Technology and Applied Studies
YEAR 7
Term 2 has seen Year 7 continue learning about the different Technology areas. Classes have begun working towards completing projects in the specific areas of Agriculture/Food Technologies and Digital Technologies in the Technology Department, progressing through the programs for those areas. The DigTech students have been given a task to create a game using Microbits, while the AgFo groups have been busy planting vegetables and making burgers.
YEAR 8
Catapult Engineering for Good
This unit is a lot of fun for students as they research, test and compete with their classmates with their own catapult. Students are given a certain amount of materials and a broad design brief that allows a range of catapults to be designed and made to the student's own specifications.
Mixed Materials - Textiles Toy Monsters
This term Year 8 students have been designing a textiles Toy Monster Project. Students have enjoyed the fine motor skills used in stitching and the opportunity to design an original project.
Mixed Materials - Laser Cut Night Light
This term students have been working on their laser light unit where they design and make an Illustrator modelled laser light. The students gain skills in Adobe Illustrator which is an Industry standard program, they also gained skills in using a laser cutter, using hand tools in the wood workshop and gained skills in how to work both in a team and individually.
YEAR 9
Timber
Students have finished their serving board project and will start working on a trinket box project over the next few weeks. This will allow them to explore fine timber joinery techniques and laser design.
Food
Students have been learning about Food Equity this term. They are investigating people who have limited access to food and how this impacts on health. Their practical tasks have included cooking an equity cake, making pancakes while blindfolded and collecting water from across the College to cook rice.
Metal
Metal students are about to start their campfire BBQ project which will include a number of new metalworking techniques including MIG and Oxy welding and plasma cutting.
Agriculture
Students are mid-way through their Poultry Production unit. As part of this unit of work, students have been caring for day-old chicks both at home and at school.
Design and Technology
Students have been working on a Tiny House assessment this term. It has seen them undertake a significant amount of research to assist them in developing a tiny house design using CAD software. The coming weeks will see the students create scale models of these designs using the laser cutter.
YEAR 10
Timber
Students have just completed a side table project. This job involved a number of different timber skills and at times tested the students. The two classes have produced a fantastic project with great attention to detail.
Food
Students have looked at Food for Specific Needs by learning about specific food needs of groups in our society. Practical tasks include taste testing baby food, different milks and gluten-free foods, tuna bake and Char-Grilled Beef Salad.
Agriculture
Agricultural students have been running their own cropping trials at school for their assessment. Students have been testing different planting factors (fertiliser usage, sowing depth, sowing density) and what impact that has on the plant growth.
Metal - students have almost completed their motorbike quick lift and are about to begin the painting process, while some are finalising all components and the assembly process. Students have the opportunity to design and produce a project of their own choice for their next task which is always an interesting time.
Information Software Technology
Students have been continuing their studies of robotics and automated systems. The students have been working with Arduino, a combination of a programmable circuit board (known as a microcontroller) and a piece of software (known as an Integrated Development Environment) that allows them to write and upload code to the board. Their assessment required them to develop a flashing light display using their Arduino boards.
Graphics
Students have completed the Engineering drawing unit where they used technical drawing boards and equipment to produce a range of drawings. Techniques such as isometric, orthographic and oblique drawing allowed students to develop skills in various formats. Our new unit involves designing and CAD drawing a custom moneybox to be 3D printed. Students have some great ideas are looking forward to the final prints.
YEAR 11
Design and Technology
Students have continued to work on their Minor Design Project. Students have been designing a solution to a selected problem. The students have begun to create a portfolio that will include areas that they need to investigate, drawings and prototypes to solve a problem.
Agriculture
Students have completed their plant production unit after setting up their own planting trial at the school with Tillage Radish and Barley. This will be maintained and monitored throughout the year to see the effect of sowing density on plant growth. In the classroom, students are currently learning about soils and the most sustainable techniques farmers can use to improve soil fertility.
YEAR 12
Design and Technology
Students are in full swing into their major design portfolios. The ideas are flowing and we are beginning to prototype with plenty of research and testing to be done. Once again, this year's cohort is taking on some big challenges to solve some real-world problems. We look forward to welcoming parents to the Mater Dei Major Works Showcase from June 22 to June 23 being held in the Marian Centre.
Agriculture
Students are completing their Farm Product Study unit that focused on the production, marketing and technologies involved in beef production. As part of the unit, students learn about the various ways beef can be marketed and changed into a number of different valuable products for consumers.
Mr Andrew Geurtsen | TAS KLA Leader