Andy Davies

Varndean has an extremely large conference room. It has a whole suite of computers, a smart board, Internet access and a full time network manager. The catering is considered to be very good and the coffee is the best in Brighton. Drawback, there are real students outside the room, who are on the whole probably not as wholesome as the students in the IST.

Seems fine to me.

I am personally in favour of IPods. How about we create Pod Cast facilities. We may consider downloading both video and sound. The proposed website could offer Pod casting? Most of our students are really into this type of technology.

Is anyone intending to commission content to other colleagues working in their educational establishments? If this is the case do you think it is fair that they should be paid for their time. They may not accept travel and a very good quality hotel as an acceptable fee. They may prefer cold hard cash?

290 euros a day. I will let you know later about the number of days. As lead partner we will be willing to take care of the administration.

Could each institution please post the following: (1) Full legal name of the institution in the national language: Varndean School (2) Acronym of the institution, if applicable (3) Full name of the institution in English (formal or informal translation) Varndean School (4) Type of institution code:EDU.3 (5) Erasmus ID code, for Higher Education Institutions only (6) Website http://www.varndean.co.uk/ (7) Is the institution able to recover VAT? Yes (8) Postcode BN1 6NP (9) Town/City Brighton & Hove (10) Country code UK (11) Region code UK 12 Telephone: +44 01273 561281 Facsimile: +44 01273 564614 Contact: school@varndean.co.uk Contact Person: Andy Davies Email: andydavies@varndean.co.uk --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I agree.

Biography My name is Andy Davies. Until the recent closure I coordinated the European Virtual School, Design and Technology Department. I host three websites, 'Design Technology Department', 'Midhurst Grammar School' and the 'Design and Technology' site of the 'ATW'. I have recently been appointed as Assistant Headteacher at Varndean School in East Sussex moving on from Midhurst School in West Sussex where I worked as the E-Learning Coordinator, Gifted and Talented Coordinator and subject mentor. I teach Design/Technology and ICT. I previously worked as an educational consultant for Learn Premium where I was employed to create all of their Design and Technology online resources. I have produced learning resources for a range of different organisations including DfES, Electronic Telegraph, ‘Teachernet’, WJEC, BECTA and over the last few years Birchfield Interactive. I was a Head of a Design and Technology Department in a West Sussex School for four years and have also served as a Head of Year. From 1994-1996 I was the Principal Examiner for N.D.T.E.F (National Design Technology Educational Foundation).

I have been a stranger to the forum for quite some time. I hope to be back on board. Here is my information: Participant: Andrew Davies Institution: Varndean School Country: G.Britain Town: Brighton <{POST_SNAPBACK}> website: Design and Technology department biography: See Attachment

Our forum appears to be a success. It is quite interesting that very few members of staff actually contribute but nevertheless the students have taken charge, posting quite stimulating topic discussions. Our Governors appreciated the forum presentation and for some of them it was the first time they had ever experienced a forum. Most of the postings were both basic and simplistic in the early days but the level of sophistication has altered with many of the older, mature students leading by example. We intend to use the school educational forum with our student teachers. The professional mentor intends to post a discussion topic at the beginning of each week. It also acts as an information board enabling information to be communicated in a much more efficient way.

This truly amazing. I have never seen anything quite like it before. My son (age 4) and I spend many an evening creating simple lego models. This is certainly something to aspire to. Thanks Andrew if you find any more gems like this one please send them along. On a different subject did you ever manage to find a Design and Technology Key Stage 2 teacher who is prepared to assist me with the Virtual School Design and Technolofy site?

Hi David At last I met the great man. Thanks very much for showing us your wonderful department. Most British Design and Technology teachers would be envious. It is quite obvious that you have put in a great deal of effort and time in making the department as successful as it is. What you really need is the support of an enthusiastic technician. I think the school owes a great deal to you. I hope we manage to work together in the future and that your examination results are a success this year. Andy

I would like to thank Richard and his team for all their hard work in making the Toulouse visit possible. How you ever managed to arrange the VIP visit to the Airbus we will never know. The minutes of the meetings and few images of the visit have been sent to Chui. We should be able to see them soon on the Design and Technology Homepage.

Hi David I am looking forward to visiting you in Toulouse next month. I hope that we will be able to add your contribution to the Aviation Section of the D and T site very soon. Do you think it would be best until we meet at Toulouse before adding your content or are you ready to send me a link to the work produced so far? As far as I know other departments in your school are also creating content based around the Aviation theme. Look forward to hearing from you Andy

As some of you are aware I have recently (with the help of some very able ICT students) developed a school forum for our gifted and talented students. In tonight's meeting we asked students to register, login and choose an avatar. I was shocked at how many students and members of staff had never used a forum before. The concept seemed quite alien to them. The use of the G and T forum in our school should prove to be quite an interesting experiment. All I need to do now is to convince senior management of the advantages of using such a forum.

Hi David I currently teach Design Technology AS and A2 (AQA). The syllabus allows a great deal of flexibility. The syllabus provides lots of scope for Product Analysis, sketching, problem solving (A3 and A2). The theory is relatively simple at AS level as the students study 'Materials and Components' and 'Design in Society'. It is slightly more difficult than GCSE. They are expected to produce coursework consisting of a folder and a model/prototype. In A2 they produce a Product Study, sit one exam (a combination of Materials/Components and Design in Society) and coursework consisting of a folder and a prototype. The amount of marks given for the project have been significantly reduced. The theory is of course at a much higher level and allows us to concentrate on the history of Product Design. The IB Design Technology seems interesting. I would like to know more about it. Andy D

We are currently setting up a forum for our G and T students. They are invited to access the forum during lunchtimes, breaktimes and after school. We hope that a member of the teaching staff will offer a question or topical issue at the start of each week for the students to discuss. We also hope to extend the forum to our student teachers. This international forum adds a new dimension. Count us in.

Has anyone seen the aviation work created by Nick Falk. It includes some very interesting animations. I believe he has used Flash. The lessons may prove to be of some use to anyone who intends to teach aspects of aeronautics at Key Stage 3 and environmental pollution at Key Stages 3 or 4. Please see the link below. http://www.btinternet.com/~n.j.f/OIL2/

Well-done Nick and thanks for your support. The work is both imaginative and informative. I like the Flash. An ideal Key Stage 3 resource. For those of you out there who do not know where to find the cross-curricular aviation project please press on the link below. http://vs.eun.org/eun.org2/eun/en/vs-Desig...cfm?id_area=992

The Midhurst Grammar School Website address may be found below. Some of our pages still lead to 'Under Construction' but the content grows each week. The RE and Photography Departments are just about complete. There is a link to the Gifted and Talented section from the homepage. I work with one department at a time and have some assistance with administration. There are certain secure pages which you will not be able to enter unless you have the password and username. These pages are exclusively used by teachers and pupils. http://www.midhurst-grammar.w-sussex.sch.uk/ I manage to mentor 2/3 students per week. I do not have a tutor group and have one protected G and T period per week. During each mentoring session I fill in an Individual personal programme. The students and I negotiate activities, targets and deadlines. I hope to see each student twice a year. Each student has negotiated individual tasks and activities apart from three students who together create the student's section of the school website. The whole mentoring process proved to be difficult at first but I have managed to recruit a few enthusiastic members of staff to help me and become mentors. I hope to have a team of at least 10 mentors by the end of the year. I see myself as a coordinator. I could not possibly develop the programme by myself. It is a team effort. We are fortunate in that West Sussex is quite progressive with regards to the Gifted and Talented and offers a variety of courses and after school sessions for G and T Coordinators.

As part of my responsibilities I am both the E-learning Coordinator and the Gifted and Talentented Coordinator. The role of E-Learning Coordinator is not new to me but I have only coordinated the Gifted and Talented programme since September 2003. We are a average West Sussex Comprehensive School and as such we do not benefit from any Government funding such as the 'Excellence in Cities' budget. I have attempted to gain funding for the Gifted and Talented programme from various sources but have so far been unsuccessful. Without any financial assistance we have made great progress since September. Gifted and Talented Development – September 2003 - January 2004[/b] 1. We have written a whole school Gifted and Talented Policy which has been accepted by both teachers, governors and parents. 2. We have identified and compiled a central register of Gifted and Talented students. 3. Letters have been written in order to obtain parental permission for students to be mentored and placed on register. 4. Students are regularly mentored (3/4 per week). We negotiate individual progress plans. Students create portfolios of best work. 5. A team of mentors is currently being recruited from most subject areas. 6. Students have been placed onto county courses (Art and Design). 7. A Gifted and Talented website has been set up. 8. The Art Department are currently running a course after school in digital photography and portraiture. 9. The Business Department are currently running a ‘Pro-share’ competition for G and T students. 10. Underachievers have been identified and a breakdown has been sent to all members of staff. 11. An updated G and T list has been sent to all HOD’s and has been placed in both staffrooms. 12. Some Departments have written their G and T policies. These may be found on the G and T pages of the school website. 13. A forum is being developed in school for G and T students. Students may enter the forum in lunchtimes, break times and after school. The forum will be managed by three G and T students, the Network Manager and myself. 14. Whenever possible I meet with HOD’s to discuss development of differentiated work for G and T students, differentiated homework, enrichment and extension of current schemes of work. 15. An Inset for Heads of Departments has been provided at the start of the term. At the moment I have one protected period per week in order to coordinate the G and T Programme and a budget of £800 for the whole financial year. The budget is used to pay to resource school library with suitable resources for G and T students and for setting up the forum.

The Design Technology Department was established in 1998. Its aims were to provide free educational content for schools and colleges. The site is continually growing and will eventually offer teachers and pupils, materials for all of the Key Stages. The website contains interactive quizzes, GCSE and A level revision materials, handouts, GCSE Resistant Materials/Product Design, AS and A level resources, schemes of work, packaging, famous kite designers, structures, examples of pupils work, furniture design, inventions, department policies, assessment systems and links to educational and commercial websites. http://www.design-technology.org/

My name is Andy Davies. I am currently the coordinator for the European Virtual School, Design and Technology Department. I host three websites, 'Design Technology Department', 'Midhurst Grammar School' and the 'Design and Technology' site of the 'ATW'. I teach Design and Technology and ICT and am also the E-Learning Coordinator and Gifted and Talented Coordinator at my school. I have recently become a subject mentor. I previously worked as a self employed educational consultant for Learn Premium for two years where I created all of their Design and Technology resources. I have produced electronic and online resources for a range of different organisations including DfEE, Electronic Telegraph, ‘Teachernet’, WJEC and BECTA. Previous to working for the Guardian I was a Head of a Design and Technology Department in a West Sussex School for four years. From 1994-1996 I was the Principal Examiner for N.D.T.E.F (National Design Technology Educational Foundation) and a Head of Year.

I am currently the coordinator for the European Virtual School, Design and Technology Department. The DT Department, Science Department and History Department recently met in Madrid. One of our aims was to decide upon a common theme for a cross-curricular project. We chose 'Aviation'. Some of the delegates have already created content based upon this theme, which may be found on the Design and Technology Department of the Virtual School. Are there any Design and Technology experts who would like to contribute to this joint venture? You may consider producing materials based on any aspect of aviation. Your contributions would be greatly appreciated. Your work will be linked to the site and a full credit given. Thanks

And what is wrong with shameless self promotion. I do it every day Andy. Unfortunately it is not free but the best software I have ever used must be the Focus CD Roms. Focus on Plastics, Design, Knockdown Fittings, Materials and of course the best of all Resistant Materials 2. They are bringing out a CD on metals. The company have gone from strength to strength over the years. Focus also produce software for Science. The software really helps all students ranging from Key stage 3, 4 and A level. It is so easy to use. It is well worth the money. Apologies if you all are aware of the software and have been using it as long as I have. Andy Davies www.design-technology.org