Technology for Years 7 & 8 - A Student's Workbook
2024 is the latest edition - ISBN: 978-0-9579630-9-2
A Workbook for the Stage 4 Technology (mandatory) with Australian Curriculum content.
The aim and philosophy of this Workbook are centered around providing teachers with comprehensive syllabus content and student activities, while also promoting efficient and effective teaching practices.
This philosophy is similar to that used in other countries that have world leading educational systems such as Finland where the concept for teachers is less = more - the less 'administrivia' for teachers, the more time they have to assist students and develop effective lessons and projects. Airlines use the same philosophy - put the oxygen mask on yourself first so that you can assist others during the emergency!
Here are the key aspects of the aim and philosophy:
- Time for Context Area Design Projects: By providing teachers with the prescribed syllabus content and student activities, this Workbook allows them to save time on administrative tasks and focus on developing context area design projects that are appropriate, informative, interesting, and engaging for students. This approach aligns with the philosophy of "less is more," where reducing administrative burdens allows teachers to dedicate more time to assisting students and creating effective lessons and projects.
- Convenient Syllabus Coverage: Many schools choose to purchase this Workbook for all Stage 4 students, as it conveniently covers all the syllabus requirements with minimal effort required from the teacher. This approach ensures consistent coverage of essential design-related syllabus components across Year 7 and 8 classes.
- Co-ordination of Stage 4 Technology Classes: The Workbook facilitates the coordination of Stage 4 Technology classes, enabling the implementation of common tests and grading for all Year 7 and 8 classes. This coordination streamlines assessment processes and ensures consistency in evaluating student progress.
- Digital Option: In addition to the physical workbooks, a digital version of the Workbook is available for schools that require more than 49 site licenses and wish to add the digital copy to their school network. This digital version allows for easier distribution and access to the workbook content.
- Use of Digital Workbook: The digital Workbook is designed to be used in conjunction with classroom teaching. The teacher presents the lesson using relevant hyperlinked pages from the Workbook, projected onto a screen. After the lesson, students complete the activities provided in the Workbook using printed handouts, researching the content within the Workbook, or utilizing suggested internet search queries. Class discussions can then be facilitated based on the students' activity responses. Teachers can also mark and grade student responses, providing feedback during or after the lesson to generate marks or grades for the course.
By adopting this Workbook and its digital counterpart, teachers can streamline their teaching process, provide comprehensive syllabus coverage, and focus on creating engaging learning experiences for their students. The aim is to optimize teacher-student interaction and foster effective learning outcomes.