TAW run numerous projects which aim to build links between education and industry by providing training or opportunities for students to get real experience of the design or engineering industry.
Our current projects are listed below. Please get in contact if you would like to know more about any of our projects or if you would like to get involved.
F1 Challenge
The project involves designing and making a model F1 racing car powered by a CO2 capsule. TAW has liaised with the national organisers to involve Welsh schools and there are two regional finals, one in the north at Bangor University and one in the south at the Swansea Waterfornt Museum. The best teams from schools take part in these finals and, if successful, they can go forward to a UK final at the Autosport event in the NEC. From the UK championships the winners can go to the international finals to represent Wales. Teams from Ynysawdre school near Bridgend have been to Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur in this capacity.
CAD drawing of the new car from BLAZE of Ynysawdre School.
The activity involves a full range of learning opportunities and all six key skills can be accredited through participation.
Elements of real car design are involved in:
• Producing concept idea
• Drawing the car using sophisticated parametric CAD software
• Fitting wheels and axles which have minimum friction
• Designing the car colour scheme and placing sponsors logos
In doing this, team work will be essential to design, make and assemble the different components. The group can decide on the tasks that have to be accomplished and will need to organise themselves to produce a plan to design and manufacture the car. Once the designing has been completed tasks need to be allocated to:
• Produce the CAD drawings
• Seek sponsorship
• Manage the remote production of the car
• Produce a summary of their work and present it to judges
• Test and adjust the car
• Race the car
These tasks require overall project management and there will also need to be quality control built in at appropriate stages.
The project can develop a range of skills including:
• Team work
• Team leadership
• Problem solving
• Communication skills
• Quality control
• Planning
• Key skills of numeracy and ICT
• Basic hand manufacturing
• Aesthetics
It also develops understanding in the areas of:
Science
• Aero dynamics
• Gas as a power source
• Friction
• Materials
Mathematics
• Measuring
• Estimating
• Distance/Time and Speed
• Mass and density of materials
• Costing
Engineering principles and skills
• Aerodynamics
• Wheels and axles
• Interference and clearance fits
• Friction
• Materials understanding
• Marking out
• Hand manufacturing skills
• Fitting and assembling
• CAD and CAM
Primary F1
TAW initiated a small pilot with primary schools in 2006 and 2007. This was so successful that a larger number were included in 2008 with funding secured from the higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCfW) as part of a larger project to encourage pupils to take up engineering in Higher education. 500 primary pupils participated and some schools went forward to a UK final to compete against schools from other regions of the UK. The integrated learning that takes place through this motivating context has been recognised as a powerful addition to the primary curriculum.In addition, pupils have experienced the excitement that can come from engaging with a hands on engineering activity.
The Scalextric4Schools challenge is a curriculum project developed by PTC and Scalextric to use Pro|ENGINEER 3D parametric modelling software to create a 1:32 scale racing car. After studying the physics of car performance, students will have the knowledge and understanding to redesign a car before manufacturing and testing it. A series of competitions are planned giving the opportunity to race cars against those designed by students from other schools.
Scale models Most slot cars are designed to a scale of 1:32. This means a car 4 metres long in real life will be 125mm long to this scale. There are tutorials available on the Scalextric4Schools web site that shown how to transfer sketches into Pro|ENGINEER and trace around them to create the shape of a car.
Students are invited to design and make a slot car based around a standard design chassis. Models should be to a scale of 1:32 and comply with the rules. After designing and making a car it can be tested on any Scalextric track, and will even work on old track which many homes have stored away.
http://www.scalextric4schools.org/curriculum
The Sports Car Challenge is a class of the F1 in Schools competition with the brief to design and manufacture a compressed air powered model GT sports cars.
The process follows closely the real life process that Engineers in automotive companies such as Jaguar follow, i.e. sketching, modelling, scanning / digitising, analysing, making, testing and racing.
Student teams compete against each other in regional and national championships to determine the best designed and engineered sports car in the UK. It is just like being in a real automotive design and engineering team.
http://www.f1inschools.co.uk/page--gt-in-schools.html
Aerospace Wales Activity
TAW is working with Aerospace Wales to develop a curriculum activity to encourage an interest in aeronautical engineering. More details will be posted in the near future.
Pro|ENGINEER Wildfire Training
In partnership with PTC, the Technology Alliance Wales has secured Pro/ENGINEER software for the schools in Wales. Trainers have been trained by Tim Brotherhood of PTC and are running courses at our training centres. If you wish to be trained in the use of ProE and become an accredited user then contact us. As part of PTC’s unique commitment to education, accredited users obtain a 300 seat site license of Pro/ENGINEER for their school. This license also includes free home use for students.
Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales
The Technology Alliance Wales has been working with the Welsh Assembly Government’s Credit and Qualifications pilot to accredit students work undertaken with the Engineering Education Scheme in Wales (EESW) and the F1 Challenge. Students in schools in the pilot areas (Powys, Flint and Wrexham) have gained credits for their work awarded through the Open College Network (OCN). The Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales (CQFW) enables all learners to gain recognition for their achievements, including full qualifications, partial achievement of qualifications, and awards for other learning achievements. Recognition of all forms of achievement facilitates lifelong learning and can enable progression toward personal, educational, employment or other aims.
Key Skills
TAW has been working with the WJEC to develop guidance on accrediting Key Skills through participation in the F1 Challenge. A document is available to explain how this can be achieved. This and further information can be obtained by contacting :
bryan.davies@wjec.co.uk
From 2010 Key Skills in Wales will change to Essential Skills Wales.
Essential Skills Wales is the new suite of skills qualifications which will replace the current Key Skills of Communication, Application of Number and ICT, and the Basic Skills of Adult Literacy, Adult Numeracy and Skills for Life ICT.
This new suite of skills qualifications will be implemented from September 2010. From that date, Key Skills and Basic Skills will no longer be available in Wales.
Essential Skills Wales is a suite of skills currently consisting of three different skills qualifications. In due course and following revision, the suite will also include the current Wider Key Skills of Improving Own Learning and Performance, Working with Others and Problem Solving. Qualifications are available from entry level 1 through to level 4 in:
Communication;
Application of Number; and
Information Communication Technology.
KS3 Project
Using funding provided by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) the Technology Alliance Wales has designed a curriculum package for KS3 pupils to encourage an interest in engineering. The package includes teaching notes and materials for a series of structured lessons focussing on a range of engineering activities. If you are interested in introducing engineering activities into your KS3 schemes of work contact us.
Work samples: Gear ratios , Car design
