Course - Design & Technology

At Covenant Christian School, the Design & Technology syllabus provides opportunities for students to:

acknowledge God as the perfect designer and creator of the universe
develop environmental and social responsibility in design and the use of technology by seeing God as the provider of all resources
use their God-given creative skills in the design process
develop godly attitudes in the way they treat other people within the classroom and the wider community.

Humans interpret, shape and alter their environments in an attempt to improve the quality of their lives. Technologies constantly evolve and are developed to the extent that they have an impact on most of our daily lives.

Australia needs industry and community leaders who understand the nature of design and technology, and designers, manufacturers and individuals who can apply design processes and use technology to meet identified needs and opportunities. This will promote enterprise through innovation, creative use of technologies and an appreciation of how design and technological activity contribute to the lives of individuals and to culture and environments.

Design & Technology in Year 9 and 10 assists students to develop knowledge, understanding and skills in designing and applying technologies to solve problems and satisfy needs in the context of real-life situations. Students investigate the processes of design, design theory, collaborative design, and the nature of work and role of designers in society in a range of design fields.

The development of functional design solutions allow students to be innovative and creative in their thinking. There is an opportunity for students to use higher-order thinking skills through analysis, synthesis and evaluation in the creation of appropriate ideas and solutions.

The course uses design processes to develop numerous projects each year. Each project will incorporate a larger component of design compared to the Year 7 and 8 course. It aims to build on the skills of working with different tools and materials in designing and making more complex designs and products. Computer-aided design and 3D printing will be used as a teaching/learning tool in the delivery of the course and in the management of the design products.

Download the PDF (below) to get the full course description.

Download Design and Technology Course Outline

FAQ

What projects do we design?

In Year 9, students design a surf handplane for another student, a banded and lost wax silver ring, concrete succulent pots and a toy design project.

In Year 10, student work on architecture projects designing solutions for old shipping containers and a group project designing skateparks and playgrounds.

How much theory is there?

Like any subject, there is important theoretical knowledge that is ingrained in the Design and Technology course. The course is taught using PBL (Project based learning) method. Students learn design theory and practice through following the design process for their projects. This involves learning about and implementing design project management, creativity, concept development, research and evaluation. Each project the students complete is accompanied by a folio that documents their whole design process.

Do I need to do Design and Technology in Year 9 and 10 to do it in Year 11 and 12?

No. There are no pre-requisites for the Year 11 (and thus HSC) Design and Technology course. However, you will gain valuable skills in Stage 5 (Years 9 and 10) that can be built on in the senior years. students who pick the subject up in Year 11 are at a great disadvantage.

What is the difference between and Design and Technology Industrial Technology Timber?

Design and Technology focuses on the Design Process itself, and is not limited to a particular technology or medium. The focus is on identifying a need or problem, and then the application of the design process to solve that need or problem. Projects in Design and Technology are therefor wide ranging in scope, and thus the choice of materials, tools and technologies used is determined by the nature of the project. Think of it as more like product design.

Industrial Technology looks at the design process in the context of one particular Technology or medium. In this instance it is Timber. Think of it as learning the craft of furniture design and cabinetmaking – heavily skill based.

Can I do Design and Technology Timber in Year 10 if I don’t pick it for Year 9?

Yes. There is no prerequisite for Design and Technology so you can switch into it in year 10 provided class numbers allow it. However, students who pick the subject up in Year 10 are at a great disadvantage. They have missed much of the foundational knowledge and skills from the highly projects in Year 9.

If you have further questions, please contact:
TAS Coordinator - Mr Nick Williams
nwilliams@covenant.nsw.edu.au

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