Design and technologies / Year 7 and 8 / Design and Technologies Processes and Production Skills

Curriculum content descriptions

Critique needs or opportunities for designing and investigate, analyse and select from a range of materials, components, tools, equipment and processes to develop design ideas (ACTDEP035)

Elaborations
  • considering community needs when identifying opportunities for designing, for example gardens for a community centre, cost effective food service for a sport club
  • experimenting with traditional and contemporary technologies when developing designs, and discovering the advantages and disadvantages of each approach
  • investigating emerging technologies and their potential impact on design decisions, for example flame retardant fabrics or smart materials such as self-healing materials, digital technologies and agriculture
  • examining, testing and evaluating a variety of suitable materials, components, tools and equipment for each design project, for example the differences between natural hardwood and plantation softwood timbers, which determine their suitability for particular uses related to durability, for example interior or exterior use
  • evaluating the viability of using different techniques and materials in remote, isolated areas, or less developed countries
  • selecting appropriate materials to acknowledge sustainability requirements by using life cycle thinking
General capabilities
  • Literacy Literacy
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and creative thinking
ScOT terms

Critical thinking,  Materials,  Design,  Tools,  Deductive reasoning

Online

Sphero slalom lesson

In this lesson students explore slalom sports and how competitors maximise speed when completing a course. Students research different slalom sports and then share their findings with the class. Students investigate the impact of distance and friction on time to complete a course through digital and unplugged activities. ...

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Balancing Mobiles

In this teaching activity, students will apply mathematical, science, and engineering concepts to experiment with balancing levers. They classify types of levers to design and build a simplified mobile and explore suspended and standing mobiles by sculptor Alexander Calder.

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Voskoglou & Buckley review: Problem solving and computational thinking

This article explores the relationship between computational and critical thinking as it applies to solving technological problems. Research evidence derived from classroom experiments strongly suggests that using computers to solve problems enhances students’ abilities in solving real-world problems involving mathematical ...

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Asunda review: STEM integration

This article explores the benefits of an interdisciplinary STEM program in the quest for providing students with a holistic approach to problem-solving that reflects real-world practice. This is supported by a conceptual framework that comprises four constructs: systems thinking, situation learning theory, constructivism ...

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Lockwood & Mooney review: Computational thinking

This article provides a literature review of how computational thinking fits into a school curriculum. The aim of the report is to provide educators with an overview of the current research in this field and the work that is being done in teaching computational thinking.

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Faith Lutheran College – Timeline

This document presents the milestones in Faith Lutheran College's participation in the Digital Technologies in Focus project.

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Faith Lutheran College – – Final report

This report provides details of Faith Lutheran College's participation in the Digital Technologies in Focus project, including a Research question, criteria for success, data collection, resources, challenges, milestones and next steps.

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Faith Lutheran College – PL ecosystem

This document illustrates the network of people and resources that make up Faith Lutheran College's Professional Learning ecosystem.