Digital Technologies

Digital Technologies – Term 2 Showcase 2026

Term 2 has been an exciting and highly creative term in Digital Technologies, with students across Years 7–12 exploring programming, cyber security, robotics, animation, digital art, networking, game design, filmmaking, and 3D modelling.

Year 7 Digital Technologies

Our Year 7 students have been developing their programming and digital design skills through a range of engaging projects. Students completed Scratch game design tutorials before creating their own original JavaScript-inspired games. They also explored digital citizenship through a Cyberbullying PowerPoint oral presentation and participated in the GROK Academy cybersecurity challenge, Information Privacy and Security Secondary.

Creativity has also been a major focus this term, with students planning and producing original comic scripts and digital comics using Photoshop. Students also built LAN models in Minecraft, helping them understand how computer networks function in the real world.

Year 8 Digital Technologies – Engineering

Year 8 Engineering students have had a hands-on term focused on design and problem-solving. Students completed 3D modelling projects, designed protective egg drop devices, and created functional wind-up toys. They also built a detailed scale model of the school in Minecraft and designed network systems within Minecraft while researching how each component functions.

Students further developed their cybersecurity knowledge through participation in the GROK Academy Defense Against the Dark Hats challenge.

Year 8 Digital Technologies – Creative

Creative Technologies students have explored digital art, ethics, coding, and robotics this term. Students created memes, mixed-up animals, and movie posters using Photoshop before applying their skills to larger creative projects.

Students participated in formal debates on digital ethics topics such as “Is the Internet good for society?” and designed and programmed their own zombie shooter games using Scratch. Robotics was another highlight, with students building and racing LEGO EV3 robot cars. Like the Engineering classes, students also explored computer networking through Minecraft-based network builds and participated in the GROK cybersecurity challenge.

Year 9 Website Design

Year 9 students have continued developing their multimedia and web design skills through a variety of practical projects. Students created original Photoshop artworks, drag-and-drop websites, and participated in the GROK Web. Comp competition alongside the Cyber Comp Aotearoa cyber security competition.

Students also examined computer ethics through scenario-based investigations and designed and produced their own short films. Networking concepts were explored by creating five network topology models in Minecraft, where students analysed the strengths and weaknesses of each design.

Year 10 Software Development

Year 10 students have continued expanding their coding and multimedia skills through HTML, CSS, JavaScript, design theory, filmmaking, and digital art projects.

Students completed the GROK Beginners HTML/CSS courses and progressed into JavaScript web development. They also designed original Photoshop artworks representing themselves, created stop-motion films, and delivered oral presentations on the Elements and Principles of Design using self-developed PowerPoint presentations.

Cybersecurity continued to be a strong focus, with students competing in the GROK Cyber Comp Aotearoa challenge.

Year 12 Applied Information Technology

Our Year 12 students have been investigating game design and software management concepts this term. Students researched NPC (Non-Player Character) development in video games before creating and developing their own original NPC internet characters.

Students also explored intellectual property concepts and software management processes through presentations and video tasks. A highlight this term was students constructing model computers using LEGO kits and creating informative diagrams and presentations that explain the functions of internal computer components.

New Resources

The Digital Technologies department has recently acquired new 3D printers, which will allow students even greater opportunities to explore 3D modelling, prototyping, and design projects across multiple year groups.

Student Teachers

We would also like to warmly welcome our two student teachers, Supuni Agampodi and Yuhang Zhou, who will be joining the Digital Technologies team for the next five weeks. We look forward to supporting them as they develop their teaching practice and become part of our classroom community.

Clubs and Extension Opportunities

Our extracurricular programs continue to grow in popularity this term.

Warhammer Club has almost doubled in numbers, with students building, painting, and competing using miniature armies while developing creativity, patience, and strategic thinking skills.

CoderDojo has been focusing on game design challenges this term, with students experimenting with coding, gameplay mechanics, and digital storytelling in a collaborative and supportive environment.

It has been wonderful to see so many students engaging enthusiastically with technology, creativity, and problem-solving throughout the term, and we look forward to even more exciting projects in Semester Two.

Jocasta Collier, Digital Technologies Teacher in Charge