ABBEYnet

Abbey Community College
Wicklow

Technological Subjects Support Site
Link to Abbey Community College Website
       

Contents of the Portfolio

Situation

o This is a description of why you choose the particular project that you did.

For example, your parents would like a coffee table for the living room or you are interested in following a career in building and would like to develop the skills.

Design Brief:

o This is a statement of the task you have set yourself.

For example, design and make a shelving unit to hold my CDs and Hi-Fi system for my bedroom.

Analysis:

o This is a LIST of what you will be required to have when you complete your project.

For example:

  • The coffee table must fit in with the other furniture in the room,
  • It must be suitably low so as to have tea off,
  • It must not be too obstructive in the room,
  • It must have a nice finish
  • etc. etc.

Investigation:

(For the Investigation, break your project up into its constituent parts and consider each part individually, e.g. table legs and top, wall material, sides for press, holder for cds, flooring, roof covering, etc.)

Materials to be used

o List types of materials that could be used for each part of your project:

  • Hardwood, Softwood, Manufactured Board
  • Plastics, Metals, Fabrics, Ceramics,
  • Concrete, Plaster, Paints, Stone, Lead

o Briefly describe each type of material.

o Give a reason why each type would be suitable or not.

Method of Construction

o Describe (draw) different methods of creating your project e.g. carving, veneering, turning, woodwork joints, bonding of brick, types of roof, slate/tile

o Describe different types of construction for the projects e.g: Chimney layout, types of floors or roof, plaster finish.

o Methods of joining the different parts if applicable.

Shape, Size and Proportion

o Ensure that you have the correct sizes of the parts before you start, as you will make your project around these sizes, for example: back boiler, door, window, and books for shelves.

o Describe (draw) different sizes for the project and write a note on each if applicable.

o Draw different shapes for your project and write a note on each.

Finish

o Describe the finishes for the different parts of the project and write a note sentence on each. For example: plaster finishes, paint/ varnish, types of floor finishes.

Designs

o Describe different designs for your project; these should include your own drawn diagrams, diagrams from magazines, computers or books.

Solution

o Complete a working drawing (Technical Graphic) of your chosen project

o Draw an exploded view of your project showing clearly ALL the parts

o Produce a cutting list (length, width and thickness) of all the parts required to make your project.

o List the Materials, Method of Construction, Finishes, Final Design, Theme (if required), Size, Shape and Proportion of your project and write a note on each explaining why you selected as did.

This must be complete before you can begin making your project.

Manufacture:

o Describe (with diagrams) step by step (and day by day) how you make your project

Evaluation:

o List three good points about your finished project and its design.

o List some bad points about your finished project and its design.

o What your would do differently and why

o What you could improve

o What you learned from producing the project

Sources of Information

Teachers - Art, M.T. (wood), M.T.(metal), H.E. etc.

Parents and Family

Friends/classmates

Trades People

Books – Art, Woodwork, Nature, Sport, Colouring Books etc.

Magazines - Art, Woodwork, Hobby, Argus Catalogue, etc.

Internet

Shops and Library – Craft shops, Discount Stores, Furniture Store, Toyshops, DIY

Companies - Write off to different companies for information on their products and services.

 

Presentation:

A diary should be filled in describing what was done that week; students will not remember all the details five months later!

Portfolio pages to be put in folder with Plastic cover without individual plastic sleeves.

Photographs should be used to show progress of the projects

Hand-drawn diagrams make explanations clearer and gain more marks

Diagrams should be in colour drawn in pencil and text written in pen.

Each section is allocated marks and therefore the portfolio must contain:

(1) The Design Brief, (2) Analysis, (3) Investigation, (4) Solution, (5) Manufacture, (6) Evaluation

Portfolios do not need to be typed but the writing must be CLEAR and NEAT and in the correct order.

Keep a record of where you went, what you got (or didn’t) and keep a copy of correspondence.

Avoid gathering irrelevant information