Capability Tasks

For pupils to develop and reveal their capability longer more open tasks requiring designing, making and evaluating are necessary. In Nuffield Design & Technology these are called Capability Tasks. Sometimes these are called projects; in the National Curriculum they are called designing and making assignments (DMAs).

There is a selection of Capability Tasks available for both 11-14 and 14-16. There is a list of titles available for each school year.

The important thing to remember about Capability Tasks is that pupils don't have to start every one at the beginning, with the designing, undertake the making, and then complete the evaluation, every time. You can decide that your class needs more practice in any one of these elements and start the Task at an appropriate point. For this reason, each Task contains a Sample Brief, Sample Specification and Starter Sketches.

Each Capability Task links to several Resource Tasks and at least one Case Study. Case Studies help pupils understand the relationship between technology and society.

Remember that unless pupils learn relevant knowledge and skill through Resources Task-based work they are likely to fail in Capability Tasks.