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Calling all social studies and technologies teachers with VCRs, or insomnia! We've got some really cracking programmes transmitting in the early hours of Friday morning (or very late on Thursday night, depending on how you look at it) - 0400 hours to be militarily precise. The title for the hour is 'The Designed World'; 12 programmes, each lasting five minutes, focusing around three major areas: cutting-edge product design, engineering and the social impact of design and technology. The films are immediately useful for , but some parts would also stimulate discussion in . The targeted CfE level is Third/Fourth, but it's hoped that these will appeal to anyone with a real interest in design.

The programmes look at design solutions to changing needs in different areas of life - ranging from the engineering project to expand trade on the Panama canal to the smart textiles that make all of our lives easier day-to-day. My particular favourite is the one on '' in South Africa that provide a very simple, effective design solution to an endemic social problem, though I have to admit I was also very jealous of the team who got to make the film about the Nintendo DS!

The films are produced by Gerald Strother, who previously produced our China Stories content, and the innovative approach he's taken to these topics makes them really engaging and enlightening for learners of all ages (including myself!). Please do set your recorders, or check iPlayer in the next week; if you download from iPlayer, you can keep it for a month, or failing that, stay up and watch! Clips from the programme will also be available on our Learning Zone Scotland site from Friday, adding to the current range of design clips. I hope you enjoy the films as much as I did.

The Designed World, 0400-0500, 05/06/2009, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two.