Grade 8 Technology extends the Design Process skills of Grade 7 to more complex design challenges. Learners work with more sophisticated structures, mechanisms and systems, apply technical drawing skills with greater accuracy, and develop a deeper understanding of how technology impacts society and the environment. The focus on sustainability and responsible design becomes more prominent in Grade 8.
- Revision of structural forces: compression, tension, torsion, shear — extended examples
- Beam and column structures: how they carry loads
- Reinforced structures: how reinforcing materials improve strength
- Properties of materials: revision + extended — elasticity, malleability, ductility
- Material selection for design: match material properties to design requirements
- Technical drawing: orthographic projection — revision and refinement
- Tolerances and dimensions in technical drawings
- Practical: design and build a structure to carry a specified load using minimal material
- Compound gear trains: multiple gears, gear ratios, speed and direction changes
- Belt and chain drives: how they work, mechanical advantage, examples
- Rack and pinion: linear motion from rotary motion — car steering example
- Screw thread: self-locking, mechanical advantage, applications
- Combining mechanisms: design a system using two or more mechanisms
- CAD introduction: computer-aided design — basic 2D drawing software
- Exploded and assembly drawings — more complex examples
- Practical: design and build a mechanism with compound gears or drives
- Electronic systems: input devices (sensors, switches), process (transistor, IC), output (LED, buzzer, motor)
- Control systems: open-loop and closed-loop control
- Feedback: what it is and why it makes control systems more effective
- Programmable systems: flowcharts and pseudocode for simple programs
- Sustainability: life cycle analysis of a product — cradle to grave
- Environmental impact of manufacturing: pollution, waste, energy use
- Green design principles: reduce, reuse, recycle in design decisions
- Practical: design a system with an electronic control element
- Full design project: tackle an open-ended design challenge using all Design Process stages
- Investigate: research the problem, interview users, analyse existing solutions
- Design: produce annotated sketches, choose and justify best solution
- Make: construct the solution using appropriate tools and materials
- Evaluate: test against specification, identify successes and improvements
- Communicate: produce a design portfolio — drawings, photographs, written report
- Technology and society: ethical questions in technology design — who benefits?
- Reflect on growth as a designer across Grade 8
Every design must meet the specification. Before making, write a clear specification. After making, test against it point by point. This is your evaluation.
Technical drawing accuracy earns marks. Use a ruler, compass and protractor correctly. Messy drawings lose marks even if the concept is correct.
Gear ratio = driven ÷ driver. If the driver has 20 teeth and the driven has 40 teeth, the gear ratio is 2:1. The driven gear turns at half the speed.
Life cycle analysis: think from materials to disposal. Raw materials → manufacturing → use → disposal. Every stage has environmental costs. Know them.
The best designs solve real human problems. Always start with the user. What do they need? What constraints exist? The best Grade 8 designs are human-centred.