ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the properties of a range of materials commonly used in the teaching of design and technology in secondary schools. These include woods, polymers, metals, composites and smart materials. Each material is considered in terms of source, possible uses and their positive and negative impacts. This chapter examines the tools and processes associated with using different materials to produce final outcomes.
This chapter also considers the detail and depth of knowledge required at secondary school level and makes a number of suggestions about how to approach the teaching of materials technology. There is also a brief discussion on the assessment of materials technology at secondary school level. Finally, there are suggested resources that would be very useful to a student teacher to help them become more familiar with the range of materials available to designers and manufactures.
