The first Junior Cycle engineering written examination provided a fair, challenging and enjoyable test for students this afternoon, an engineering teacher has said.
“This was a very topical and modern paper with graphics used to very good effect,”said Donal Cremin, ASTI subject representative for engineering and a teacher at Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra, Rathmore, Co. Kerry.
Students were asked about the impact of cars on the environment, renewable energy, 3D printing, smart technology, upcycling as well as the essential core elements of engineering including alloys, plastics, mechanisms, lathe processes and design.
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“Students who were familiar with the sample paper published earlier would have been happy with the layout, presentation and content,” Mr Cremin said.
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“As with all Junior Cycle written examinations this was a no choice paper, so all questions had to be attempted. Much of the paper was user friendly and very manageable with some parts obviously challenging the better prepared and more capable students.”
“Question two featured inventors, such as Henry Ford and Steve Jobs, and questions based around some of their inventions,” Mr Cremin said.
“Many of the questions required students to explain or justify their answer and to think like an engineer which is a main focus for this new subject.
“Question 4 featured familiar content based on basic assembly techniques, plastics and machining. There was a nice question to finish where students were asked to describe, with the aid of a diagram, one upcycled use for a skateboard deck,” he said.
Try this one at home:
Question 1
(a) Global Positioning System (GPS) technology is widely used in sport.
(i) Describe one use for GPS technology in sport.
(ii) State one other use for GPS technology, apart from sport
