Insights on the NSW HSC Design and Technology, Major Design Project.
Interview with Neil Beck, 5 February 2010
Neil Beck brings over 14 years teaching experience to the subject of Design and Technology.
Having worked in varied contexts both locally and overseas gives him a unique insight into the challenges facing Design and Technology students as they begin and work through their major design projects.
Neil talks to nouspod on some of the trickier and sometimes neglected aspects of the major design project, and provides valuable insights for both students and parents into this enormous undertaking.
Podcast 1 - Neil Beck, background and experience
Neil briefly discusses his background, talks about projects that are particularly memorable, and discusses some of the major challenges facing students such as time management, choice of project and the "need" for their project, and how much motivation is required to get through the project.
| Download | Name | Play | Size | Length |
 | Podcast 1 - Background and memorable projects |
4 MB | 4:20 min |
Podcast 2 - The project proposal, research and evaluation
How important is a good project proposal? Can you change it once you have started? What are some good ways to get good researh happening, and why is this early step an important part of the evaluation process? Neil gives us some insights.
| Download | Name | Play | Size | Length |
|
| Podcast 2 - Proposal Research Evaluation |
6.2 MB | 6:47 min |
Podcast 3 - What makes a good Major Design Project?
Does a project need to be large and expensive? What makes a good, simple project? Neil tells of some good examples that he has seen over the years.
| Download | Name | Play | Size | Length |
|
| Podcast 3 - What makes a good project |
7.5 MB | 8:12 min |
Podcast 4 - Project Management, Why get excited about the project?
Why do some project management methods work better than others? How can students stick to the plan? And perhaps most impotant of all, why should students be positive towards Design and Technology as a subject? What are the possibilities?
| Download | Name | Play | Size | Length |
|
| Podcast 4 - Management and Motivation |
5.1 MB | 5:36 min |
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Neil Beck for making his time available to conduct the interview.
