Woodwork is a motivational catalyst which can be used to help learning, the Association of Materials Technology and Graphics Teachers was told last week. Woodwork helps develop social skills, time management skills and presentation skills including IT use, said Cyril McLoughlin, a teacher at Borrisokane Community College, Co Tipperary, who has developed a programme to help students who have learning problems and those who "need motivation". He was addressing delegates at the association's recent national conference in Ballina, Co Mayo.

"Woodwork involves parents and subject teachers. It acts as a stimulus to the child to learn and it is good fun. A beautifully presented artefact with a presentation card will involve the use of mathematical concepts such as area, volume, costs and percentages." Work relating to a project involves keeping diaries of work, using word searches, doing interviews and questionnaires, writing instructions about its assembly or the sequence of manufacture and listing details of time management. "Woodwork art and craft is a delight for children who love to rise to the challenge of working with hands on," he said. "They rise to the challenge of working with tool and machinery, materials and colour. It excites and delights them. They cherish their creations and relish the praise for their efforts."

Using woodwork as a motivational catalyst has proved to be a breakthrough in the support learning strategy in recent years, says McLoughlin.