Implementation
Most of the short-term targets were implemented during 2005/2006, and many medium-term ones instigated during the 2006 summer holidays and largely completed during the first term of 2007.
Display area and resource library
The design area in T8 Metal Workshop seats 24 students
The first change was the creation of a design/research area at one end of each workshop. "Displaying student work and providing an environment where students might be stimulated to think creatively, has long been one of my personal goals."
The areas were situated near the entrance to each workshop and were set up without compromising workshop space. They included normal desks and seating for 24, a library, display areas, and whiteboards. Projectors were placed in the Graphic rooms and used extensively, and were not housed in the workshops until the heavy machining areas had been partitioned off.
For the displays, the aim was to exhibit quality student work – both former student's work and current portfolios – and work by professional designers. Displays could be themed and rotated, featuring different groups as they progressed through the year. The long-term plan was to have interactive display consuls that students could click on and view previous project work and related websites.
Matthew instigated a book-buying campaign to purchase 'top end' design and technology books through Gordon Harris. "Graphics was reasonably well catered for in terms of resources and materials, but Technology was significantly lacking – books were between 10 and 40 years old, in poor condition, unappealing and failed to address the technological process, design function/aesthetic issues, product design, client interaction, modelling and numerous other subjects."
The area was an immediate runaway success. "The display of work and selection of modern visual stimulation dramatically altered the ambiance of both rooms," said Matthew.
"Department staff use the area to engage discussion, debate key words and explore alternative ways of problem solving, and students are increasingly turning to it as a source of ideas and motivation. There is a heightened awareness of the need to discuss function versus aesthetics and mesh these attributes with client preferences and environmental sustainability."
"This success clearly demonstrated to me the need for fully-equipped design suites within the working environment of a technological area, to enhance student understanding of the subject as a problem solving experience, using a wide variety of materials and media."
A new computer suite
Computer suite – 18 workstations.
In another hugely beneficial move, an old archive storeroom between the Graphic and Technology rooms was converted into a computer lab. Computers were first installed on a trial basis, but once it was demonstrated that they would be maintained and the area supervised, more were provided, to total 18 in all, and the existing computers changed for ones with higher specifications to manage the newer graphic programs. The computers were bookable for the department and then subsequently the rest of the college.
Other workshop changes
Both workshops were overhauled and equipment rationalised. The roof was fixed – buckets and bins were no longer required when it rained.
