Glossary

This glossary is based on the terms you will find in the National Curriculum Orders for Design & Technology or Information Technology in the Nuffield Primary D&T materials or in a range of other currently available texts / catalogues / websites.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W XYZ

packaging

the wrapping around products that is used to protect the product from damage, to keep the product clean, to extend shelf life, to promote the product and to provide information about the product

paper drill

a device for making small round holes in paper, card or corrugated plastic where the office punch and single hole punch do not reach

paper fastener

a component useful for providing a temporary join between two parts. It links the parts by sticking through a hole in each part. The head prevents the fastener from coming out in one direction; the legs can be opened out to prevent the fastener from coming undone.

permanent joining

a joining process in which the joining is permanent and not easily reversed e.g. glueing

perspective drawing

a drawing that shows depth as well as length and height

plaiting

twisting together fibres to make them stronger and/or more attractive

pneumatic

driven by compressed air

product

any manufactured item

product image

the characteristics of a product as perceived by the public e.g. hi tech, low tech, eco friendly, traditional, modern, sophisticated, naive

products and applications

a section in the knowledge and understanding part of the programme of study for Design & Technology as given in the National Curriculum Orders. It states that pupils should be taught to investigate, disassemble and evaluate simple products and applications and to relate the way things work to their intended purpose, how materials and components have been used, people's needs and what users say about them. There is a set of Nuffield activities based on investigation, disassembly and evaluation of common products and applications e.g. carrier bags.

programme of study grid

a chart that relates the scope of a particular Nuffield activity to the programme of study for Design & Technology as given in the National Curriculum Orders

progress

the gains in learning made by a child over time. It is important that a child makes progress in each of three domains in design and technology - designing, making and knowledge and understanding

protoype model

a model of a design that shows how it works, what it looks like and can be used so that it can be fully evaluated. Most prototype models are one-offs so they do not fully reflect the manufactured design. Most products produced by children are prototype models.

pulley

a wheel used with a belt that grips onto it. There may be a groove in the pulley to help the belt grip

punch

see hole punch

push fit

a tight fit that will not allow two parts so fitted together to move independently. You can use a push fit to join a wheel to an axle so that as the wheel turns the axle turns too. In this case the axle will fit tightly in the hole in the wheel.