[LINK] ACARA Draft: Technologies

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Draft Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Technologies

Lyndon Anderson 
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority 

The draft Shape Paper proposes directions for the development of the 
national Technologies curriculum for Years F–12. 

Following analysis of consultation feedback, the draft document will be 
revised and then published as the Shape of the Australian Curriculum: 
Technologies.

Teachers, parents and other stakeholders in the Technologies field, and 
members of the broader community are all encouraged to comment on the 
draft Shape paper through the online questionnaire.

All feedback provided during the consultation period (14 March to 3 June 
2012) will be analysed by ACARA to guide the revision of the draft Shape 
paper before it is published as The Shape of the Australian Curriculum: 
Technologies.

ACARA encourages and welcomes your feedback to the draft Shape Paper for 
Technologies.

<http://www.acara.edu.au/verve/_resources/6.5_BM34_(010312)
_Draft_Shape_of_the_Australian_Curriculum_Technologies_paper_for_consultat
ion_-_Attachment_1.pdf>

42. The Australian Curriculum: Technologies comprises two strands: Design 
and technologies and Digital technologies.

43. It is based on the assumption that all young Australians are entitled 
to engage with these two Technologies strands and will be given an 
opportunity to experience the knowledge and skills base of each.

* All students will study both Design and technologies and Digital 
technologies from Foundation to the end of Year 8. While the curriculum 
will be presented as two discrete strands, it will not preclude schools 
from integrating the strands in teaching and learning programs. 
Integration is the central pedagogy found in the early years, and a key 
strength for meaningful learning in the Technologies curriculum. Schools 
will be best placed to determine how this will occur.

* In Years 9–12, students will be able to choose from a range of subjects 
developed by ACARA and states and territories across a number of learning 
areas as part of their overall curriculum package. The Australian 
Curriculum will include the development of two Technologies subjects: 
Design and technologies and Digital technologies at these year levels. 
Additional Technologies subjects, that complement and do not duplicate 
the Australian Curriculum subjects, may be offered by states and 
territories for other technologies specialisations. Decisions about the 
continued study of Technologies into Years 9–12 will be taken by school 
authorities, the school, or the student.

93. The Australian Curriculum should not exceed 80 per cent of the 
available teaching time. Indicative hours that guide the writing of all 
learning areas are available on the ACARA website in the Curriculum 
Design paper (http://www.acara.edu.au/curriculum/). The indicative hours 
for writing Technologies curriculum should be read with this in mind. For 
Design and technologies and Digital technologies combined these are:
 60 hours across Years F–2
 80 hours across Years 3–4
 120 hours across Years 5–6
 160 hours across Years 7–8
 80 hours each across Years 9–10
 a further 200 to 240 hours of learning across Years 11–12 for each of 
Design and technologies and Digital technologies.

94. Allocation of time for teaching the Technologies learning area will 
be a school authority or school-based decision. Schools are best placed 
to determine how learning in Technologies will be delivered. These 
decisions will take account of the different approaches that can be taken 
for each Technologies strand or subject. For example, some Technologies 
curricula require frequent brief tuition while others require more 
intense immersion less frequently.
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Cheers,
Stephen