Key Learning Area Showcase - Focus on TAS
At Xavier College we are providing authentic assessment that prepares our students for life after school. Whether it be in Stage 4 or 5 where our projects provide snapshots into different applied industries, or Stage 5 where we instil our students with the skills required for effective transition into a technical industry, our goal in TAS is to develop problem-solvers for the future.
Stage 4:
In Stage 4 we have four semester long projects that focus on different areas of the technology industry. In Year 7 students have produced a C02 car that focuses on teaching the engineering fundamentals. They have also coded an Edison robot to mimic the function of a train system in a unit that teaches coding fundamentals. In Year 8 students have produced a mobile phone charging bag made from discarded materials. This unit focuses on teaching basic sewing and embroidery skills while also addressing the importance of sustainability. They have also grown their own crops in Food and Agriculture and have used this harvest to create a nutritional meal.
Stage 5:
In Stage 5 we have had students completing several activities. In Timber students have produced a side table with a focus on developing their wood working skills. In Electronics students have been wiring and building a remote-control car. Several the components for these cars have been modelled by the students using CAD software and 3D printed. In Design and Technology students have been producing an advertising campaign for a fictional company with a specific focus on producing a television commercial. Finally, in Food Technology students have been learning about food product development and food trends and have replicated some of these food trends in their practicals.
Stage 6:
Our Year 11 students have spent the year developing projects that prepare them for their Major Project. In Timber students completed their Hallway Table project which is designed to prepare students for the requisite level of detail and skill required for their Major Projects. In Design and Technology students completed their Mini Major Design Project which replicated a truncated Major Design process. Our students are now in the process of developing a project proposals for their Major Projects.
Year 9 Electronics
In Electronics students have worked on two projects this semester. Students researched an Electronics corporation which they then presented to their peers where they focussed on the company’s history, technical innovations, and impact. They have also worked on producing a Remote-Control Car in a unit that integrated CAD modelling, 3D printing, and electronics.
