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

Curriculum content descriptions

Generate, develop, test and communicate design ideas, plans and processes for various audiences using appropriate technical terms and technologies including graphical representation techniques (ACTDEP036)

Elaborations
  • using a variety of critical and creative thinking strategies such as brainstorming, sketching, 3-D modelling and experimenting to generate innovative design ideas
  • considering which ideas to further explore and investigating the benefits and drawbacks of ideas, for example using digital polling to capture the views of different groups in the community
  • identifying factors that may hinder or enhance project development, for example intercultural understanding
  • developing models, prototypes or samples using a range of materials, tools and equipment to test the functionality of ideas
  • producing annotated concept sketches and drawings, using: technical terms, scale, symbols, pictorial and aerial views to draw environments; production drawings, orthogonal drawings; patterns and templates to explain design ideas
  • documenting and communicating the generation and development of design ideas for an intended audience, for example developing a digital portfolio with images and text which clearly communicates each step of a design process
General capabilities
  • Literacy Literacy
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and creative thinking
  • Personal and social capability Personal and social capability
  • ICT capability Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capability
ScOT terms

Problem solving,  Technical drawing,  Modelling,  Graphic arts,  Computer graphics

Downloadable

Drone search lesson

This lesson plan introduces students to the practice and applications of using drones to take aerial photographs. Students learn safety procedures regarding the use of drones then capture images of simulated disaster areas. Students observe the use of drones in science and technology-based endeavours and suggest new applications ...

Interactive

Kitchen gardens – sustainability action process (Years 7–10)

This resource guides students through an extended school-based or local investigation focussed on kitchen gardens using the five-step sustainability action process. The resource supports the investigation of a real-world issue or problem. Students develop and implement a chosen sustainability action and then evaluate and ...

Video

Building spaghetti bridges

Have you ever tried making a bridge out of dried spaghetti? What about a spaghetti bridge that can support a roadway and small car? Watch as teams of first-year university students reveal and test their designs. How did they decide what kind of bridges to build? Have a go at designing, testing and building your own spaghetti ...

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Stomp Rocket Design Challenge

This resource provides a scaffold for students to complete a design challenge. The design challenge requires students to create a stomp rocket that can travel to a chosen planet in the solar system. The design challenge can also be used to investigate forces and energy. It can be delivered over a number of lessons, or it ...

Interactive

Refugees welcome here

This resource embeds the use of online collaboration tools and 21st century learning skills in a student-centered hands-on project designed to welcome refugees into their community. The syllabus outcomes are aligned to NSW Stage 4 English, Geography or Visual Arts but this could be used with older or younger students by ...

Interactive

Thermal comfort – sustainability action process (Years 7–10)

This thermal comfort learning resource will guide students through an extended school based investigation. Students will develop and implement a chosen sustainability action and then evaluate and reflect on their success and their learning.

Video

Use your creative thinking skills!

Ashwini Ranjithabalan from Women in Engineering and IT at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) sees engineering as the business of solving future problems. What are some of the challenges we (and our societies) might face in the future? Get some friends together and see if you can brainstorm a list. Now choose one ...

Video

Creating the Bubble Popper game

Bubble Popper is a game that combines computer gaming and sport. Listen to Chad and Joshua as they explain their aim in designing this game. What kind of equipment is needed to play it? Why might it be a good idea to make games that involve physical exertion? Use your imagination and think up your own game that combines ...

Video

Catalyst: Shining the light on a more sustainable globe

Artificial lighting methods have changed with the invention of new lighting technologies designed to be more energy efficient and to reduce the use of resources. Since electricity has been used as an energy source, incandescent and fluorescent globes and, more recently, light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been used in our ...

Video

Game builder

Game Builder is an online resource for teachers and students making their very first videogame, and for those who have some experience already. There’s more to a good game than good code! As with most creative projects, success comes from good ideas and thorough preparation. This resource will take you through the building ...

Online

Investigating key Australian fibre production practices in the cotton, timber and wool sectors

This is a unit of work about how cotton, timber and wool are produced, processed and brought to customers in Australia. It explores: where cotton, timber and wool comes from; past, present and future production systems; and a range of other related topics including land management, water management, waste management, revegetation, ...

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Earthquake shake | Questacon

In this activity, students build a model bridge and test it in earthquake-simulated conditions. They are then challenged to consider the performance of their structure and redesign and build an improved bridge. The activity includes a list of what is required, suggestions of what to do and notice, questions to ask, an explanation ...

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PRIMED Technologies - Year 8

This set of learning activities challenges students to explore the supply chain for sustainable production of food and fibre products. Students explore how consumer buying decisions and opinion can influence components of the supply chain and design products using locally produced commodities and explore the journey of ...

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Climate calculations

In this set of learning activities, students use science, technologies and mathematics to explore climate change and to develop approaches that communities might implement to adapt to climate change. The module includes a comprehensive teacher guide, curriculum links, materials lists, design process guides and printable ...

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Keeping cool

In this set of learning activities, students explore the question 'How can a community reduce the heating effect of the Sun?' The module includes a comprehensive teacher guide, curriculum links, materials lists, design process guides and printable student resource sheets. The resource also provides an editable module template, ...

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Compliments to the chef and the producers!

In this resource, students learn about the nutritional qualities and health benefits of red meat, the different cuts of beef and lamb, and how they can be cooked to provide a healthy meal. This lesson is part of a sequence of lessons that can be used with this age-group of students. Topics include Managing sustainable red ...

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From paddock to plate

In this resource, students learn about the steps in the red meat ‘paddock to plate’ supply chain and how technologies can target areas within the chain to improve production. This lesson is part of a sequence of lessons that can be used with this age-group of students. Topics include Managing sustainable red meat production; ...

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Work sample Years 7 and 8 Design and Technologies: Design project: Desktop lamp

This work sample demonstrates evidence of student learning in relation to aspects of the achievement standards for Years 7 and 8 Design and Technologies. The primary purpose for the work sample is to demonstrate the standard, so the focus is on what is evident in the sample not how it was created. The sample is an authentic ...

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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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Industrial design challenge – separating materials lesson

is lesson provides a great introduction to the idea of separating mixtures and enables students to consider separation as a process that operates on macroscopic levels. Students also learn about waste management and recycling processes in Australia. The lesson provides students with an opportunity to engage in hands-on ...