Moray House students were set the assignment of working in cross disciplinary groups (design technologies and sciences in this case) to create a workshop that Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh could use with S1-S3 pupils.

The dirty side of clean was a workshop developed by:

Kay Conroy – Design & Technology – Project Manager

The programme of work I developed for S1-S3 was designed to fit into seven 60 minute lessons, with the first few set aside as ‘skills builders’ and ‘developing understanding’ tasks.  The latter part of the programme involved students taking part in a ‘Big Task’ and working on a given problem to design a range of sustainable packaging, having been introduced to the big issues.

The project was introduced in a dynamic way by having a 3 or 4 minute presentation where senior pupils pretended to be from the future and to be amazed that our world is so different from theirs.  The actors talked about how they  have limited access to food, energy supplies are low and expensive, climate change has resulted in storms and floods and there is no oil left to run cars or heat homes.  The pupils in the class were then told ‘You don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone.  Save it!’

Before being introduced to the ‘Big Task’ of the project.  The pupils developed their understandings of sustainability and explored their own values and attitudes. 

Liam Ball.

Design Context

Music is an interest which is enjoyed and listened to by the majority of people around the world. Every year there are thousands of music festivals around the globe which attracts people of all ages, genders, origins.

The Flash Music Festival project provided students with the opportunity to become a member of a design teamworking for a local music festival.  The role helped the students to investigate the skills and attributes which occur behind the scenes in the music industry and to contribute to skills which which if they choose to do so, use in further life.

This unit of work was created for sudents in the lower Secondary school (CfE Third/Fourth level) to help expand their knowledge and skills to become designers of the future.

The Flash music festival is based around an interactive case study.  This case study incorporates a central ‘Big Task’ theme and a series of ‘Small Tasks’ which have been devised to help and develop the students skills as they complete the course project. 

Nicola McKeeman