Subject Overview

Materials technology metal (MTM) is one of the technology subjects offered at junior cycle. It is an activity-based course focusing on metal, how to work with it and how to assemble different parts. In MTM you will learn skills to design and build projects, you will work with aluminum, Perspex along with several other materials. You will be working with basic electronic components too.

Content

Some of the things you will learn include:

• How to read and follow a technical drawing
• Skills in shaping, cutting and joining materials
• How to use a wide variety of tools and machines correctly and safely
• The properties of different metals and how they are made
• The importance of metal in our everyday lives

Methodologies

Teacher autonomy and experience is of key importance in this area. Because of pupil variability and the wide range of abilities in mixed ability classes, a blended approach of teaching methodologies is used. Methodologies of particular note include:

• Whole class teaching
• Active participation in class
• Project work
• Design briefs
• Work sheets
• Group assignments and activities
• Pair and small group work
• Note taking to reinforce learning
• Display of practical work in classroom
• Wall charts

Assessment

The complete course carries 400 marks and is divided into two main sections.

1. Techniques and Designwhich incorporates all of the practical work and is allocated 300 marks; 200 marks for a practical examination and 100 marks for project work;
2. Materials and Technologywhich is the related technical and technological comprehension, examined by written examination, carrying 100 marks.

N.B. – THE GRADING OF RESULTS IS TO BE BASED ON THE AGGREGATE OF THE MARKS OBTAINED IN THE TWO MAIN SECTIONS.