2016 School Magazine

YEAR 7 TECHNOLOGIES

YEAR 8 TECHNOLOGIES

This year in Technologies, we have learned a number of different approaches to design and make everyday items. In the first term, we learnt how to design and then to make photo frames; for many of us it was our first experience working with hand tools. Each photo frame was made out of acrylic plastic and many different skills were used by us (including filing and sanding) to make the finished product. These techniques were built upon during the Term II, where we made wooden whales or dolphins which also taught us skills in working with hardwood. In Term III, we made egg cups out of metal which is quite challenging as metal work requires many additional techniques to shape and finish the egg cup. Our final project in Term IV is to make a Marvel Character themed mini torch. As part of the subject, we have also been exposed to a number of different computer programmes and web applications (such as Photoshop, Squarespace Logo and Microsoft Excel) which has shown us how we can use computers to design products. It’s been a fun subject to study enabling us to learn many new skills and I am happy to report we all still have the same number of fingers!

This year in Technology we have experienced a wide range of topics including Code Academy, Dragster Racing and Flowol. Some people might think these sound like ‘tech talk’ but each term has been an amazing journey full of surprises at each turn and overall an exciting subject to learn. Code Academy taught us skills to program and code the individual elements of a website. Carving our dragsters from a block of wood not only required artistic flair but we also had to design and race a dragster that would rival the most aerodynamic Ferrari. From being speed demons we then learnt to use Flowol-a robotics program that allows us to explore the world of automatic systems by using flow charts. Some examples of systems we created are controlling traffic lights and a lighthouse. Overall, what we have learnt in Technology will be sure to help us in the future.

CHARLOTTE SIMPSON (7B)

GENEVIEVE TAVOULARIS (8O) AND CLAIRE SAGGERS (8O)

YEAR 9 INNOVATIVE DESIGN In Term I in the Year 9 Innovative Design programme, we were shown how to draw and render 3D shapes to show depth and shadow. In the second term, we were given an opportunity to reimagine the bus stop on Gregory Terrace using a combination of modern and colonial architecture while making the design as eco-friendly as possible. We sketched all of our unique designs, with many elaborate roofs being devised. In Term III, we brought our designs to life, at least within a computer, using an application called Google SketchUp. SketchUp allows the user to construct 3D shapes and allows for the formation of intricate details and designs. It was perfect for our purpose and we saw our projects flourish. In Term IV, we worked on the physical construction of a model of our bus shelter using cardboard. The subject of Innovative Design is truly one of the few classes which combines creative and mathematical concepts, and has taught me much about appreciation of architecture.

GEORGIA POWER (9O)

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