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Projects 1, in the workrooms, is the module where students learn to make and create furniture,
and it is based on 100% continuous assessment. They use their learning to manipulate wood
and wood based materials into the most wonderful of creations. The module begins with basic
skills and then builds onto more complex tasks as the year progresses. Skills development is
very much practice based.
Together with lecturer Sean Garvey, we design the projects and set the brief for all the
assignments that the students complete throughout the year. A sample project brief including
working drawings, is shown on the following pages. For the assessment, students are given
clear instructions about the Assessment Criteria / Marking Scheme. This forms the basis of
how they gain marks for their work. When the projects have been completed, be it a table,
chair, dovetail box, marquetry picture, etc. Firstly, I grade the piece each student has made,
based on the criteria set out in the brief. Then each student receives their submission back with
a spreadsheet which has the assessment criteria detailed clearly. An example of this spreadsheet
can be seen on the page following the project brief below. Students are then asked to grade
their own work based on the sections set out in the spreadsheet. This approach is generally
met with confusion by the students at first, after which they tend to enjoy the process as they
have a greater understanding and focus with their remaining projects. The students then bring
their work and their grade up to for a one to one consultation where I compare my grade with
theirs. This is a very engaging and reflective process for the students.
The accuracy of the results is remarkable. Approximately 80% of students are within 10% of
my mark. Quite often the remainder is dividable into two groups. The best students tend to be
overly harsh on their grading, being far too low, and the weaker students tend to be a little too
‘generous’ with their scores.
The samples shown over is for one project. The students in Projects 1 make approximately five
projects each year and this process is repeated for each project. It is very beneficial in so many
respects.
Assignment Aim:
The dovetail has long been considered as a symbol of precision and excellence in
furniture making and at this stage you will hopefully have become competent at cutting
dovetail joints. This dovetail box project will provide you with other new skills and
methods used in the making of solid carcass furniture such as the fitting of the hinged
lid with traditional brass butt hinges/smart hinges and also inlay.
Handwork techniques will be combined with the application of stationary and portable
power tools. The project will serve to ensure that you are aware of, and put into
practice, techniques common to all precision woodworking. During the manufacturing
process care and attention should be given to the handling and preparation of all of its
components.
Marquetry, parquetry or similar may be applied to the top of the box but only for those
students achieving the required quality within the time specified.
Assignment Instructions:
You are required to make to the highest standards of quality and precision the box with hinged
lid as detailed in the working drawing provided.
The carcass sides are joined with through dovetails and are made from solid wood
The top and base will be made from veneered birch plywood and glued directly to the
box sides
Butt hinges/smart hinges will be used to hinge the lid.
The required finish is sprayed water based lacquer
Precision of veneer 5%
Conformance to Drawing 5%
Total 100%
When we consider feedback we normally associate it with lecturers giving feedback to students
on their work. I use written exams to invert that process, to evaluate my own teaching. How
students perform in an exam will pinpoint areas where I should spend more time or change my
current approach.
I make a point of meeting students after an exam to get their feedback. This information,
together with their results help to continually improve how my exam questions are created.
A sample of one of my exam papers for the module Manufacturing Technology 1 is shown on
the following pages.
GALWAY-MAYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
YEAR OF STUDY: 1
EXAMINER(S):
Mr. Paul Leamy (Internal)
Mr. Martin James (External)
Dr. Elaine McDonald (External)
Mr. Colin Deevy (External)
Mr. Tadhg O'Sullivan (External)
Mr. Dominic Ryan (External)
Mr. Marc ORiain (External)
PLEASE DO NOT TURN OVER THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE INSTRUCTED TO DO SO.
The use of programmable or text storing calculators is expressly forbidden.
Please note that where a candidate answers more than the required number of questions, the
examiner will mark all questions attempted and then select the highest scoring ones.
Sharpening angle
Grinding angle
Honing
Hardening
Tempering
Sharpness
You have just re-sharpened your cabinet scraper for the fourth time with your
burnisher and it is not working properly. Describe the steps you would take to
sharpen it properly, so it removes fine shavings from an oak veneered table top.
What would be the advantages of using a cabinet scraper over just sanding, when
preparing the same table top for a clear lacquer finish?
Using sketches, describe the main characteristics and uses of the following as they
apply to hand chisels:
With the aid of sketches, give a detailed description of the main parts of a chisel.
[15 Marks]
[End of Question 1]
QUESTION 2. Power Tools [TOTAL MARKS: 100]
You have just finished using a large filleting cutter in your hand router. You now want
to use a 6mm inlay cutter with a guide bush. Explain in detail the sequence you
would follow.
Sketch 6 joint configurations where the domino doweling system could be used to
aid joint assembly and strength.
[End of Question 2]
[End of Question 3]
[End of Question 4]
QUESTION 5. The Surface Planer & Thicknesser [TOTAL MARKS: 100]