Learning and Teaching

Teaching & Learning

Olivia Hodgetts

This term Inquiry lessons are going to look a little different. Traditionally, the whole school would look at one of the Humanities, such as History or Geography. We are, of course, still covering this curriculum, however, using a slightly different approach.

The 'content' will be intergrated during English and the Inquiry lessons will predominately be used to address the Design and Technologies curriculum. For example, the students may read and learn about the ships of the First Fleet during English but use the Inquiry time to actually design and build a ship!

So what is the Design and Technologies curriculum entail? The following information is from the Victorian Curriculum website: 

Rationale

In an increasingly technological and complex world, we need to develop citizens with the knowledge and confidence to analyse, critique and creatively respond to design needs and opportunities for a circular economy. Knowledge, understanding and skills involved in the design, development and use of technologies have a role in transforming societies, and in natural, managed and constructed environments.

Design and Technologies engages students to create quality designed solutions for identified needs and opportunities across a range of technologies contexts. Students plan and produce designed solutions and manage projects independently, collaboratively and in teams, from conception to realisation. They apply design and systems thinking and design processes to investigate, generate, evaluate, iterate and improve design ideas, processes and solutions. They plan and produce designed solutions. They develop a sense of pride, satisfaction and enjoyment from their ability to design and produce innovative designed products, services and environments.

Design and Technologies offers students opportunities for authentic learning challenges that foster curiosity, confidence, persistence, innovation, creativity, respect and cooperation. The study of Design and Technologies also offers learning experiences for young people that can be transferable to other contexts, including broader communities.

Aims

Design and Technologies aims to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to ensure that, individually and collaboratively, students:

• develop awareness and confidence as critical users of technologies of designed solutions 
• investigate, generate, iterate and analyse to determine ethical and innovative designed solutions for sustainable futures
• use design and systems thinking to generate design ideas and communicate these to a range of audiences
• produce designed solutions suitable for a range of technologies contexts by selecting and manipulating a range of tools, materials, systems and components competently and safely, and managing processes
• evaluate processes and designed solutions, and transfer and apply knowledge and skills to new situations
• understand the roles and responsibilities of people in design and technologies occupations and how these occupations contribute to society.