Ud 1 Technology problem solving

1 Technology problem solving

1. Technology as a way of meeting human needs
2. Technical problem solving: the project approach
3. Basic project documents
4. At work in the workshop
5. Using and handling tools safely

This year, you will be studying Technology, Programming and Robotics for the first
time and you will be working both in the classroom and in the workshop. You will learn how
to build objects, often as a way of resolving the problems you are given in class. This
means that you will have to think carefully about what you are going to design before you
build it, either on your own or as part of a group. You will also have to learn different types
of information related to what you are building. As you will see, technology covers lots of
knowledge areas and diverse branches of science. This subject also has a practical part
where you will learn different construction techniques and work with different materials.

In Unit 1, we explain what technology is and we describe the different types of

technological products and how they are created. We tell you which documents you need to
produce before and after building and, last but not least, you will learn to identify and use
the basic tools of the workshop safely without putting yourself or your classmates in danger.

1. Technology as a way of meeting human needs

Technological activity began almost at the same time as the first human beings
appeared on the planet. For them, technology was a means of survival because it allowed
them to meet their basic needs: food, shelter, clothing, etc. Technology will always be with
us: our living conditions are improved by the design and manufacture of products.

Technology is the set of skills and techniques used to invent, design, build and
adapt products to meet human needs and resolve the problems of everyday life.

Did you know...?

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Ud 1 Technology problem solving

Technological knowledge is interdisciplinary; in other words, it receives inputs from

different knowledge areas like physics, maths, drawing, etc. Human activities also receive
inputs from technology. We can see this in many inventions: computers are useful almost
everywhere; X-ray machines and pacemakers are used in medicine; fibre-optic cables allow
us to communicate over great distances, etc.
The following table lists the basic needs of human beings and gives examples of
technological products that meet these needs:

As part of the technological process we will need to use:

A method: planning, dealing with problems in an organised way, organising tasks.
Science knowledge: the application of scientific knowledge, experimentation,
measuring, calculations, etc.
Technique: working with materials, tools and machines.
Expression of the project: includes drawing, writing reports, interpreting drawings
and diagrams, presenting results, etc.
Society and culture: covers different social, environmental and economic aspects
(market research, productivity, cost-effectiveness), customs, characteristics, etc. of
the time period in question.

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Ud 1 Technology problem solving

Technological products
Have you ever wondered who invented things like the blind, the clock, the broom or
the zip, and why? Most of these objects were invented to resolve a particular problem or to
improve certain conditions.

A technological product is something that was obtained through technological

knowledge and made to meet a human need.

Objects change in appearance; they transform as our needs change. Technological

development is based on inventions and discoveries that have already been made. For
example, when the first cars were made, we did not have to invent all their parts from
scratch; some of these parts, like the wheel and the engine, had already been discovered.
We base our thinking on what has already been invented and we learn from it to continue to
evolve.

An invention is a creation or design that did not exist before. An innovation is a

change made to the way a product works by adding something new (like the air cushion in
trainers or internet access on mobile telephones).

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Ud 1 Technology problem solving

Object analysis is a preliminary step that comes before we start building the new
technological object. By analysing objects, we can understand how they work and the
decisions that were made during their design and construction.
Object analysis looks at the three functions of the object:
1. Use: how we use it.
2. Technique: how it was made.
3. Aesthetics: its external appearance (shape, texture, colour, size, weight, design, etc.).

Did you know... ?

Technology and technological products can have disadvantages too, such as the
environmental impact of their manufacture or the problems associated with their incorrect
use.

For enquiring minds!

Before a product is put on the market, its features are tested by building scale
models and prototypes. A scale model is used to represent the volume a product (for
example, we can build a scale model of a house).
A prototype is a full- sized version of the product that is made before mass
production begins (for example, the first unit of a new model of car).

KEYWORDS -
Make sure you understand these words before moving on!
Invention: a new product that did not exist before.
Innovation: a change to the way an existing product works.
Scale model: a model used to represent the volume of a product.
Prototype: the first full-sized version of a product, built as a test.

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Ud 1 Technology problem solving

2. Technical problem solving: the project approach (El mtodo

de proyectos)
Technology is a tool that can be used to resolve society's technical problems through
what we call the project approach.

Did you know...?

A project is a set of texts, drawings and calculations that tell us how architectural or
engineering works should be carried out and how much they will cost.

The project approach is a method of dealing with and resolving the practical
problems affecting any society. It consists of several stages.

Stages of the project approach

To explain this approach, we will take a simple
technology problem and describe the process we
need to follow in order to solve it.

In this example, we will imagine that we want

something to store a set of coloured pencils in it.

We can use the project approach to resolve any technology problem, even very complex
ones. The project approach can be split into ten stages. These are:

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Ud 1 Technology problem solving

1. Detect the problem or need. What do we need? What problem do we have or what
task have we been set? What conditions are there? lf we are very clear about the
problem we need to resolve and we know all the details, the rest of the process will
be easier.

In our example, we need to find a way to store a set of coloured pencils.

2. Information and research. We collate, study and select information on the different
ways that we could resolve the problem. We also study products that meet similar
needs.

We look at different pencil cases, tins, pencil pots, etc. and analyse their materials,
forms and shapes, properties, etc.

3. Search for possible solutions. We think of the different options, i.e. different
objects or products that could resolve our problem. We study and assess each
option to see if it is viable.

The possible solutions for storing our pencils are the pencil cases, tins and pencil
pots that we mentioned above. The material may be fabric, cardboard, metal,

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Ud 1 Technology problem solving

plastic, wood, etc, The form may be cylindrical, rectangular, bag-shaped, with an
opening on one side, with different openings, etc.

4. Choose the solution. We choose the best solution based on the criteria that we set
as priorities (type of material, size, shape, cost, etc.) and after analysing the
advantages and disadvantages of each solution.

We choose the option that we think is the best one.

5. Design. We do drawings (sketches), diagrams or plans of our chosen solution. We

can do these freehand first and add more detail later, but we must make sure that
the product is aesthetically pleasing (i.e. that it looks nice).

We can now draw the object that we are going to store our pencils in and decide on
its measurements.

6. Prepare and plan the work. We choose the materials, techniques and tools that we
are going to need. We split the work up into smaller blocks and decide how long we
need to spend on each operation. We then share out the work and put the blocks of
work in order.

How many days do we have to make the pencil pot? Who is going to get in the
materials? Who is going to find the tools? Who is going to keep the workspace
clean and tidy? Who is going to coordinate all the work?

7. Build the product. This is the stage where we build, assemble and finish the parts
and assemble the object. At this stage, we need to put our new theoretical
knowledge to work and use the tools and materials we chose earlier. We also need
to remember to economise on materials.

It is the moment we have been waiting for: we can finally build our pencil pot.

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Ud 1 Technology problem solving

8. Check the results. At this stage, we check that the product works and that it does
what we want it to do. We evaluate the aesthetics (appearance) of the product and, if
necessary, we propose changes and improvements.

Does the pot perform its function? Do we like it?

9. Presentation and assessment. We present our work and have it assessed by

people outside the group.

We show our pencil pot to the rest of the class and to the teacher.

10. Write the project report. We will see the documents that go into this report in the
next section.

We write a report on the pencil pot.

KEYWORDS
Make sure you understand these words before moving on.
Planning: list of the materials and tools that we will use to build the object and an
outline of how the tasks will be shared out.
Report (memoria): document that is produced after the product is built. lt
contains information on how it was built and describes the construction process.

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3. Basic project documents

We must always document our work. We will need a series of documents for our
projects and these will be just as important as the object we build. We will create
documents before and after building our object, called the preliminary design and the
report, respectively.

Preliminary design
The preliminary design covers the design and planning stages in the project
approach.

The preliminary design is the document we need before building begins. It

describes what we need to do and how it should be done.

It generally contains:
Drawings (sketches) of our initial ideas and a more detailed drawing (diagrams) of
the chosen solution.
Lists of necessary materials and tools.
The budget (presupuesto).
The tasks (tareas) involved and how we will share them out among the people
involved in building the product.

Report (memoria)
The report is the document written after the project is built. It contains all the details
of its construction.

Some sections in the report will be the same as some of the sections of the
preliminary design. The report will usually contain:
A. Cover page. (Portada). This contains data like the author's name, course, group,
the date it was handed in and the title.
B. Table of contents. (ndice). We must number the pages of the report before we
can add a table of contents.

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Ud 1 Technology problem solving

C. Description of the problem. This section describes the problem we need to

resolve and the conditions that the product has to meet (size, shape and form,
materials, etc.).
D. Research. (Investigacin). In this section, we indicate which books, journals,
encyclopaedias, etc. we have used to find out information. ln addition to the
details of the works we use (for each work author, title, publisher, place and date
of publication), we must also include any queries or surveys we have made here.
E. Possible solutions. Here we list all the possible solutions and include a sketch
or description of each one.
F. Chosen solution. We explain why we chose our final solution and describe how
the prototype works.
G. Construction drawings. These drawings (sketches, views, exploded drawings,
diagrams, etc.) need to be detailed enough to enable somebody else to build the
project from them.
H. Planning. This section contains the list of materials used, the list of tools used
and information on how we shared out the tasks.
I. Construction. This section charts the progress of the different construction
phases. Here, we describe the problems we had, the proposed solutions, trials,
modifications, tests, etc.
J. Final tests and conclusions. This is a key part of the report. ln it, we can
discuss a variety of topics as our conclusion to the project. The questions in the
following table may be useful when writing this section:

Example
Description of the problem
Build a pocket torch with the following conditions: it must be powered by one or two
batteries; the batteries must be removable so that they can be replaced when they run out,
the voltage of the battery or batteries cannot be greater than 3.5 volts (the maximum
voltage of the bulb); it cannot be longer than 2 dm, and it should use repurposed materials
or wood.

Possible solutions
A large match box divided in two inside by a piece of cardboard.

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Ud 1 Technology problem solving

On one half, the top will be transparent and the side will be translucent red. The bulb
will go underneath and will light up both "windows" when it is switched on. To improve the
lighting....

Planning
1. List of materials
Large, empty matchbox
Switch
3 v bulb
.............
2. List of tools
Punch
Wire strippers
.............
3. Task list
Find the material: 10 minutes
Divide the matchbox in two: 5 minutes
............

Construction
The first problem was removing the bottom of the glue stick container for the first
solution, because it was firmly attached. We used an auger to try and bore through the
centre hole to see if we could push down on the shaft that connects the two parts. In the
end, we managed to separate them using pincers. This broke the shaft, which was the only
part that was not going to be used.

Final tests and conclusions

We found that the torch works and that it performs the function for which it was
designed. We need to be gentle when pressing the switch because it is stiff and the
matchbox is very fragile.
The materials and processes were the right ones, although there may be others that could
also be used.

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Ud 1 Technology problem solving

KEYWORDS
Make sure you understand these words before moving on!
Cover page (Portada): introductory page of a project that contains the title, the
name of the author or authors and, if you wish, an image.
Preliminary design: document produced before construction begins on the object. lt
contains a drawing of what the built object will look like and explains which materials
will be used and which tasks will be carried out.

4. At work in the workshop

In the workshop (taller), we work in groups. You will need to get used to this way
of working because it is generally easier, faster and more effective than working alone.

When we work alone, it does not take us long to decide what we are going to do.
However, when we work in groups, we all have to agree and this takes longer: everybody
has their own ideas and we have to let them explain these ideas and try to convince others
that they are good ones. lt is not easy to explain something to somebody else to get them to
see it the way you do; it is a complicated intellectual process. So we have to try harder
when we explain our ideas to other people.

Once all the members of your group have expressed their ideas, you have to decide
on one together. You can then work by yourselves for ten or fifteen minutes to give
everybody the chance to think about how to approach the project.

After this, the group gets back together and everybody presents their conclusions.
The group then chooses one of the solutions. At this point, you can appoint a member of
the group to write down the reasons for and against each option.

You can then allocate roles and duties.

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Ud 1 Technology problem solving

Organising work in the workshop

In the workshop, we share out tasks among the members of our group by allocating
roles (tareas) and duties (responsabilidades). Depending on how many people are in the
group, an individual may have one or more roles. These can be:
Coordinator: coordinates the work of the group by sharing out tasks and making
sure that nobody is left with nothing to do.
Secretary: keeps the project documents (mainly sketches and drawings) safe and
writes down the tasks that are completed each day and who did them.
Tools Manager: uses a daily checklist to make sure that all the group's tools are
present at the start and end of class. The names of any missing or damaged tools
are recorded on this list.
Materials Manager: writes down which materials are needed to start the project and
makes sure that they are available in the correct quantities. The Materials Manager
also puts the project away at the end of the class.
Cleaning Manager: makes sure that everything is clean and tidy and in correct
working order. The Cleaning Manager writes down who tidies up each day on the
cleaning rota.

5. Using and handling tolls safely

The tools we use will depend on the task or operation we need to do and the material
we are working with.

Safety (Seguridad)
All technical activity has risks (Riesgos) that can and should be kept under control at
all times to prevent accidents. We need to be aware of potential dangers and the measures
we can take to stop them from happening. We must also follow the safety rules.

In the class workshop, you will find goggles (gafas), gloves (guantes), dust masks
(marcarillas), circuit breakers (interruptores elctricos), etc. These are called personal and
collective protective equipment and you must always use them. The most important
protective equipment in the workshop and the tools you must use them with are:

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Ud 1 Technology problem solving

Goggles (gafas) keep your eyes safe from particles.

Gloves (guantes) keep your hands safe from cuts.

Rules of safety in the workshop

You must follow the basic rules of the workshop to protect yourself and your classmates:
1. Always keep the workshop tidy by using the bins and cleaning and sweeping up
when your workstation is untidy.
2. Always use a brush to clean shavings off your table. Never blow them off or wipe
them away with your hand. You could hurt yourself or a classmate.
3. Keep your workstation tidy. Do not leave tools lying around if you are not using
them.
4. Use tools properly. Each tool is designed for a specific purpose' Do not use them
for tasks that they were not designed to do and do not play with them. They are not
toys! lfyou do not know how to use a tool, find out before you use it.
5. Do not eat or drink in the workshop.
6. Do not put your classmates in danger by running or playing.
7. Do not put your classmates in danger by throwing tools to them; hand the tools to
them instead.
8. If you have long hair, tie it back because it could get caught up in materials or
tools and could cause accidents. Keep scarves out of the way too.
9. Do not interrupt classmates or walk in front of them while they are cutting
something. Distractions can cause accidents.
10. Always try to economise on material.

Pause and reflect!

Be extra careful with sharp or pointed tools. Never pick them up by their sharp edge
and always keep your hands away from this edge.

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Ud 1 Technology problem solving

Never put your fingers in front of a knife that is being used to cut something. Take
care with the edges of freshly cut materials.
File or sand edges after cutting them.

KEYWORDS
Make sure you understand these words before moving on!
Budget: document listing all the required materials. It also lists the quantities we
need of each, their unit price, and the total cost.
Workshop: the place where the technology project is built.
Shavings: thin pieces or slivers of wood.
Construction drawing: a drawing made for a project that is done with a ruler
and includes measurements and all necessary details.

REVIEW
Technology is the set of skills and techniques used to invent, design, build and
adapt products to meet human needs and resolve the problems of everyday life.
Technological activity appeared as a way for us to meet our basic needs (food,
shelter, clothing, health and hygiene, transport, work, leisure, safety, etc.) and
improve our Iiving conditions.
A technological product is something that was obtained through technological
knowledge and made to meet a human need.
We can use technology to address and solve practical problems using the
project approach. The stages of this approach are: 1) Detect the problem or
need; 2) lnformation and research; 3) Search for possible solutions;4) Choose the
solution; 5) Design; 6) Prepare and plan the work; 7) Build the product; B) Check
the results; 9) Presentation and assessment, and 10) Write the project report.
The key documents for the preliminary design are: sketches of our initial ideas;
diagram of the chosen idea; the list of materials; the list of tools; the budget, and
the allocation of duties and roles.
The key documents for the project report are: cover page; table of contents;
description of the problem; research; possible solutions; chosen solution;
construction drawings; planning (materials, tools and tasks); construction, and
final tests and conclusions.

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Ud 1 Technology problem solving

ln the workshop, we work in groups. This is generally easier, faster and more
effective than working alone.
When we work in groups, we may be given the role of coordinator, secretary,
tools manager, materials manager or cleaning manager.
All technical activity has risks that can and should be kept under control at all
times to prevent accidents.
We need to be aware of potential dangers and the measures we can take to
stop them from happening. We must also follow the safety rules.
in the class workshop, you will find personal and collective protective
equipment, such as goggles, gloves, dust masks, circuit breakers, etc.
Always follow the safety rules to avoid accidents.

presupuesto invento memoria

dibujo planificacin modelo a escala
portada diseo preliminar virutas
innovacin prototipo taller

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Ud 1 Technology problem solving

Basic tools of the workshop

As explained earlier in this unit, the tools we use will depend on the task or operation
we need to do and the material we are working with. Most of the tools that you can find in
the workshop are listed on the following pages. Little by little, you will learn about each tool,
how to hold it correctly and how to use it for the right purpose.
Measuring tools

Metal ruler. (Regla metlica). Two or three decimetres long. lt

measures in millimetres and sometimes in other units too.

Retractable tape measure. (Metro extensible) Measures up to one,

two (more common) or three metres.

Metal set square. (Escuadra metlica). For measuring and checking

right angles, drawing perpendicular lines, or as a guide for marking and
measuring.
Caliper. (Calibre). Measures small lengths (a few millimetres).
Measures inner, outer and depth gauges

Pencil. (Lpiz) For marking on paper or wood.

Steel-tipped compass. (Comps con puntas de acero). For drawing

circles or arcs on metal.

Centre punch. (Punzn). For marking metal or smooth surfaces

before drilling to prevent the drill bit from slipping.

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Ud 1 Technology problem solving

Clamping tools

Bar clamp. (Sargento o gato). Clamps parts to the table or holds two
parts together.

Pliers (Alicates). Holds down parts that need to be bent, cut or

hammered. They are also used to bend wires. Round-nose pliers are
used to make loops.

Pincers. (Tenazas). For removing nails, holding and cutting.

Bench vice. (Tornillo de banco). Holds parts in position. It is fixed to

the table.

Claw hammer. (Martillo de carpintero). For hitting and transmitting

force to another part or tool. It can also be used to pullout nails.

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Ud 1 Technology problem solving

Cardboard scissors. (Tijeras para cartn). For cutting paper and

cardboard.

Electricians scissors. (Tijeras de electricista). For cutting or

stripping wires.

Tinsnips. (Tijeras para chapa). For cutting sheet metal.

Fretsaw. (Segueta). For cutting thin wood (plywood, wood strips) and
pressed cardboard). lt can also be used with different blades to cut thin
metal and plastic tubes.
Bow saw. (Sierra de arco). For cutting wood using long, straight cuts.

Tenon saw. (Sierra de costilla). For cutting wood using short, straight
cuts.
Hand saw. (Serrucho). For cutting wood using long, straight cuts,

Auger. (Barrena). For making small holes in wood by hand.

Punch. (Punzn). For making holes with a hammer.

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Ud 1 Technology problem solving

Spanners. (Llaves fijas) For tightening or loosening nuts

and bolts. The number on the spanner is the length in
millimetres of the nut that it should be used with.

Screwdrivers. (Destornilladores) For tightening or

loosening slotted screws (flatblade screwdriver) and
cross-recessed screws (Philips screwdriver). `

Soldering iron.(Soldador elctrico). For attaching thin

metal parts, like wires.
Hot glue gun. (Pistola de pegamento termofusible) For
bonding materials quickly. Glue guns must be heated up by
plugging them into the mains before use.

Files. (Limas). For sanding down and polishing metals

(hard materials).

Rasps. (Escofinas). For sanding down and polishing wood

(a soft material).
Sandpaper. (Papel de lija). For smoothing down surfaces
after hling.

Jigsaw. (Sierra de calar). For cutting wood or metal (using

a different blade) with a thickness of less than 7 cm.
Drill. (Taladro). Electrical equipment for making holes in
wood or metal (by changing the bit).
Your workshop may have a type of drill called a bench drill.

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