Students become engineers for a day

Students took on the role of design engineers in a special Science challenge.

Asked to think about an item they used every day, either at home or at school, they worked in teams to create and design an improved version. The students considered what they liked about their chosen item and what they disliked, and what they could do to make it better.

First, they drew their design, and then built a prototype from a choice of materials. Amongst the items the students chose were a phone case, clothes with built in heat pads, a portable projector and even a humane spider remover!

In each team the students took on the positions of Managing Director, Designer, Marketing Manager and Product Engineer. All the teams gave a presentation of their idea, outlining its purpose and how much it might be sold for.

The judges scored the creations in the style of ‘Dragons’ Den’ and said if there were any they would choose to invest in.

Teacher of Science Dr Thompson said, “All the teams were highly creative with their ideas and came up with innovative products. The event is a very helpful experience to nurture creativity, teamwork and practical skills.”

The event was organised by EDT, the Engineering Development Trust who offer young people active learning experiences in STEM related careers, to help them make decisions about their future.