|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
| |
|
Implementation
of PIC Technology into Design & Technology
Syllabi at KS4 |
|
|
| |
 |
School: Lancaster Girls'
Grammar School |
|
Fellow: John Cook |
|
Email: jcooklggs@hotmail.com |
|
| |
|
| |
Final report |
| |
|
| |
The fellowship was to look at “Successful
Implementation of Peripheral Interface Controller
(PIC) Technology into Design and Technology
at Key Stage 4”. My proposal, back in
January 2001, had three areas and criteria
for study. |
|
|
| |
| 1. |
To identify the strength
of the PIC Systems available for educational
use, and select three widely differing
systems which would be capable of meeting
the needs of most of the Design and
Technology Departments in the country.
|
| |
|
| Criteria 1:
Select three systems which cover the
very basic to the highly sophisticated.
|
| |
|
| |
I identified three systems - |
| |
|
| |
- TEP Chip Factory -
capable of being used without a computer.
- Economatics - follows a logical path
from the successful Logicator Programme.
- ICON Soft Electronics - uses ladder
logic in an easy, well-presented manner.
|
| |
|
| |
All these systems require initial
investment of a few hundred pounds to
set up, and requires a programmer. During
the year there has been the launch of
PICAXE last November. As mentioned in
my interim report PICAXE will appeal
to all schools as its low cost to set
up, a few pounds, and the ability to
programme chips whilst on the pupils’
projects mean pupils can take the software
home to programme via their own PCs. |
| |
|
| 2. |
Trial each of the three systems with
our Year 11 Systems and Control Groups
and incorporate the PICs into their
GCSE Coursework. |
| |
|
| Criteria 2:
Have successful outcomes for each system
with a variety of inputs and outputs
(particularly electromagnetic devices).
|
| |
|
| |
Only two systems, Chip Factory and
PIC Logicator, were trialled by our
Year 11 pupils. I have, however, thanks
to Andy Cooper, been able to include
programmes for comparative study of
ICON. All 52 pupils have produced successful
outcomes using PICs and no problems
were encountered with either programming
system. I have visited three schools,
one using PIC Logicator and two using
ICON, and have been very impressed with
their outcomes. |
| |
|
| 3. |
Produce Case Studies for a selected
number of projects so that other teachers
could replicate our work in their schools
with their pupils and produce successful
outcomes. |
| |
|
| Criteria 3:
Pupils produce successful outcomes for
GCSE Coursework with each of the three
systems. |
| |
|
| As I have
already mentioned, all our pupils have
successful outcomes and I have used
some of our projects to show the potential
of PICs at GCSE level. At the outset
I was concerned about the different
systems available and problems that
may exist. I am pleased to report that
I have encountered no real problems
with any system, just the opposite,
they all work remarkably well, given
that there are some programming limitations.
|
| |
|
| On reflection
over the past 3 years, the problems
have not been of system nature, but
more producing hardware, circuits that
work. I have, therefore, formalised
the work we have been doing onto a CD
that will take teachers from basic circuits
to producing PCBs using a modular approach,
and then a look at the various programme
systems with exemplar programmes. |
| |
|
| The final
section is Pupil Outcomes. I have used
projects from our school which have
the common context of “Security”
and tried to show the diverse range
of outcomes that can be produced, but
remain manageable, and also the work
of three other schools whose staff and
pupils have produced some stunning work.
|
| |
|
| I intend to
disseminate my work as follows:- |
| |
|
|
| |
|
to the Technical Director,
Dr Peter Branson, of the Marconi ECT
Initiative; |
|
to the 34 Marconi ECT trainers; |
|
of the material may be published freely
in any of the teacher journals; |
|
copies of the CD will be sent to named
personnel at the three examination boards,
with free use of material at their regional
meetings; |
|
last year I was invited to present
my work on the TEP stand at the NEC,
and I would hope to do the same this
year giving away CDs of my work. |
|
| |
|
| |
Last November I ran a very
successful course for teachers using PICs.
The 10 teachers from throughout the North
West have already taken on board my work and
I have another two courses planned before
the end of term. I do believe that teachers
deserve training if they are going to be successful,
and I intend to run further courses next year. |
| |
|
| |
The costings for my study
have roughly fallen in line with my estimated
costs. The extra resources will not only be
used by pupils at our school but also made
available for teachers to trial during my
courses. One very important part of the funding
was to create the time to go and see good
practice, to meet leaders in this exciting
area. |
| |
|
| |
May I take this opportunity
to thank all those who have contributed to
my work, and the Gatsby Foundation for giving
me the means and the motivation to formalise
the activities of the last three years. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
