Through inclusive education this module will develop advanced manufacturing processing techniques for wood and composite based materials. Student's knowledge and skills in the context of global citizenship education will be developed to add value to wood as a manufacturing material in creative crafts and computer-aided manufacture. Through a design for context activity the properties, advantages and limitations of wood as a manufacturing material will be explored. Cognisant of safety, best practice and principles, students will explore how modern wood processing and jointing techniques can be utilised to promote the use of wood in competition with other materials. The module will examine how the properties of solid wood and wood-composites influence product/component creative design. Students will experience the complexities of creatively designing with wood through a series of tests and experiments that will examine the suitability of the material for the end use environment.

Mechanical Properties of Wood: Natural characteristics, knots, rate of growth, slope of grain, elasticity. Grading: Strength classification, visual grading, general structural and special structural grading parameters. Effects of machining and service environments: Moisture Content, Temperature, Deflection, Fatigue. Jig and template design. Radio-frequency bonding; mechanical and chemical bonds. Glues and adhesives. Computer-aided manufacture and comparison power tool technology. Strategic planning for manufacture and assembly of creative artefacts/components. Programming and operation of CNC equipment. Projection systems, and data transfer from CAD systems. Design, realisation and testing. Physical and virtual (CAD) modelling of creative solutions. Ecological impact of materials properties and performance, and processes. Analysis of the application of these technologies in the second level school setting.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: • Explain the factors that influence the mechanical properties of wood and wood composite materials. • Analyse the in-service requirements and performance for a product or component that will be manufactured from wood or wood composite material and apply knowledge of material properties and characteristics to formulate a design specification. • Select or create appropriate modelling/prototyping/testing activities that will inform and evaluate the effectiveness of a design solution. • Explain the operating principles of computer-aided manufacture machines and determine the appropriate application of computer-aided manufacture and comparable power tool technology in wood processing. • Describe how computer-aided technologies can benefit learning and development of students in second level technology subjects with respect to creativity and reflective practice, inclusive education and global citizenship education. • Appropriately select and apply a range of advanced manufacturing technologies to address a real-world problem. • Communicate the development of conceptual and practical design skills through the realisation of creative and innovative solutions to problems.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: • Integrate knowledge and skills with qualities of cooperative enquiry and reflective thought to develop creative solutions for real-world problems. • Students will demonstrate and understanding of the impact of material selection and manufacturing process on health and safety, and environmental sustainability.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: • Design and manufacture a creative solution to real-world problem through the exploration of computer-aided manufacture and comparable power tools. • Select and operate machines, machine tools and machining processes to manufacture a product in a safe, accurate and efficient manner.

The module will foster appropriate learning environments, including digital that support the development of student teachers' ability to provide for the learning needs of all pupils. The module will be taught using traditional lecture format supported by demonstrable integration of learning through extensive laboratory experiences. Practical laboratory sessions will initially focus on a flipped classroom approach fostering an autonomous professional to enrich the intensive instruction on the safe use of application of computer-aided manufacture and comparable power tools. This module will develop student's capacity to engage in problem-driven learning to produce creative solutions using computer-aided manufacture and comparable power tools. Students will examine a range of artefacts, materials or systems and propose an alternative design that could be fabricated from wooden material. Through iterative reflection students will engage in design thinking, such as analysis of a product or component identifying the key consideration for in use performance.