Unit rationale, description and aim
All students benefit from being able to solve problems through design thinking and being able to safely design and use the material and product manufacturing technologies that shape our world.
To align their work to the Australian Curriculum: Design and Technologies, and to function as secondary teaching professionals in the Technologies discipline, students must undertake a sequence of technologies units to enable students to acquire conceptual, procedural and professional knowledge in product design.
This unit develops students' knowledge of the ways in which past, current and emerging technologies influence, and have influenced, principles and processes of product design and production. Through examples and case-studies, students will explore design and manufacturing techniques suitable for timber, metal and plastics including CAD/CAM technologies and will develop designed products.
The aim of this unit is for students to explore how a range of materials can be appropriately applied in designed products and then use this experience in their teaching practice.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Acquire a broad, integrated knowledge and understa...
Learning Outcome 01
Select and use a range of materials, tools and equ...
Learning Outcome 02
Articulate and transmit design ideas through a var...
Learning Outcome 03
Apply initiative and judgment in exploration in, p...
Learning Outcome 04
Content
Topics will include:
Design Issues
- Elements of design
- Principles of design
- Aspects of design
- Communication techniques – information and communication technologies
- Selection criteria for using various materials
- Knowledge and understanding of project management
- Literacy –planning and documenting, calculating material
- Numeracy – calculation skills
- Introduction to sustainability issues in a range of materials
Manufacturing techniques
- Materials – properties, treatments, refining, sections and shapes – fasteners
- Processes
- Tools and Machinery – cutting, machining, forming, joining and finishing
- Computer aided manufacturing (subtractive and additive processes)
Workplace Health and Safety
- Workplace health and safety legislation
- Review risk management processes (including risk assessment)
- Safe operating procedures
- Safety tests – in the classroom
Implementing design solutions
- Selection of materials and processes – considering characteristics, properties, functionality and the needs of the user/s
- Life cycle thinking and sustainable design strategies
- Iterative design development
- Effective integration of design and manufacture
- Selecting production methods and manufacturing resources
- Quality attributes
- Product review and evaluation
Graphic and design communication techniques for Industrial Design
- ePortfolio
- Communication
- AS1100 drawing standards
Technologies Workshop Safety
- Safe Operating Procedures for Timber workshop hand tools, equipment and machines used for manufacturing timber products
- Safe Operating Procedures for Metal workshop hand tools, equipment and machines used for manufacturing metal products
- Management practices for technology teachers including safety and risk management, budgeting, selecting, storing, maintaining and replacing materials, equipment and other resources related to product design manufacturing technologies in Timber and Metal.
Assessment strategy and rationale
The problem-based learning strategy employed in this unit is supported by the integration of progressive authentic assessment tasks completed at critical points of the students’ learning. Theoretical conceptual knowledge and practical skills-based knowledge are developed simultaneously in that acquisition and assimilation of knowledge of knowledge. Initially students acquire knowledge of product design by undertaking research and developing a report on key concepts introduced in the lecture and they develop skills in design and manufacture through practical workshop access. Safe work practices are introduced in workshops and assessed through a hurdle task. Practical workshop access provides opportunities for formative assessment which supports assimilation of knowledge. Summative assessment aims to assess students’ application of knowledge and skills (conceptual, procedural and professional) competencies holistically using an integrated approach common in design education, which focusses on the assessment of an entire design activity rather than specific elements in isolation. In this unit the method aims to assess students’ achievement of a synthesis between design theory and practice in product design and manufacture. Therefore, the main assessment method used is design projects which include two components, a design documentation folio and a designed and manufactured product or products. Folios document students design processes and include evidence of identifying user needs, project definition, research, ideation, prototyping, iteration, critical evaluation and risk assessment. Building upon the earlier assessments undertaken by students, to provide them with applicable teaching strategies upon completion of this unit, acquired technical skills are combined with pedagogical practice. This allows students to effectively establish sound teaching practices through mirroring their role in this unit with that of their future students, while also researching and analysing Australian teaching standards for Design and Technology and STEM.
A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit objectives consistent with University assessment requirements. Such procedures may include online safety modules, reports, tutorial exercises and practical design projects with folios. Assessment tasks will address all learning outcomes as well as relevant graduate attributes.
Overview of assessments
Hurdle Task: a. OnGuard WHS online safety train...
Hurdle Task:
a. OnGuard WHS online safety training and testing modules (or equivalent) Requires student to demonstrate knowledge of safe operating procedures in design and technologies workshop environments
b. Technology Workspace Supervision Agreement Requires student to arrange for access to and supervision in a school-based design and technologies workshop (or equivalent) with an appropriately qualified mentor and approval from the head teacher in design and technologies and their principal.
Pass/Fail
Assessment Task 1: Mixed material Design project ...
Assessment Task 1: Mixed material Design project
Analyse the secondary Stage 6 Technologies curriculum.
Use this analysis to develop a design, and manufacture using a minimum of two materials and two processes supported by a portfolio.
For example, design a mechanical cam toy that is animated through movement.
20%
Assessment Task 2: Design Project Analyse the se...
Assessment Task 2: Design Project
Analyse the secondary Stage 6 Technologies curriculum. To develop, design and produce a project using a minimum of two materials.
Use this analysis to demonstrate, principles of design, project management and material.
For example, design a moveable trolley with storage made from timber and steel.
40%
Assessment Task 3: Design Portfolio Drawing on t...
Assessment Task 3: Design Portfolio
Drawing on the documentation of task 1 develop a highly detailed portfolio that records the realisation of task 2.
Use this portfolio to demonstrate, aspects of design, literacy, numeracy, materials, processes and techniques.
40%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
A student-focused, problem-based learning approach is used in this unit. Students encounter concepts and principles of industrial design and design theory through interactive lectures, concepts are discussed and broadened through analysis of specific case studies and further informed by independent research during the development of design projects. In practical workshops, students design, manufacture and evaluate materials and designed items. Design thinking skills in materials are introduced through a practice-oriented learning method. This method involves the parallel development of procedural and conceptual skills required for design, development and documentation of material products in technologies. Students develop solutions to product design problems using a design thinking methodology and a user-centred design approach. They develop conceptual knowledge in materials including timber, metal and plastic alongside procedural knowledge of materials and manufacturing technologies through practical design projects. Students design, manufacture, communicate and evaluate items using principles of product design and develop effective teaching strategies to develop knowledge, skills, problem-solving, and critical and creative thinking practice design thinking and problem-solving in design technologies contexts.
This is a 10-credit point unit and has been designed to ensure that the time needed to complete the required volume of learning to the requisite standard is approximately 150 hours in total across the semester. To achieve a passing standard in this unit, students will find it helpful to engage in the full range of learning activities and assessments utilised in this unit, as described in the learning and teaching strategy and the assessment strategy. The learning and teaching and assessment strategies include a range of approaches to support your learning such as reading, discussion, video, independent research, design project management, lab reports, workshop logs, report writing, design projects, including design folios etc.
The unit is hosted on a Learning Management System (LMS) site with resources and online links, announcements, and a discussion board to post questions and reflections that promote connection between content and educational experiences.
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers - Graduate Level
In connection to the learning outcomes, on successful completion of this unit, pre-service teachers should have developed the following industry specific knowledge based on the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers - Graduate Level standards:
Relating toDemonstrate knowledge and understanding of the concepts, substance and structure of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area.
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Relating toOrganise content into an effective learning and teaching sequence.
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO3
Relating toUse curriculum, assessment and reporting knowledge to design learning sequences and lesson plans.
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO3
Relating toImplement teaching strategies for using ICT to expand curriculum learning opportunities for students.
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO3
Relating toDescribe strategies that support students’ wellbeing and safety working within school and/or system, curriculum and legislative requirements.
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO2, LO3, LO4