Paramount to development of initial-teacher education students in Technology Education is the development of student teachers content knowledge and specifically giving them experience to utilise their creative thinking skills to create, develop and communicate their ideas and concepts through student centred learning experiences. Building on skills and knowledge developed in semester 1 this module aims to develop student's mechanical, electronic and design skills and knowledge while developing their ability to communicating their understanding of mechanical systems. Collaboration and teamwork will be promoted when students will engage in pairs to develop and realise a mechanical design project.

Promotion of students' basic bench and machine processing skills. Materials selection. Decorative metalwork. Mechanical design. Specification and identification of springs, bolts, gears, bearings, shafts and other housing components. The development of gear trains. Advantages of helical and spiral gears. Rack and pinion gears. Flat, V, Wedge and Poly V belts and chain drives. Electric motors - types and controls. Design of circuits for simple tasks. Engineering measurement. Standards of measurement. Limits and fits. Interchangeability of parts. Practical applications of stress analysis. Electronic and mechanical simulation software.

On successful completion of this module, students will... Demonstrate an understanding of engineering materials in mechanical design and be able to select appropriate materials in solving analytic project briefs. Analyse the suitability of materials for engineering applications based on material properties such as yield strength, elasticity, conductivity, hardness etc. Develop the ability to apply engineering measurements and specifications in solving suitable mechanical design problems. Demonstrate an understanding of strategic skill development and the rationale for best practice techniques in processing Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamentals of component selection with respect to mechanical design. Apply mathematical and analytical skills in designing solutions to defined project briefs. Demonstrate the ability to design appropriate electronic circuits to perform simple control tasks. Evaluate their own performance and their project solutions using appropriate engineering standards and specifications. Demonstrate the ability to create links with other subject disciplines and to link new concepts and principles to real life applications. Develop project design, planning and management skills.

On successful completion of this module, students will... Appreciate working as part of a project team on assigned mechanical design projects. Develop an appreciation for health and safety practices in the workshops. Appreciate the behaviour of electronics systems and their potential to solve real world problems Appreciate the need to integrate literacy, numeracy and graphicacy into practical craft education.

On successful completion of this module, students will... Demonstrate decorative metalwork skills. Select and use appropriate hand and power tools. Simulate simple mechanical systems and electronic circuits using simulation software Employ appropriate joining techniques. Plan a work sequence for, and manufacture a suitable project to solve the assigned briefs. Demonstrate appropriate safety procedures when working in a workshop setting.

Project and problem based learning will be embraced in an attempt to create a constructivist learning environment for students. Therefore, a series of short analytical problems and projects will be essential to achieving the required discovery learning ethos. Lectures will provide students with the prerequisite knowledge and information on engineering measurement, standards and specifications which students will have to apply during practical sessions in a laboratory/workshop setting.