Using electronics to design a controlled environment

Design using a systems approach to electronics is easily realisable in schools. It is not being carried out in many schools because of the problems teachers have encountered in manufacturing electronic circuits and the pressures of the National Curriculum. The authors believe that designing electronic systems can play a stimulating and significant part in the design and technology curriculum. They have written a SATRO project to be published this Autumn that will encourage teachers to use electronics as a design medium and support them in carrying out the work. The focus of the project is using electronics to control environments. This paper will discuss the issues raised in writing the project and in piloting the work in school.