Very useful Technology website.

http://www.podcastschool.net/ provides excellent resources to enhance delivery for T&D at GCSE and AS/A2 level. Worth a visit.

You're invited

Technology INSET for Teachers and Technicians

We have recently added a number of training events to our calendar for Technology teachers and technicians.  Details of teacher courses can be found on the selb website.  For further info on technician courses contact sharon.mcclelland@selb.org.

CEA GCSE cluster meeting

If your school is following the CEA T&D GCSE specification then you might be interested in attending a cluster meeting specific to this course.  The meeting will be held in the Clounagh Centre on Thursday the 10th December from 9.30 - 12.30.   Raymond Moffatt who is the chief moderator for this course will chair the meeting.  If you are interested in attending please contact patricia.curran@selb.org

CNC provision - update!

We are very pleased to announce the arrival of some very high end CAD/CAM equipment at Clounagh.  In addition to more Roland MDX-40 machines, the Clounagh Centre have now facilities for laser cutting and 3D printing.  These machines are available for schools to use, whereby sending files to Clounagh you can watch the manufacturing process via video conferencing.  Contact us if you are interested in going 3D!

STEM course - 'Embedding CAD/CAM into teaching and learning'

Over the coming weeks the Clounagh Centre will be hosting a series of STEM training events in the above mentioned title.  There has been a lot of interest in this course and from this, the technology team anticipate some very positive outcomes and materials that will be shared with everyone online.  Watch this blog for future developments.

Additional CNC provision

We are pleased to announce some additional CNC provision and machining facilities for schools.  We have had some major developments over the last couple of years reagrding CNC and are very excited about the contribution this is making to the Technology Curriculum.  More details will be released very soon!

Edexcel training event

Mark your calendar for the 18th November if you teach As or A2 Edexcel RMT/product design. The Clounagh Centre are hosting a one day training event for those who are following this syllabus. If you are interested in attending please contact Martin at Clounagh.  Please note there is an associated cost with this course.

STEM - 'Embedding CAD/CAM into teaching and learning'

The Technology team at Clounagh are pleased to announce some upcoming training in the above mentioned title.  If you are interested in this course or want to find out more, click here to go to the application letter.  Watch this space for future developments on upcoming STEM related courses.

The Great Meccano Exhibition & Schools Challenge

This is a fun event in partnership with Meccano (UK) which is organised and run by he Corlust Meccanno Club. They are inviting 6 primary and 6 post primary schools within the Armagh and Down Area to take part in the challenge on the 17th & 18th of October. There is no entry fee or cost involved to the school.

Genie - a revolution in PIC

If you are thinking about programmable integrated chips (pic) then your mind obviously turns to PIC logicator. However over the last few months New wave concepts have been developing the GENIE system.

Films for learning

Films for learning is a website full of very informative and interesting videos regarding a number of subject areas, including Technology and Design. Check out www.filmsforlearning.org

Soldering a PCB

Solidworks 2009

There have been a number of recent inquiries surrounding c2k updates of Solidworks. The good news is that the wait for SW2009 is nearly over.

SELB Exhibition now online.

If you missed it, despair not! The SELB exhibition is now online. All projects that were displayed in the Marketplace Armagh can be viewed by going to www.clounagh.org. Then click on Technology support and resources, where you will find the picture project gallery containing all the photos.

Technology and Design exhibition

The bi-annual Technology and Design exhibition will be held in the Market Place Armagh on the 12th June and will run through to the 18th July. The theme of this year's exhibition will focus on CAD/CAM products and drawings. As previous we would like a contribution from every school so please bring along something on the HoD day. We really want this exhibition to be a great success and we depend upon your co-operation in achieving this. Should you have any questions about the type of product required please contact myself (Martin) or Averil at Clounagh.

Technology Head of Department Conference ‘Raising Achievement in Technology’.

This year's Technology Head of Department Conference will be held on:

Tuesday 9th June 2009 at the Clounagh Centre 9.30 – 3.30
(Lunch will be available)

The aims of the day are:

• To disseminate and promote good practice in Technology and Design
• To identify opportunities for innovation in the Technology curriculum

Further details will be confirmed on the blog later next week.

Health and Safety Training - Milling Machine

From the 26th May to the 5th June the Clounagh Centre will be hosting training on the safe use and operation of the milling machine. The training will be led by Roy MCMaw whom most of you may already know from the centre lathe and cirucular saw courses. There are still some places available. If you are interested and haven't already registered for the course please contact us for more information.

Drumglass College and St Catherine's College STEM Events

Both Drumglass High School and St Catherine's College recently ran a number of STEM events. In linking with local primary schools and outside agencies such as Sentinus, the respective Technology departments were able to deliver a number of high quality experiences and events for all pupils involved. The overall aim of these particular STEM programmes was to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths within post primary as well as primary schools. Bridge building projects, sketching and drawing, hydrogen power awareness and rocket design are just a few of the various events that took place over the second and third terms. If you are interested in running any STEM events in your school, click on the read more link to have a look at the slideshow. For further info contact the Clounagh Centre.

112 working circuits - now online.

Over the years Technology and Design teachers have made great use of 112 working circuits. This is a fantastic resource which was compiled by Maurice Lynch from the WELB. Thanks to Maurice, we have now published these circuits online. See www.clounagh.org/TD section for access.

Make your music public! MP3 player project.

The Technology team at Clounagh have been very busy developing an MP3 speaker dock at a very affordable price. Details of the project and circuit can be found at clounagh.org CAD/CAM - section 16. The cicuit costs less than £1 to make with the bog standard speaker (which you can upgrade). So go on - get rocking!

National Award for St. Colman's College student

James Morgan (Kilcoo), winner of the Young Engineer for Britain regional finals held in the Odyssey Arena Belfast last June progressed to compete against other regional finalists at the ‘Big Bang’ Young Engineers and National Science Competition Fair in London 4th-6th March.
The event is a showcase of the highest level Engineering and Science projects carried out by students throughout the UK and Ireland.

Following three days of intensive judging James was awarded ‘Young Engineer for Britain National Winner for Design, Innovation and Presentation 2008-2009’.
James received a certificate, a crystal trophy and a cheque for £1000. In addition James was awarded a ‘Highly Commended’ prize for outstanding work from the National Science Competition in the technology category.

For his major A Level technology project James designed and manufactured a full size tractor mounted hydraulic power rake to remove large stones from ploughed fields or lawns prior to sowing.
The unit is mounted within a 7ft tractor link box and is powered by a hydraulic motor system. This motor drives a robust system of chain linked steel rakes which dislodge and pull all but the smallest stones into the link box. In doing so the machine also aerates and conditions the soil. The span of the system covers the tractor tyre tracks. The operator can then hydraulically elevate the power rake and tip the stones wherever hard fill is required.

This product was inspired by experience of gathering stones from fields manually and with only slight modifications the prototype should have great market potential. James is researching patents for his design.

As part of his display James presented a short video of the machine in operation. The judges were very impressed with the video and the innovative design of the prototype. James’s confident and knowledgeable presentation under rigorous questioning was another factor in winning the award.

Circular Saw Refresher

A number of teachers are currently involved in circular saw refresher training for Felder saws and bandsaws. If you think you or any member of your T&D department require Felder training, contact the Clounagh Centre for details.

Beginning Teacher INSET at Clounagh

The Clounagh Centre recently hosted training for beginning teachers of Technology and Design. Feedback from the day was very positive. If you are a beginning teacher and were unable to attend you can contact any member of the Technology Team at the Clounagh Centre for information.

Drumcree College - Samples of CNC project work.

Woodturning roadshows

The Ulster chapter of the Irish Woodturners Guild are providing a number of roadshows for schools. The aim of their roadshow is to highlight the process of woodturning, as well as raise the potential for possible use in school projects. A letter for your information as well as an application form has been e-mailed to all schools. Please contact the Clounagh Centre should you require furhter information.

SELB Exhibition 2009

When I mention June it tends to remind us automatically of planes and caravans, but you should really be thinking about Armagh! Yes it will soon be that time again when the Technology community in the SELB wheel out it's finest work for the Technology exhibition, due to take place in the Marketplace Armagh from Friday 12th June to Monday July 20th. Again we would like all schools to participate in this exhibition as a celebration and demonstration of the effort that exists within Technology and Design departments.

Dates announcement.

There are a number of upcoming T&D courses in the second term which you might want to take note of.

Felder refresher Circular saw/bandsaw training will take from the 10th - 13th March and 31st March - 3rd April inclusive. If you have a felder saw in your department you will need to attend one of these training days.


Technology cluster meetings
A number of Technology clusters focusing on KS3 projects will take place from 2-4pm on the following dates. Thurs 19th Feb, Key fobs - an alternative approach. Wed 11th March, mp3 speaker dock. Tue 24th March storage dish.
Letters of invite will be sent out to all schools in the coming weeks.

Top award for local schools

It was a case of 'hats off' for two local schools at a recent prizegiving ceremony at Stormont. Pupils from St Catherine's College Armagh and Newtownhamilton HS were awarded for achieving the highest marks in the UK, GCSE Technology and Design, AQA. The pupils received bursaries, sponsored by Construction skills in Northern Ireland, which were presented to them by David Ford, MLA. We would like to congratulate both schools on this fantastic achievement and wish the pupils the very best of success in their future careers.