ABSTRACT
Learning design and technology helps to prepare young people for living and working in a technological world. It does this by teaching the technical understanding, design methods and making skills needed to produce practical solutions to real problems. Good learning in design and technology means that pupils continuously apply and extend their knowledge, understanding and skills when designing and making good quality products. They investigate the capabilities of different materials, use an increasing range of techniques, processes and resources confidently and show creativity in designing products to meet particular needs. In considering ways in which pupils can learn in design and technology, it is helpful to think about activities that help to develop their knowledge and skills. The national curriculum in England describes suitable learning opportunities as those in which pupils 'analyse products', 'undertake focused tasks' and 'engage in design and make assignments'; curricula or guidelines in other countries are likely to contain similar terms.
