching on 28th September 2023, National Manufacturing Day, this new resource offers a comprehensive set of free learning materials specifically designed for KS3 D&T educators and students, aiming to breathe new life into the subject. The materials show how businesses use ‘design thinking’ to ideate new products, which, in turn, can allow students to respond to a real brief taken from within industries and real workplaces.  

The first nine contexts in the suite are free for all. There will be additional member-only content for you to explore.

The move comes after the success of the Association’s newly launched ‘Vision Paper’ in July, which highlights the urgent need for revitalising design and technology in the education system and calls for decisive action to address the decline of this crucial curriculum subject. The subject is estimated to be around four years away from curriculum extinction, and with that said, it is vital that businesses take significant action in showcasing the subject’s significance. 

In collaboration with leading companies spanning the creative, engineering, and manufacturing sectors, we have been working to develop captivating contexts and materials inspired by real-world industry practices, all designed for D&T classroom use.

The objectives of the 'Inspired by Industry' resources are multifaceted:

• Free, High-Quality Resources: ‘Inspired by Industry’ offers free access to all schools, providing enriching contexts and videos. Association members gain exclusive access to additional materials, further enhancing the learning experience. 
• Supporting the KS3 Curriculum: By encouraging students to tackle real-world issues, the initiative seeks to inspire and engage them whilst laying the groundwork for future success in non-examined assessments at KS4 and beyond, all this using methodologies employed by industry professionals. 
• Fostering Interest in D&T Sectors: Each context is presented by industry professionals who explain their problem-solving approaches, offering students a comprehensive glimpse into their work. This firsthand insight is designed to inspire students and spark their interest in design, manufacturing, engineering, and related fields.
• Bringing Industry and Education: The initiative emphasises teaching relevant and practical content. Learning from industry practices can help shape the future of D&T education by equipping students with the skills and knowledge required to thrive in industry and in life.

Today we launch our initial wave of nine contexts suitable for students in years 7 to 9. The units are designed to facilitate progression across key stages and cover various D&T-related areas appropriate for KS3. Each participating company presents a contextual problem they have previously encountered and shares insights into their problem-solving approaches.

Additional supporting curriculum units and materials have been selected to complement the contexts and help you embed them into your curriculum at KS3.

Look out for future webinars, hosted by the D&T Association, where we will delve deeper into how schools can use these resources most effectively with their KS3 aiding the transition to KS4 and the NEA, part of the D&T GCSE.

This is just the beginning. We are actively collaborating with more companies to expand its suite of resources. By the end of the year, and in the coming years, the initiative will introduce further contexts and additional member-only additional resources across various sectors and problem-solving scenarios.

For more information please contact info@designtechnology.org.uk

Keep an eye out for further announcements as more contexts are released.