Query: A level design and technology

title: Defining user requirements and strategies for a multimedia learning environment aimed at enhancing creativity in A' level design and technology teaching and learning
abstract: This paper describes preliminary research into establishing strategies for designing computer based learning material, which have the potential to enhance creativity in post 16 design and technology (D&T) A' level students. It explores meanings and perceptions of creativity from the point of view of D&T students. A series of three focus group interviews were carried out with A' level students, in which aspects of creativity within the D&T classroom were discussed. The interviews provide insights into what students need from learning expressed in their own words. These insights are envisaged to provide an empirical basis for the future design and implementation of an interactive multimedia learning environment (IMLE) aimed at enhancing students' creativity. The design and implementation of the learning environment will take place in the further stages of the wider research project, which identifying user requirements is a part of. The findings of the interviews form a list of user requirements to be used within an IMLE, concerning aspects of pedagogy and curriculum, or in terms of computer based learning, recommendations on the structuring of content and the structuring of learning interactions. Among the key findings are the need for, and importance of, collaborative work, discussing ideas and sharing perspectives, to developing and encouraging generative as well as evaluative thinking in students. The computer as a dialogue partner emerges as a valuable conceptual model within human computer interactions. The constructivist paradigm is seen as appropriate in supporting students' natural learning strategy, experiential learning and the type of task oriented, problem solving learning environment which would best support creative thinking in D&T. The findings discussed in this paper form the first part of a wider PhD research which explores the potential of multimedia technology and structured learning to enhancing creativity in D&T A' level students. The stages of design and implementation of the learning environment are the next step of the research which will build directly on the findings of interview data discussed in this paper.

title: A Level design and technology the view engineers and designers in higher education have of the subject
abstract: The 'Lucas' report (1980) recommended that A' Level design courses conform to a number of set crite ria and that a pass should be acceptable as an entry qualification for all design based undergraduate courses. Since the report there has been considerable growth in A' Level design and technology. Preliminary indications are that, with the start of AS/A2 examinations, growth will continue. Discussions with heads of department in schools revealed that A' Level design and technology students are gaining places on both design and engineering degree courses but there are still uncertainties. In the year 2000, a new range of AS/A2 design and technology examinations started in schools. At this point of change it seemed important to establish the key elements of acceptability for the subject. The research focused on design and engineering degree programmes selected at random from university undergraduate courses. The aims were to establish the acceptability of A' Level design and technology for entry to undergraduate courses and tutors' views of the subject. The results produced surprising information, with engineering tutors expressing different views about A' Level design and technology to design tutors. The educational value of project work is one of the differ ences. Also there are differences of opinion about subject knowledge. Many designers have concerns with certain aspects of design and technology in schools while engineers generally embrace the subject. This research will be of interest to teachers of A' Level design and technology, careers teachers, and admission tutors in universities.

title: A Level Design and Technology: a past pupil's view
abstract: As an A Level option Design and Technology (D T) can in truth only be compared with the sciences that is mathematics, physics chemistry and others This comparison also applies when considering University applications for engineering and science courses In relation to other subjects at A Level, D T is unique in offering a wide area of study to suit individual students whilst remaining within the same syllabus It can introduce topics, from many other subjects, and join them in a constructive manner Also to successfully complete practical projects one can often employ knowledge from the other sciences. Though this is not a necessity as skills acquired purely through D T will often suffice. Perhaps the greatest value of D T is that it allows one to apply, from other subjects knowledge that would other w ise have remained as pure theory. This in turn often sp a rks a reciprocal interest in other subjects. Such a self perp e tuating effect only serves to widen the range of a student s understanding

title: A Level Design and Technology at East Barnet School
abstract: East Barnet School is an 11 18 comprehensive situated on the margin of London's Green Belt It is a 6 form entry, split site school, with the 1st to 3rd year pupils housed in the Lower School which is approximately one mile away from the Upper School, where the 4th, 5th and 6th year pupils concentrate mainly upon examination subjects. In 1972 the Technical Studies Department offered non examination courses in woodwork and metalwork. The arrival of Andrew Breckon as Head of Department in September 1974 was to have an enormous impact on the department and the school His first task was to make the various groups concerned with the school, the headmaster and senior teachers, the pupils and their parents and the rest of the teaching staff, aware of the potential and educational qualities of a relatively new, design based approach to Technical Studies' and the possibility of offering courses suitable for the whole ability range.

title: A AS level design and technology and advanced GNVQ engineering changes, repackaging and rebranding of these qualifications
abstract: From September 2000 A level students have begun working to new specifications in design and technology. These are available in three focus areas but it is the area of systems and control that will be most relevant to engineering. The other focus areas are product design and food technology. The AS course will normally be undertaken in Year 12 where appropriate knowledge, understanding and skills will be set in the contexts of: materials, components and their uses; industrial and commercial practices; and product development. A level specifications, usually completed in Year 13, should also include: an in depth study related to the chosen focus area; a designing and making activity; and further study of a particular area determined by the awarding body.

title: Materials and processes within A/AS level Design and Technology: a study of implementation
abstract: Planned progression from the National Curriculum through GCS E and 16+ pathways and onto higher education is an of t en stated policy objective. T his paper seeks to show that l oose f i t policy stateme n ts are an ine f fective approach to achieving such an outco m e I t is esse n tia l to dea l w i t h the subject ma tt er o f cou r ses at a de t a il ed l evel Recent debate has concer n ed a new mode l for A/ AS l eve l des i gn and t ec hn o l ogy. Iss u es re l a tin g to th e i mp l e m e nt at i on of t h e 1986 m o d e l h ave be e n hig h l i g h ted i n or d er to de m onstra t e t h e need for th e deve l op m e n t o f co n sensus o n areas of detai l if t h e new mode l i s to be ef f ect i vely i mp l emented T he detailed area c h osen is materials process i ng and selection at A/ AS level T he implementation of the 1986 common core is discussed in order to highlight the reality that crucial decisions were actually taken during implementation and not during the formulation of broad policy statements

title: Multi Level Design Influences on Robustness Evaluation of 7nm FinFET Technology
abstract: Transistor arrangement influences the performance of logic cells. Complex logic cells can be used to minimize area, delay, and power. However, with the increasing relevance of nanometer challenges such as process variability and radiation effects, it is also necessary to consider these factors at logic level design. The main contribution of this work is to evaluate the advantages of adopting a multi level logic design instead of using complex gates to mitigate process variability and radiation effects. A justification for choosing the parameter that will characterize process variability is presented. Also, the analysis with different transistor arrangements and sizing is carried out to provide a basis for a better understanding of the obtained results. The experimental evaluation considers two topologies: complex gates and multi level using basic gates, for a set of logic gates using the 7nm FinFET technology at the layout level. As expected, at nominal conditions, the best choice is to adopt complex gate topology to optimize area, power consumption, and performance. However, the logic multi level arrangements became the functions up to 50% less sensitive to the transient faults and at least 30% more robust to the process variability effects. A trade off needs to be done, considering the area and power constraints.

title: Design of a 250 kW, 1200 V SiC MOSFET based three phase inverter by considering a subsystem level design optimization approach
abstract: Silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductor technology has successfully penetrated several silicon (Si) application markets and is gaining momentum due to higher voltage withstand capability, higher switching capabilities (i.e. 100s of kHz) and ability to withstand higher operating temperatures (i.e. more than 200degC) When properly applied, SiC MOSFETs can switch in nanoseconds making this a promising candidate for high power, high temperature, highspeed, and high efficiency power converter applications. In fact, many consider the SiC MOSFET as the most "ideal" power semiconductor switch developed to date. To maximize the benefit of this fast switching power device, it is necessary to exercise extraordinary care when designing the power converter's subsystems. In this paper, an approach based on a subsystem optimization approach is presented wherein the power module, the DC and AC bus structures, the DC link capacitor bank, and the gate driver controls are discussed for a 16 kg, 250 kW all SiC three phase inverter.

title: A Fast System Level Design Methodology for Heterogeneous Multi Core Processors Using Emerging Technologies
abstract: A fast and efficient system level design methodology is developed and validated to evaluate and optimize processors using emerging technologies at the early design stage. It includes an updated empirical cycle per instruction model, a hierarchical memory model, and several multi level interconnection network models. Multiple device and system level design parameters are simultaneously optimized to maximize the chip throughput for a given device technology and an architecture family under certain power, thermal and die size budgets. In the single core processor analysis, a high performance (HP) 25 mm 2 FinFET processor can provide 26% more throughput than its planar HP complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) counterpart, and a low power (LP) tunnel field effect transistor (TFET) processor can offer more than 2X improvement in throughput compared with its LP FinFET counterpart at the 16 nm technology node. For various technology nodes, an accurate power law relation is observed between the throughput and the die size area for a relatively small processor. In the multi core processor analyses, multiple device and system level design parameters are obtained for both HP and LP applications with symmetric and asymmetric configurations. For a heterogeneous CMOS TFET multi core processor, about 45% throughput improvement and 50% energy reduction are observed compared with a FinFET processor at a 5 W power budget.

title: High level design and synthesis of a resource scheduler
abstract: Given the increasing complexity of current embedded systems, hardware design is being pushed to a higher level of abstraction, with High Level Synthesis tools enabling hardware synthesis from untimed C+ Still, HLS technology does not provide a clear methodology to derive both hardware and software implementations from a single high level code. This paper describes the design, implementation and evaluation of a resource scheduler that has a single C+ description and is automatically implementable in both software and hardware.