Teacher notes 1 Welcome to the Alton Towers Resort Design and

Welcome to the Alton Towers Resort Design
and Technology resource
This resource supports the National Curriculum for Design and Technology at Key Stages 3 and 4 as well as
the Diploma in Engineering at Foundation and Higher levels.
Combined with a day at the Park, this resource provides your students with an exciting insight into the
planning processes, structures, mechanisms, systems and controls at Alton Towers Resort. It’s been designed
to bring the subject alive by demonstrating the theory through real life examples found on the rides.
All materials have been developed with practising
teachers to provide school groups visiting
Alton Towers Resort with inspirational work
to complete before, during and after their
visit to the Park.
Contents
Four main topics are covered:
Planning
Structures
Motion/Mechanisms
Systems and controls
For each topic we have provided sheets for students containing
useful supporting information and a variety of exercises/activities.
Using the resource
The Alton Towers Resort Design and Technology resource has
been developed to help you prepare for and get the most from a
visit to Alton Towers Resort. It can be used in a number of ways:
To reinforce topics of study to help students prepare in
advance of their visit.
To provide practical examples using the theme park rides
to demonstrate theory.
To give students exciting ways of exploring key
curriculum strands while at the Park.
To reinforce learning through follow-up work back in the
classroom.
Introduction: Teacher notes 1
In the classroom
The resource is designed to be as flexible as possible. You can
select and adapt the topics and exercises that are best suited to
your students. Whilst the focus is on Key Stage 3, some of the
materials are suited to Key Stage 4 and others can be adapted.
The resource can be used as a stand alone piece for pre or postvisit work, or as the basis of a series of lessons for project work.
At the Park
The ‘Your Visit’ section of the resource is designed to be used
on the day your group visits the Park. We recommend that
you read these in advance of the visit so that you are able to
prepare the class suitably for the after-visit work.
Curriculum links
Developing, planning and communicating
The resource fulfils the following
areas of the Design and Technology
curriculum at Key Stage 3:
Knowledge and understanding of systems and controls
Knowledge and understanding of structures
It provides a good topic for
preparation for the following GCSEs:
The resource also supports study
for the Diploma in Engineering at
Foundation and Higher levels.
Links to other subjects
The resource also provides links to
the following subjects:
Resistant Materials
Product Design
Graphics
Maths
Business and Economics
English
ICT
Art and Design
Science
Useful websites
www.design-technology.info
www.designandtech.com
www.design-technology.org
www.howstuffworks.com
www.technologystudent.com
www.dtonline.org
www.data.org.uk
www.coastercentral.com
www.coasterclub.org
Introduction: Teacher notes 2
Learning objectives and outcomes
Planning
Learning objectives
Learning outcomes
• To understand the main techniques designers use to
generate ideas.
• To understand that things are designed to meet particular
needs/wants and how to identify these.
• To assess products in terms of sustainability and their
impact on the environment.
• To learn how designers use sketchbooks and folios to
record thoughts and design explorations.
• To learn that marketing is an important part of designing
and making a new ride.
• Use one technique to generate a proposal for a new ride.
• Design a questionnaire that will identify the needs/wants of
an age group in relation to a ride.
• Change original proposal in light of results of market research
if necessary.
• Develop and design a name and logo for their ride.
• Design a poster to attract their target market.
Structures
Learning objectives
Learning outcomes
• To recognise different structural forms and how they
support their loads.
• To understand static and dynamic loads.
• To understand the forces that act on structures.
• To understand structural strength.
• To apply this understanding to the rides at Alton Towers Resort.
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Introduction: Teacher notes 3
Identify where forces might be acting on structures.
Identify methods of supporting and reinforcing structures.
Understand triangulation.
Use simple tests to determine the effects of excessive loads.
Learning objective and outcomes
Mechanisms
Learning objectives
Learning outcomes
• To provide students with an understanding that there are
four types of motion.
• To enable students to understand that mechanisms can be
used to change one type of motion into another.
• To recognise and understand the purpose of simple
mechanical control.
• To identify everyday occurrences of the four types of
motion.
• Understand and identify mechanisms that transfer or change
motion.
• Understand that pulleys can control the speed of rotation and
work with velocity ratios.
• Understand that gears can change the direction, angle and
speed of rotation and work with gear ratios.
• Use their knowledge of mechanical systems to design
mechanisms for a stated purpose.
Controls
Learning objectives
Learning outcomes
• To recognise and understand the purpose of simple electrical
control elements, e.g. switches, sensors, motors etc.
• To understand what a system is and the parts that make up a
system.
• To recognise inputs, processes and outputs.
• To understand computer control.
• To understand the importance of feedback.
• Understanding of computer control at Alton Towers Resort.
• Understanding the importance of feedback at Alton Towers
Resort.
• Design own ride including computer control, specifying
inputs and outputs.
• Write their own computer control programme.
Introduction: Teacher notes 4
Your visit
A visit to Alton Towers Resort can be one of the most exciting ways in
which to explore the theories of structures, mechanisms and systems
and controls.
Worksheets 1-3 set students a ‘Planning’ task that could be briefed
before your visit. The task requires them to analyse a chosen
location on the Park and then after their visit, present a proposal
for a new ride and its location. This will enable students to enjoy
the thrill of the rides whilst seeing Design and Technology theories
in action. You could choose to deliver the other worksheets and
information, before or after your visit.
Before the visit
Distribute and discuss worksheets 1-3.
Explain that students need to develop a proposal for a new ride
in one of three Park locations:
•X-Sector
•Forbidden Valley
•The Dark Forest
Explain that during their visit they need to conduct a location
analysis and gather information to inform their ride proposal.
Divide students into groups to conduct the analysis.
During the visit
Students should be encouraged to spend
time gathering information that can
help them decide on a new ride, paying
particular attention to the existing
rides and themes.
You
may also wish to suggest that
students take pictures of the rides
and the area to include in their
proposal.
Introduction: Teacher notes 5
After the visit
In their groups, students collate the information they have gathered, and as a team, generate a design proposal
for a new ride. For inspiration, you could also direct them to the flickr website to see photos showing the
construction of rides such as TH13TEEN and Rita: Queen of Speed. The website can be found at http://www.
flickr.com/photos/altontowersresort/
•At the end of the task, students produce a PowerPoint presentation of their location analysis and ride design
with justification for their choices.
•Presentations should incorporate visual representations of the ride and, where possible, drawing and
modelling in 2D/3D e.g. passenger vehicle, entrance station.
The task can take as much time as you deem necessary and can be extended to challenge more able students.
Further information
We hope you enjoy your visit. Should you need any further
information on planning your visit please call one of our
advisers on 0871 282 5194.
Introduction: Teacher notes 6