Nicholas Apap

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The reason the national curriculum was developed

- ACARA Director= Dr. Fiona Mueller

o Common problem= what are we going to allow young students to learn to be
prepared for the 21st century life?
o Needs to support all backgrounds and abilities

ACARA contains a 3D structure including;

- Leaning areas
- Cross curriculum priorities
- General abilities

Design and technology curriculum development;

- Past (1901-1930)
o Manufacturing boom
o Newcastle steel work opened (example of manufacturing boom)
o 1920s = highest employment in manufacturing industries
- Past (1930-1960)
o Development in chemical industries lead to the common use of materials such as;
Plastics
Pesticides
Paints
Asbestos (dangerous)
o Increase focus in Australian schools to develop student skills in the following fields
Home economics
Metal work
Technical drawing
Cabinetry making
- Past (1960-1980)
o Increase in natural industry (example = coal)
o Increase in paper and communication industries
o Technology emerged at an extraordinary rate. Examples include;
Home computers
Mobile phones
Computer games
Access to the internet
Email
o Big emphasis on practical learning
- Present (2000-2015)
o Rise in ASIA becoming a huge competitor in the manufacturing regions
o ASIA diminished Australias manufacturing industries
- Future(2015- onwards)
o Australian population is increasing (need to prepare for this)
o Protecting Australian workforce and economy from competitive markets
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o Catering for the shift from manufacturing to servicing (example = car manufacturing
leaving Australia for overseas: Ford, Holden, Mitsubishi and Toyota)
o Decline in fossil fuels and mineral industry
o Increase energy consumption
o Technology development
o Stated by Malcolm Turnbul (present Australian PM) we need to equip students for
the jobs of tomorrow

NESA

- Need to redesign the NSW curriculum to suit societys needs;

o Transitioning from purpose built workshops
o Advancing technology
o Holistic design purposes
o OH&S and school funding
o Stability (environmental concerns)

STEM

- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

- Attempt to remove outdated subject boundaries

Aims of the technology curriculum in the Australian curriculum

- In summary it aims to develop creative and diverse students who use appropriate
technologies when designing products

Design and Technology

Knowledge and Understanding Processes and Production Skills
Technologies and societys - Creating design solutions
- The impact on people - Investigating and defining
- Generating and designing
Technologies Contexts - Producing and implementing
- Technology and design across a range - Educating
of technologies - Collaborating and managing
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Controversies

- Teacher shortages in these skilled areas

- Complaints that curriculum is already over crowded
- Future of existing subjects?
- Will we defeat the purpose of a national curriculum?