2020 School Magazine

TECHNOLOGIES

YEAR 7 TECHNOLOGIES

T he Year 7 Technology subject enabled students to express their creativity while learning a diverse range of skills. These included coding, design and manufacturing. Our first project was to create a product label using Adobe Illustrator. This required both design and computer skills. Later, we were taught different styles of drawing and students were able to follow tutorials online while learning from home. In Term 3 computer coding was incorporated into the process. Students programmed a microprocessor with sensors to function as an anti-theft device. This microprocessor was then incorporated into a technology case (e.g. phone or laptop case). The technology case was constructed from neoprene and together with the microprocessor served to protect the device from both physical damage and theft. Constructing the objects we had designed took the subject beyond simple theory and highlighted the positives and negatives of our design. With so many elements within the one subject, I am confident that future students will find an area in Technology that excites them. Neve McNab (7B)

Y ear 7 Technologies has allowed students to experience new activities and gain hands- on skills. We designed cases for phones, AirPods, and wallets, and created designs for products and digital labels. Digital elements were also explored—we used Photoshop and Illustrator to make the labels, and learned how to use MakeCode to program Adafruits. Technology this year has been an eye-opening experience and one we have enjoyed. Shanae Sirimana (7L)

YEAR 8 DESIGN AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

I n Design and Digital Technologies this year every project we have undertaken has provided us new and exciting skills. Throughout the year we worked both independently and collaboratively to create aerodynamic dragsters, explore robotics, and design and code our own website. Carving our dragsters required many design considerations to ensure we created an aerodynamic vehicle. Then we raced to see which vehicle was the fastest. In the Robotics unit we were given the opportunity to analyse different robot prototypes from around the world to expand our knowledge and then propose our own robotics solution to an identified problem. We explored the EV3 robotics bricks and developed skills on Makecode Mindstorms platform to code a simulation for a staff room call system and a lift animation. In Semester 2 we applied our design principles and visual elements to produce our own website using HTML/CSS programming languages. In Term 4 we undertook drawing and designing our own landscape. Emily Crosisca (8M) and Evie Kolff van Oosterwijk (8M)

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