Technologies News
Digital Technologies
Computer Science
Our Year Twelve Computer Science General students have been working through systems analysis and design this week. Year Twelve Computer Science ATAR have been working through programming in Python and presenting their code back to the class.
In Year Seven Digital Technologies, we've had a few lessons focusing on using our new Surface Laptops. Our tips and tricks sessions have helped students gain confidence with these impressive digital tools.
Next, we'll explore digital systems, learning about hardware, software, and how computer components interact. We'll also cover networking basics. Their engagement and enthusiasm have been impressive, and I'm looking forward to an exciting year!
Ethical Innovations – Year Nine Elective
In the Ethical Innovations class, Year Nine students are exploring the negative impacts of mainstream social media platforms, focusing on issues like mental health, fake news, polarisation, and excessive advertising.
In the first three weeks, students have delved into the world of CSIRO and social media networks, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the digital landscapes and dynamics. They formed teams and began brainstorming ideas for a new social media platform. We used Adobe Firefly (generative AI-image) to conceptualise how some of these platforms may look and feel for users, as well as some of the user interface ideas.
By the end of the unit, students will develop a comprehensive design concept for a socially responsible social media platform.
Mr Kieran Bailey | Head of IT and Innovation and
Mr Kyal Rose | Design and Technology Teacher
Hospitality
Year Seven
Our Baudin students are learning about food waste issues in Australia, focusing on household waste. They have practised kitchen procedures, basic knife skills, and made dishes like fruit bites drizzled with chocolate, pizzas, and a delicious taco salad bowl using commonly discarded ingredients.
Year Eight
Year Eight students, full of fun and energy, are learning about the five food groups, focusing on seasonal fruits, vegetables, and grains. They have explored unusual ingredients, performed sensory analyses, and created dishes like French toast with macerated strawberries, vegetable fritters, and fried rice, all garnished creatively.
Year Nine
Before leaving for camp, Year Nine students learned how pectin reacts with sugars to form a gel by making raspberry jam and how raising agents work by baking scones. They also practiced making and serving tea through role play, culminating in hosting a Devonshire Tea for invited staff.
Year Ten
Using fresh produce from our kitchen garden, students are learning about food preservation by making sauces, relishes, and chutneys for later use. They created rhubarb, strawberry, and rose water cordial, designed food labels, and used the pulp to make fruit leather and the excess liquid to make dessert gel. Each week, students prepare homegrown produce for dehydration and recently made Mexican-style corn using freshly grown corn, which they ate and found delicious.
Certificate II Hospitality
Year Eleven
Students have made an impressive start by completing a unit in food hygiene practices and touring the boarding kitchen to learn about the necessary equipment and legislation. They look professional in their chef uniforms while mastering precision knife skills to prepare and present sandwiches to industry standards.
Year Twelve
After finalising their sandwich unit for verification by our Registered Training Organisation in Perth, all students were deemed competent. They showcased great teamwork and professionalism at the P&F Sundowner, serving appetisers and greeting guests, and are now focusing on mastering the coffee grinder and espresso machine to produce a variety of espresso coffees typical in WA.
Mrs Teresa McAllister | Head of Technologies/Teacher
Sustainable Production
It’s been a great start to the year in the garden. Students have been able to harvest heaps of zucchini, tomatoes, beans, lettuce and cucumbers. The cucumbers have been a very popular snack. The rest of the harvest has been taken home, shared with Hospitality or put on the community share stand outside ECC.
The Year Seven Mokare students have enthusiastically planted and mulched an awesome vegetable garden they will notice a huge difference when they return from camp. The Years Nine and Ten gardeners are planning their projects to commence in Week Five.
Ms Diane Thomas | Teacher
Woodwork
Year Seven
Over the last two weeks, we have started in the wood workshop, and students are getting familiar with it. This term, we are spending time making a Design Task: a wooden tealight candle holder. The group has been looking at and sketching initial ideas and concept sketches from their research. They have selected their material and have started laminating the timber together using sash clamps. I'm looking forward to working with this great group and seeing where their skills develop!
Year Eight
We have started by making a Skill Builder – Wooden Toy Vehicle. The group has been looking at and sketching initial ideas and concepts from their research. They have selected their material and have started shaping their designs using bandsaws and coping saws. They are finishing off their designs using rasps, files, and sanding. The last part is drilling their wheels out using a drill press. It’s a small group which means we can make lots of great products this semester.
Year Nine
We started by making a Skill Builder – Tee Half Lap Joint Shelf Construction. The group has been making their tee half-lap joint. I have been impressed with the chisel-honing skills of some of the members in the class to ensure we have sharp tools for the task. The class has almost finished the joint and is about to join the shelf. I can already see some highly skilled students working in this class, which is great to see.
Mr Ashley Keatch | Technology Woodwork Teacher
Year Ten and Year Twelve
As the year 2025 begins at a rapid pace, the Years Ten and Twelve Wood Technologies classes have jumped straight into skill development exercises, focusing on adding new jointing techniques to their repertoire.
The Year Ten class concentrated on mastering the finger joint, incorporating this technique into the creation of monitor stands. Meanwhile, the Year Twelve class tackled the more complex dovetail joint, which demands a higher level of precision and attention to detail.
Both groups excelled in their respective activities, showcasing impressive, finished joints and adding valuable skills to their woodworking arsenal. The students’ dedication and craftsmanship have set a promising tone for the rest of the year.
Mr Brodie Sarre | Materials Design and Technology Teacher