The Technologies KLA is responsible for the delivery of a wide variety of exciting and engaging subjects, all of which offer outstanding training and educational opportunities specifically aligned to industry and career pathways. These include Timber, Computing, Food Technology, Textiles and Graphics courses.
With the completion of the Innovation and Design Education Centre (iDEC) facilities in 2014, St Benedict’s students and teachers have access to state of the art facilities, tools and machinery. These facilities include:
- Industry standard commercial kitchen
- Domestic junior kitchen
- Dedicated building and construction area
- Two timber workshops with a central machine room which includes a CNC Router
- A “green screen” film recording area
- Textiles classroom
- Makerspace equipped with a Trotech Laser Cutter, 3D printers, Lego Robotics and m-bots.
All courses offered in Technologies afford students with the opportunity to further their career choices after leaving school as well as developing skills that are of lifelong value.
The aim of the Technologies faculty at St Benedict’s College is to provide students with a sense of achievement through fun, relevant & engaging activities embracing digital communication technologies, group work & student centred learning. These activities allow students the freedom to explore physical design, whilst developing an awareness of tolerance, cooperation and team spirit.
Students are introduced to the technological society we live in by experiencing a range of modern practical activities using a wide range of tools and resources. Students are encouraged to become self-reliant and develop skills that will enable them to become capable of thinking and working in a practical, logical and realistic manner. The Technologies faculty places a strong emphasis on both practical literacy and numeracy in all of its activities.
Literacy and Numeracy is embedded in practical experience, encouraging students to find the relevance of these essential skills.
Stage 4
All students study the Technology Mandatory course in Stage 4. This provides students with project based learning experiences within the following units:
Year 7
Space X – Our digital technologies focus area is delivered with a NASA space program context. Students engage in activities such as communicating in Binary and Python programming languages. They write computer programs onto a micro bit which astronauts can wear to help track their physical activity, keeping them fit and healthy whilst in space.
Power Racer – Our Engineering focus area focuses on Formula 1 race cars. Students design and create their own model race car and then race against each other!
Year 8
Food Weekly – Students study food and agriculture technologies by designing a healthy hamburger suitable for sale at a cafe. The produce a food themed magazine suitable for teenagers. Students participate in weekly food practical experiences.
Inspired by Me – Students study timber technologies by designing and producing a storage device to fill a particular need. They also are given experiences with using the Laser Cutter for their project.
All Stage 4 focus areas are delivered with STEM units of work including team-based learning projects.
Stage 5
In Stage 5, students have the opportunity to select two elective subjects to study. The TAS faculty offers students the chance to select from the following 200 hour courses:
- Industrial Technology – Timber
- Industrial Technology – Multimedia
- Graphics Technology
- Food Technology
- Textiles Technology
- Design and Technology
Each elective is based around a specific area of study and its related industry. Projects within each area are designed and developed through the use of a design process. Students are then given opportunities to make their individual projects in one of our specialised facilities.
Stage 6
The TAS faculty offers students a range of relevant and challenging courses for the HSC in Stage 6. Students can select from the following 2 unit courses:
- Industrial Technology – Timber Products and Furniture Technologies
- Industrial Technology – Multimedia Technologies
- Computing Applications (1 unit)
- Design and Technology
The TAS Curriculum Pathway has strategically been designed so that students who find a particular area of interest in Technologies (Stage 4) can choose to follow a pathway that will develop their skills and knowledge all the way to the HSC.
Further information about all Technologies courses is available by contacting Mr Flannery at the College.