Semester One the learning area of Design, Technology & Engineering was for Year levels 7, 10, 11 and 12's. Year 8 and 9 will have classes are scheduled in Semester Two. The new cohort of Year 7's have had their first extended taste of the workshop and will rotate throughout the year on a trimester basis, guaranteeing every student an opportunity to potentially channel their inner carpenter as they complete some small timber projects. 

The Year 10's have experienced a blended Design & Tech program that encompasses working with timber and metal. Small skills tasks have been completed for each material type, allowing students to select their preferred one to produce a larger project. For timber, their challenge was to produce a small sliding dovetail joint. Developing knowledge and skills in marking and measuring with gauge tools; use of hand tools such as chisels and tenon saws; analysing surface faces to determine what to remove next and how, and of course the mighty skill of patience. For metal, the small product of a phone stand made using metal offcuts and scrap fixings has subtly preached the notion of sustainability and responsible consumption of non-renewable resources. This has enabled them to develop skills covering, the oxywelders; some use of the arc welder; angle grinders and using different discs; preparation of metal prior to welding and bending metal. Each student now has the choice to produce a major project in one of the two material types to extend upon their skills.  

The SACE classes of 11's and 12's are enrolled in the subject titles of Material Solutions (MS) and Industry and Entrepreneurial Solutions (IES). In our context the MS classes apply a working with timber approach and the IES classes incorporate metal fabrication. However, this can vary, or interchange and other context applications are available.  

11 MS have developed skills of carcase joinery and for skill development constructed a small multi-joint box featuring the joints- rebate, half-lap, finger, and through mortise and tenon. Various hand tools and machinery were used, including – chisels, mallets, tenon saws, compound mitre saw, finger joiner, mortise machine. Each student also got their first taste of using the largest piece of machinery in the workshop – the panel saw. This was used to perform an overpass cut and cut in a groove along the bottom for a base. They are now applying those skills to a major product of a small cabinet or bedside unit.  

11 IES have spent time developing their skills using the MIG welders, plasma cutter, and angle grinders. Overall enabling general welding, shaping, grinding and cutting processes. They've learnt about the operation of the MIG welder, purpose of argon gas and significance of the voltage and amp settings. Students have developed skills by investigating the variable of the welder gun torch angle to use when applying a weld seam for different joint types such as butt, fillet and lap. They’ve also fabricated a MIG gun torch holder for welding benches. They are beginning to apply those skills to a major product of a hand sack truck trolley. 

12 MS have been set the skills tasks of a small dartboard cabinet and shaker style doors.  Processes include, cutting a strip of veneered particle board from sheet material using the panel saw; use of table router for corner rebates and hand router for shelf housing, and rear lip for backing. 

12 IES have been set the skills tasks of a folding camp shovel and re-purposing metal to create either a small bench/stool/table. Processes include cutting, bending and welding a range of metal types and sizes.  

Year 12 Students have also been working on the theory component for their major project which involves thoroughly documenting the stages of the Design & Realisation Process. The first two stages have been addressed so far being, Investigation & Analysis, and Design Development & Planning.  

Emma Kerr - Tech Studies Teacher