Smart water - Precision irrigation

• This is an excellent resource for studies of agriculture and agricultural technology within the design and technologies curriculum for years 7 and 8. The unit's section on irrigation and farming is of value for the content description about analysing how food and fibre are produced when designing managed environments; while the sections on watering system components, irrigation control and automation technologies; and the unit's assessment element are of value for the two content descriptions that refer to analysing ways to produce designed solutions through selecting and combining characteristics and properties of materials, systems, components, tools and equipment and generating, developing, testing and communicating design ideas, plans and processes for various audiences using appropriate technical terms and technologies.
• The unit lends itself to an approach that integrates the year 7 curriculums in design and technologies, science, geography and the humanities and social sciences (HASS) through a focus on water. The unit connects with and builds upon the year 7 science content description that refers to some of Earth's resources being renewable, including water that cycles through the environment. It complements the 'Water and the world unit' in geography and HASS particularly the content description that refers to the nature of water scarcity and ways of overcoming it. This content description requires a study drawn from Australia. The resource's section on the Murray-Darling Basin would be a useful inclusion in such a study.
• The resource is very likely to engage its intended audience. The subject matter is relatively unfamiliar and the student activities interesting. The accompanying video showcases Australian success stories; the Andrew Peace Wines agribusiness includes one of the largest family-owned grape and wine operations in Australia, and the WiSA group that markets technology, designed and made in Australia in over 40 countries.

7; 8