Course Catalogue

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This course provides an opportunity to learn about the nature of a range of materials common to engineering and technology from more traditional materials through to modern smart material systems.

Weekly: one hour lecture; one hour tutorial or one hour materials testing lab.

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1. 1200-word Materials Investigation (individual): 70% of overall grade

2.10-Minute Materials Presentation (individual): 30% of overall grade

The aim of this course gives an overview of common materials used for product manufacture and engineering. The course supports students to understand the structure and properties of materials, how these influence design, as well as the manufacturing processes associated with the given materials.

This course enables students to have the knowledge to meet the GTCS Standard for Provisional Registration as follows:

2.1.1 Have knowledge and understanding of the nature of the curriculum and its development

2.1.2 Have knowledge and understanding of the relevant area(s) of pre-school, primary or secondary curriculum

2.1.4 Have knowledge and understanding of contexts for learning to fulfil their responsibilities in literacy, numeracy, health and wellbeing and interdisciplinary learning

3.1.1 Plan coherent, progressive and stimulating teaching programmes which match learners' needs and abilities

3.1.2 Communicate effectively and interact productively with learners, individually and collectively

The course will also develop the following graduate attributes: Subject Specialists; Investigative; Resourceful and Responsible; Confident; Adaptable.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Demonstrate understanding of the basic structure and properties of materials and the importance of these in design.

■ Explain the nature of materials and their behaviour under load and identify which properties of materials are relevant in a range of contexts.

■ Investigate the properties of one material and justify its use in a product, comparing its properties to other appropriate materials.

■ Explain the nature of: common steels and alloys, plastics and composites, and smart materials.

■ Communicate clearly in appropriate technical language.

■ Demonstrate appropriate numeric and problem-solving skills.

Students must have an 80% attendance or better at all timetabled classes. Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment. Students must achieve at least a D3 grade.