Using Techlink Case Studies to Provide Evidence for

Writing Reports

Gabrielle AshtonTeam Solutions, Faculty of Education

The University of Auckland

Where can students gain evidence for written reports• Techlink• YouTube• DVD’s• Experts• The wider community• Library• Books• Magazines……………………………………

• You will present a report about the development of the Te Rewa Rewa. Your report will focus on the knowledge and practices from different disciplines, the collaboration that occurred and the impact that this had on the development of the outcome. You will need to identify people from different disciplines who were involved in the development of the Technological outcome and describe their role (practice)

• Identify the knowledge and practices that were drawn from these disciplines in the development.

• Discuss how these people brought together different knowledge bases and practices and the impact of this collaboration on the development of the Te Rewa Rewa bridge

Synthesizing your research

This case study supplements the generic case study New Product Development at Heinz Wattie's by examining the development of a specific new product.In mid 2002, Heinz Wattie's decided to develop and launch a range of Asian stir fry sauces in-a-pouch under a new sub-brand. The company also planned to develop a range of Asian stir fry frozen vegetables to launch at the same time. Both ranges were aimed at two-person households.

Developing a New Stir-fry Sauce 1.8. 1.9

http://www.techlink.org.nz/Case-studies/Technological-practice/Food-and-Biological/watties-stir-fry/index.htm

•Demonstrate understanding of the ways a technological outcome, people, and social and physical environments interact

http://www.techlink.org.nz/Case-studies/Technological-practice/Soft-materials/smart-fibres/page2.htm

http://www.teonline.com/articles/2008/12/smart-fabrics-the-hi-tech-text.htmlThis link has wide and varied evidence for Smart fabrics

Case studies for 1.9

Generic Technology 1.9Demonstrate understanding of the ways a technological outcome, people, and social and physical environments

interact

• Demonstrate understanding of the ways a technological outcome, people and social and physical environments interact involves:

• describing the social and historical context within which a technological outcome is located

• identifying the people and social and physical environments that are connected to the technological outcome

• describing the successful and unsuccessful ways in which the technological outcome, the people, and the social and physical environments interact.

http://youtu.be/mWfmoUXvHLM

http://youtu.be/bHLtZvbhn2Q

http://youtu.be/Bgn08OMIAG8

http://www.teonline.com/articles/2008/12/smart-fabrics-the-hi-tech-text.html

Demonstrate understanding of the ways a technological outcome, people and social and physical environments interact involves

• Describing the social and historical context within which a technological outcome is located.

• Identifying the people and social and physical environments that are. connected to the technological outcome

• Describing the successful and unsuccessful ways in which the technological outcome, the people, and the social and physical environments interact.

Environmental ConcernsThe future seems to offer

boundless promise for the world of textiles. But enthusiasm about this potential should be tempered by the awareness that sometimes

good technology can turn bad or have unforeseen

consequences……read more in the Tech Link case study

In your report you need to incorporate the following

• describe the social and historical context in which your selected outcome is located - incorporating the need and/or opportunity that the outcome addressed

• explain how and why people interact or have interacted with the outcome – i.e. the key people who played a role in the planning, design and development of the outcome and those who are or have been impacted by the outcome

• explain how and why the outcome and the social and physical environment interact or have interacted

• identify, explain, and discuss both the successful and the unsuccessful ways in which people, the social and physical environment and the outcome interact or have interacted

AS91049 1.6Producing a report (max 14 A4 pages) on how materials enable technological product(s) to function –evidence of:•The composition and structure of materials used in a functioning product.•The performance properties of materials used in a functioning product.•How composition and structure impact upon the way materials can be manipulated.•How the materials used and the way they have been manipulated allow the product to function.•How composition and structure determine the performance properties of materials.•How composition and structure determine how the materials can be manipulated.•How the interaction between the composition, structure and manipulation of materials allow the product to function.

Using a case study from Techlink for 1.6,1.8 or 1.9

http://www.techlink.org.nz/Case-studies/Technological-practice/Soft-materials/smart-fibres/page2.htm

Technological productMerinoPerform™ High Performance Clothing For The Outdoors

• Composition of the materials • Performance of the materials

Composition and structureArrangement of particles that make up the material

Centuries of evolution, aided by selective breeding, havecreated a super soft, high performance Merino fibre with significant benefits.

Material performance propertiesMerinoPerform™ Advantage is a range of bi-component fabrics with unique temperature regulation and vapour management properties, keeping athletes cooler and drier when exercising. Merino Perform ™Advantage Fabric 40 mins Synthetic Fabric 40 mins

23° 24° 25° 26° 27° 28° 29° 30° 31° 32° 33° 34

Key ideas from the curriculum

• Physical nature of materials • How materials can be modified• How new materials are formulated• How materials allow a product to be fit for purpose for

which it was designed

Fitness for purpose

Relies on the material providing appropriate performance properties to ensure the product is technically feasible and acceptable (safe, ethical, environmentally friendly, economically viable etc) – as appropriate to the product

The outside component of Merino Advantage is made of synthetics, possibly viscoseCellulosic fibres like viscose are formed from natural polymers which are then dissolved and extruded as a continuous filament. A common source of cellulose for these fibres is fast growing soft woods such as eucalyptus, which have a harvest cycle of seven years. Eucalyptus is often grown as a monocrop and there are significant environmental issues associated with such plantations, such as loss of biodiversity.

Processing requires external inputs of energy, water and other raw materials and emissions are produced. The cellulose is pulped in a sulphite-based process and then spun, both with significant environmental impacts.

The production of viscose generates emissions to air in the form of sulphur, nitrous oxides, carbon disulphide and hydrogen sulphide. Emissions from the process to water result in high levels of COD and BOD. These emissions are all considered to have major potential for creating environmental problems if discharged untreated.

Nylon is another synthetic that could have been usedHow does Nylon fair environmentally and socially as a material?

•Nylon (or polyamide) fibres are based on a petrochemical feedstock. There are several forms of nylon, in general terms chemicals are combined to form a polyamide salt. The molecules of the two chemicals react under high pressure and heat. The polymer is then extracted and cooled with water.

•While details of the production sequence for nylon fibres are well documented, information or analysis of the environmental impacts appear to be extremely limited. That is with the exception of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from nylon production, which from a single UK site have a global warming impact equivalent to more than 3% of the UK's entire carbon dioxide emissions.

Polyester is a synthetic often blended with natural fibresPolyester is a category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Fabrics woven or knitted from polyester thread or yarn are used extensively in apparel and home furnishings, from shirts and pants to jackets and hats, bed sheets, blankets and upholstered furniture. Industrial polyester fibers, yarns and ropes are used in tyre reinforcements, fabrics for conveyor belts, safety belts, coated fabrics and plastic reinforcements with high-energy absorption. Polyester fiber is used as cushioning and insulating material in pillows, comforters and upholstery padding.

While synthetic clothing in general is perceived by many as having a less natural feel compared to fabrics woven from natural fibres (such as cotton and wool), polyester fabrics can provide specific advantages over natural fabrics, such as improved wrinkle resistance, durability and high colour retention. As a result, polyester fibres are sometimes spun together with natural fibres to produce a cloth with blended properties. Synthetic fibres also can create materials with superior water, wind and environmental resistance compared to plant-derived fibres.

Manipulation

• Manipulation – often involves changing the shape, laminating materials and/or joining them with other materials. Cutting, moulding, knitting, weaving.

FormingBringing two or more materials together to formulate a new material – this will give it a different overall composition and structure to that of the original materials

MerinoPerform™ Advantage fabrics combine the unique high-performance benefits of Merino fibres with synthetics in a bi-component structure. They are knitted fabrics with the inside component made from 19.5 micron or finer Merino, which comprises 20 per cent of the fabric. outside component of the fabric is made from hydrophilic syntheticsm with other materials.

Transformation

• Transforming – changing the structure or particle alignment within an existing material to change some properties (composition stays the same)

Scaffolding Evidence

Description of technological outcome

Performance Properties

Composition and Structure of Material-these determine the properties

How has the material been manipulated to make the product

Discuss how the interaction between the composition , structure and manipulation of materials allowed the product to function

Literacy activity – sentence starters

• A very important performance property is…. This means..

• These properties make it ideal for….as it…• These properties make it a good material to

use in…• Another manipulation that improves… the

function is…• This is possible because it has been

manipulated…..

Assessment - merit

• An answer which demonstrates in-depth understanding of how materials enable technological products to function will explain how the composition and structure of materials determine material performance properties and manipulations that enable product function.

• (Beginning to explain not enough depth for clear connections required.)  

• A Merit answer will be one in which an observer will conclude that there has been a explanation of how the composition, and structure of materials determine performance and manipulation of materials to enable technological products to function

Assessment - excellence

• An answer which demonstrates comprehensive understanding of how materials enable technological products to function will discuss how the interaction between the composition, structure and manipulation of materials enable technological products to function as intended.

• An excellence answer will be one in which an observer will conclude that there has been a discussion of how the interaction between the composition, structure and manipulation of materials enable technological products to function as intended.

http://www.techlink.org.nz/Case-studies/Technological-practice/materials/Pou-Kapua

The Pou Kapua is a remarkable tribute to its carvers. It is also a tribute to the problem solving skills of engineers and especially

Peters and Cheung Ltd. Faced with a difficult and uncompromising medium, they adopted an innovative approach – encompassing the

structural support within the sculpture and making a world first in what is now the

largest application of glued-in-rod connections in timber. Together with the teams who undertook the carving, steel

fabrication, directional drilling, pre-stressing and grouting, they showed extraordinary

ingenuity in adapting their work for this unusual and magnificent kiwi taonga.

Another great case study for 1.8,1.9

http://www.techlink.org.nz/Case-studies/Technological-practice/Materials/Te-Rewa-Rewa-bridge/index.htm

http://www.techlink.org.nz/Case-studies/Technological-practice/Soft-Materials/Secure-Couture/

http://www.techlink.org.nz/Case-studies/Technological-practice/ICT/Digital-Animation-Assembly/index.htm

http://www.techlink.org.nz/Case-studies/Technological-practice/ICT/sidhe-interactive/index.htm

Sidhe Interactive

The Team The nerdy computer geek working alone is not a part of the

modern games environment. Back in the days when video games were just starting out a game was quite frequently put out by one programmer, possibly with a bit of help from an artist. Nowadays this is done in a team situation where good communication skills are essential, because one small slip in an area of the code or animation can hold up the rest of the team and the game's progress. A willingness to learn and keep on learning is another must; the games environment is ever changing and getting increasingly more complex.

http://www.techlink.org.nz/Case-studies/Technological-practice/materials/index.htm

http://www.techlink.org.nz/Case-studies/Technological-practice/Food-and-Biological/Gluten-free-cookies/index.htm