Supporting Learning Environment Level 6

To support students to develop understanding of characteristics of technology at level 6, teachers could:

• support students to analyse a range of examples of technological development and explain how different disciplines have impacted on the nature of the technological practice undertaken and how this in turn has influenced understandings of the contributing disciplines. Examples should include those from the students own work and others’ technological practice and allow students to gain insight into the interdisciplinary nature of technological practice
• support students to explore examples of where collaborative work between technologists and/or other people has led to new possibilities for technological practice and/or outcome design. Examples should include those from the students own work and others’ technological practice and allow students to gain insight into the way idea generation and exploration can be enhanced through collaboration
• support students to understand that interdisciplinary collaboration provides exciting opportunities to ‘work at the boundaries’ of established fields and appreciate that this may lead to situations where no codified technological knowledge exists to guide practice, tensions between people may arise, and a greater number of unknown consequences may result
• provide students with opportunities to discuss how the interdisciplinary nature of technology and the need for collaboration can influence how technology is understood and accepted by different groups in both positive and negative ways.

Explain how different disciplines have impacted on technological practice

Spend 15 minutes playing computer game. Brainstorm/discuss in pairs the different knowledge bases that were required to develop the game.

Students identify different knowledge bases required to develop the game such as mathematics, physics, graphics, etc.
Discuss what each discipline has contributed to the overall outcome.

Present different examples of technological outcomes that are obvious results of collaborations
For example:

• tent - textile shell and resistant structure
• electronic product – package design and electronic circuit design

Discuss the links between material areas, common and specific knowledge and the likely attributes that involved successful collaboration

Explain why collaboration is important in technological developments that involve interdisciplinary work

Find an industry example or a case study that shows good collaborative practice between technologists
e.g. “The Pixar story”
e.g. www.melissaplasticdreams.com (Melissa shoe company collaborates with well known fashion/product designers and architects to develop new shoe products)

Students undertake independent inquiry to identify the different disciplines involved and the collaborative practices adopted by technologists and present findings to class.

Students explore examples of where unsuccessful collaborative practices have led to product failure
e.g. You tube – toy dog lips

You tube – exploding ford

You tube - Defibrillator

Students using understanding gained from researching about attributes that contribute to successful collaboration, determine attributes that contribute to unsuccessful collaboration

Explain how interdisciplinary collaboration in technology can enhance and/or inhibit technological development and implementation

Research examples where interdisciplinary collaboration in technology has enhanced and/or inhibited a technological development and its implementation

Present research findings in a seminar presentation to the class

Describe examples of interdisciplinary collaboration in technology that has influenced, or could influence on public understanding and acceptance of technology.

Research examples where interdisciplinary collaboration in technology has influenced, or could influence public understandings and acceptance of technology

Present research findings in a seminar presentation to the class