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science, computing & product design
Design & Technology:
Product Design (3D Design)
When you admire the sensuous lines of a sports car or the
way your mobile phone feels in your hand, you are
admiring the work of a product designer. Innovative
designers, such as James Dyson, can become household
names and create products sold throughout the world.
This course aims to increase your knowledge of 3D Product
Design and to develop your creative and inventive talents.
Operating in two newly refurbished and well-equipped
technology rooms, the course will provide you with the design
skills and technical know-how required to produce new
products to meet everyday needs.
As part of both the AS and A2 courses you will undertake
substantial design and manufacturing projects to put your
skills to the test. Coursework accounts for 50% of both
courses. No previous knowledge of the subject is expected.
What can it lead to?
The course is particularly suited to students wishing to follow a
degree or career in either design or engineering. It is regarded
by most university engineering departments as a useful
subject for students to do along with maths and physics for
entry onto their degree courses. Problem solving skills will help
in many aspects of any future career.
Additional Information
Students taking this subject and intending to follow a career in
engineering can apply for an Arkwright scholarship, worth
£500 over two years. Contact the teacher in charge of
product design via the college for further details by early
January 2013 at the latest.
Computing
Computing is a technical science-like subject with a large
practical element, quite different to the ICT courses
studied at school.
Computing introduces you to programming and its use within
applications. You will develop your programming skills through
a series of engaging tasks and scenarios, whilst also
benefitting from opportunities such as participating in the British
Informatics Olympiad – a great way to showcase your skills.
The course adopts a developer’s approach, meaning theory
elements examine how computers and programs work, rather
than the applications they run. Examples of areas covered
include problem solving, software engineering and networking.
What can it lead to?
A large number of students continue to study computer
science or related courses at university, whilst gifted students
with computer science degrees compete for careers in the
lucrative computer gaming sector. Computing can lead to
employment in the ICT industry or careers requiring modelling
and simulation work; it also provides proof of a logical mind, a
skill valued by universities and employers alike. University
courses combining sciences and computing are becoming
increasingly popular, for example Bioinformatics.
Additional information
This course combines especially well with maths and physics.
No previous programming experience is required however a
natural interest in the area and a grade B in GCSE Maths is
highly desirable. A level Mathematics is recommended for
students considering a computer science or related degree.
The programming you create through coursework represents
30% of your AS qualification.
38 www.kedst.ac.uk admissions@kedst.ac.uk