Staff involved:

Ryan Peet (Mathematics)
Keith Last (CDT)
Ian Salisbury (Science)
Geoff Walls (ICT)

Pupils involved: 20 Year 9 Gifted and Talented Pupils

Project title: An exploration of Aerodynamics

Start date: 9th January 2007

Project duration: 10 weeks (1 term)

Lesson schedule: 10 x 40 minute lessons

Project objectives:

1) To give pupils an understanding of the principles of flight through a blended theoretical, practical, cross-curricular and ICT-enhanced approach to learning.

2) To research pupil attitudes towards and experience of the use of ICT in their learning at Bay House;

3) To explore pupil understanding of the extent to which subjects are linked across the curriculum.
                       
Introduction to the Project

Bay House, as a Maths and Computing Specialist School, was keen to choose a topic with scope to challenge its gifted and talented group through the innovative and cross-curricular use of ICT.  The project involves 4 curriculum areas: CDT, Science, Mathematics and ICT and was based around the concept of ‘flight’.  It involves pupils working in teams on a range of practical, theoretical, discursive, competitive and ICT-based activities throughout a 10 week programme. 

Introduction to the Scheme of Work

The scheme of work explores the concept of aerodynamics and, in particular, the design and manufacture of an aircraft wing are completed alongside testing and analysis. Pupils are expected to complete an e-portfolio containing notes, explanations, data, photographs and video, and presentations made.
           
This project was created for the Gifted and Talented Enrichment Programme in Year 9 at Bay House and is taught outside of normal lesson time, but could be adapted for any Key Stage 3 or 4 class. It is anticipated that the first two lessons are covered in a launch event and that a post project event happens to allow for parents to view work, pupil’s presentations given and some feedback given.
           
Pupils will work in small groups and be subject to continuous assessment of a range of key skills including; group work, design, manufacture, analysis, e-portfolio and presentation. The group that receives the highest overall mark may receive a prize and there may be further prizes all awarded at the parents’ evening.

This is a project concerned with ICT and this is at the heart of all pupil work. The following is a list of all ICT tools used throughout the project:

Microsoft Excel – for data and flight analysis
Microsoft PowerPoint – for presentation
Data capture device
DV camera
VidShell/Dartfish
Microsoft Flight Simulator

Lesson Overview

The main activities for the 10 week scheme of work are summarised in the table below (a more detailed scheme is available for download).

Using Pupil Questionnaires

The first questionnaire which pupils completed in Lesson 1 aimed to raise the following questions for discussion among the pupils:

- which subjects at school are most closely linked and why do you think this is?
- how much is ICT used in your learning for specific subjects?
- does ICT help you in your learning?
- in which other subjects do you most use mathematics?
- can playing games help you learn?

View Pupil Questionnaire

The end of project questionnaire will revisit some of these key questions to evaluate the impact that the project may have had on pupil thinking in these areas.