Designing and Producing K-12

The role of designing and producing in the Technology learning area

The Designing and producing K–12 section of the web site focuses on the continuum of technology learning in NSW public schools and the technology process, that is, designing and producing (making).

The continuum of technology learning is:

based on students becoming increasingly sophisticated in their ability to design and produce solutions for authentic needs and opportunities
mandatory for all students in each year of study from Kindergarten to Year 8 and articulated through the Science and Technology K-6 syllabus and the Technology (Mandatory) Years 7-8 syllabus
an option for student specialisation in secondary school through a range of syllabuses addressing particular technologies and aspects of design.

Click here to view the continuum of technology learning K-12.

Why technology education is important

Participating fully in the 21^st century involves people making effective judgements, often involving technology. Technology education involves the process of designing and then making what has been designed. If students experience this technology process they develop a greater appreciation of the significant decision making involved and develop critical thinking skills. These are important skills for all students, regardless of the vocational choices they make.

Technology education K-8: Design in practice

This web site documents the ASISTM project Technology education K-8: Design in practice. It is a professional learning tool designed for use by teachers to demonstrate features of effective design-based teaching and learning in authentic classrooms, focusing on the 'look and feel' of effective classrooms, a continuum of technology learning K–8 and teaching practices especially in the middle years.

Studio E

Studio E is an interactive, web-based learning tool that assists Stage 3 and 4 students to explore a project task and define the project brief.

The development of Studio E is an initiative of the Vocational Education in Schools Directorate and the Curriculum Directorate, responding to the challenges faced by primary and secondary schools participating during the initial phase of the Building Bridges project. In this project students in Stage 3 and 4 were required to identify an authentic need in the community and design and produce a solution. More structured learning experiences were needed if there was to be greater student direction, engagement and significance within a manageable framework.

Studio E assists students to be enterprising and to negotiate aspects of their project. It scaffolds the activities students undertake to establish the project brief including:

identify and explore a need or opportunity, considering the user and client
identify constraints and available resources
identify social, ethical and environmental issues
establish criteria for a successful design solution
set milestones.

By working through a series of activities, students generate text that will become part of a one-page project brief. For each task 'pop-ups' are available to explain what the activity is about and what students have to do.

Additionally, the website contains many examples to illustrate what others have done at similar stages of a project. Examples have been drawn from industry, Stage 6 DesignTech projects and Stage 3 and 4 student Building Bridges projects.

Teacher support

The following documents may be helpful:

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