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1. Technology problem solving

Contents

Prior knowledge

Keywords

Mindmap of the unit

1.1. What is technology?

1.2. The stages of technological processes

1.3. The workshop

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Prior knowledge

Activity: Summarize your general knowledge on this topic. (at least 3 sentences; you can include examples of technological objects).

Keywords

Activity: Copy following keywords, explaining their meaning and translate them into Spanish.

Satisfy our needs

Develop

Properties

Constraints

Labour

Estimate

Report

Safety

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Mindmap of the unit

Activity: Analize and try to understand following mindmap

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1.1. What is technology?

Activity:

Think about the following questions:

  • How do human beings impact their environment?
  • What are the reasons that lead the human beings to create objects and processes?
  • What allows humans to invent them?
  • Does human inventions impact the environment positively or negatively?

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Activity: Copy following scheme and write your own definition of technology.

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DEFINITION

Technology is the practical application of knowledge (science) and skills (techniques) to create solutions which satisfy our needs or solve our problems.

EXERCISE 1: Copy and fill in the following table listing 5 technological objects found in your immediate environment and make big drawings of each of them labelling their different parts.

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EXERCISE 2: Look for information about a Spanish invention and in your notebook write the following information:

  1. Invention name
  2. Inventor's name
  3. Year of invention
  4. Aspects of interest
  5. Shape, dimensions, aesthetics
  6. Number of parts and material
  7. Need which satisfies, risks and alternative objects
  8. How did society resolve this need before?
  9. Environmental impact
  10. Price and where it is sold.

Important: Make a detailed color drawing that identifies the different parts (half page)

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1.2. The stages of technological processes

In Technology we look for a solution to a problem using the technological process which consists of the following stages:

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1.2. The stages of technological processes (continuation)

  • 1) Problem definition: Analyse the possible constraints and study similar cases
  • 2) Search for ideas: Propose one or several solutions and choose the best one
  • 3) Design: Prepare plans and measurements
  • 4) Planning: Choose the tools and plan the construction. Define time frame. Cost estimation.
  • 5) Construction: Build according to the design and planning.
  • 6) Evaluation.
  • 7) Write the final report.

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The final report should have e.g. the following sections:

  • 1) Front page with detailed information
  • 2) Index
  • 3) Objective of the project
  • 4) Design
  • 5) Tools and construction plan
  • 6) Incident report
  • 7) Instructions on how to use and maintain.

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EXERCISE 3: Copy and fill in the following tables:

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EXERCISE 4: Copy and fill in the following table:

Example of characteristics: quick to use, easy to carry, soft, resistant, small enough to hold, easy to draw with, with an hermetic lid, impermeable

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EXERCISE 5: Which of the following elements should be included in the cost estimation of your project?

  • Cost of recycling ,
  • Cost of material,
  • Cost of labour,
  • Cost of tools.

EXERCISE 6: Identify, draw and explain how an object works that can be used to clean breadcrumbs off a tablecloth.

EXERCISE 7: Copy the steps to replace the heel of a shoe, while respecting the chronological order.

a. Put the new heel on the base and press firmly.

b. Spread glue on the base of the shoe and the new heel

c. Cut the edges of the heel to the correct size

d. Remove the old heel with pliers and a cutter

e. Use nails to fix the heel more securely

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EXERCISE 8: Prepare an estimate for a wooden drawbridge based on the following data:

    • Half a plywood board (€ 1,10 each)
    • 300 sticks of wood (€ 0,02 each)
    • one pot of glue (€ 2,10 each)
    • Four hinges (€ 0,25 each)
    • 40 nails (€ 0,01 each) and 16 screws (€ 0,02 each)
    • 3 m of cord (€ 1,00 per 10 m)

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1.3. The workshop

  • In technology we will use three types of rooms that appear in the diagram.
  • We will pay special attention to the workshop rules and teamwork.

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Activities and organisation:

ACTIVITIES:

In the workshop we do two types of work:

1. Academic activities: Listening to the teacher’s explanation, analysing problems, thinking of ideas, designing...

2. Manual activities: e.g. cutting, gluing, sawing, drilling...

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Activities and organisation (continuation):

ORGANISATION:

Working in a team requires a good organisation. Each member of the team will have individual responsibilities that we will rotate throughout the year. These charges are:

1. Coordinator, is responsible for organising the work of each group member in order to achieve efficient teamwork. This person represents the group.

2. Secretary, collects, checks and organises all the written documents from each group member (plans, process reports, estimates, etc)

3. Responsible for tools and materials, collects the material needed and looks after the tools assigned to the team. He or she is responsible for recycling leftover materials, returning tools and storing the project.

4. Responsible for health, safety and cleaning, makes sure that the team follows the workshop rules and that each workstation is left completely clean.

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Parts of the workshop

The workshop consists of:

1. work area with tables,

2. storage room for materials and equipment,

3. storage room for projects

4. area for machines

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1

Technology Workshop – IES Fcº Goya – Madrid (2024)

1st: work area with tables

2nd: storage space for equipment

4th: area for machines

3rd: storage space for projects and material

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1

2

3

4

5

10

8

7

6

9

Technology Workshop – CEIPSO F.G. Lorca – Camarma de Esteruelas (2023)

display cases: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 y 7

cabinets: 5, 8, 9 y 10

1st: work area with tables

2nd: storage space for materials and equipment

3rd: storage space for projects

4. area for machines

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Health and safety rules:

  • Most accidents are due to the human factor. Thus, in order to prevent them, you should know and follow the Workshop rules.
  • You also have to understand and follow these signs.

video

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Always remember:

  • We have to foster sustainable development so that the advantages of the technology do not cause:
    • Overexploitation
    • Pollution
    • Toxic waste

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EXERCISE 9: Copy the following exercises and solve them in your notebook

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EXERCISE10: Copy the following exercises and solve them in your notebook

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EXERCISE 11: Copy and complete the table about signs in your notebook:

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  • Recycling plastic
  • Making paper
  • Processing oil
  • Recycling glass

EXERCISE 13: What types of waste products are produced in your school daily? What can we do to recycle or reuse them?

EXERCISE 14: Write in your exercise book where you can find these objects in your technology workshop: finished work , projector, hammer, chalk and rubber, fire extinguisher, stool, library, wooden boards, motor.

EXERCISE 12: Find out and write down the environmental problems that can come from these processes:

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Example of project:

Project: With a teammate in class, execute the technological process for the following

problem:

You need a desktop object that will help organize desktop stationery (pens, pencils, rubber, ruler, sharpener, clips and headphones).

Constraints:

    • You can only use scissors as a cutting tool and glue as a binding agent.
    • The measurements of the object cannot exceed 20 X 15 X 15 cm
    • You can’t spend more than 1 € for material.

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to measure: carpenter’s square (escuadra de talón)

to hold: bar clamp (sargento)

to cut: backsaw (sierra de costilla)

to lower: rasp (escofina)