Questions have a ‘fresh look’ with links to real-life context

AN INCREASING trend in the Leaving Certificate engineering higher-level paper to open questions with a real-life context was welcomed by teacher Kenny Donagher.

This year, he noted this “fresh look” in questions on plastics processing, welding, robotics and metal alloys.

Mr Donagher also welcomed the way candidates could link to research they would have done during the year for their project.

Structure

Overall, the ASTI subject representative and teacher at Summerhill College, Sligo, described the paper as “very well laid out with no major change in the structure of questions.”

He said there were opportunities for students to draw on their own experience in their answers and to show their understanding of modern engineering principles.

Just about everything featured, from parking sensors to electric vehicles and an American football helmet.

The “special topic” for the compulsory section was the study of the technical aspects of drones, which included a question relating to privacy.

“This is a good example of the way this particular subject not only marries a precision manufacturing skill set with a theoretical background knowledge, but gives students the opportunity to discuss the impact of technology on their lives” he said.

He described the ordinary-level paper as “very accessible, well structured, and particularly well illustrated with very good examples of the theory being examined”.