Design and Technology

Writing with Purpose

'If you want to learn something well, explain it!'

Richard Feynman

One of the nice aspects about Term 2, for the Design and Technology Department is watching students apply their skills in the making of their major projects. The reason for making a project is to improve the lives of others and students are motivated by this intention. Equally important is that students document the processes they have used to complete making. Students understand that the purpose of their writing is to clarify to the reader what they have done and why; how it is most appropriate and the benefits that will be provided. Reference to correct terminology for the techniques, tools, materials andmethods that have been applied; clarifies the student's understanding and conveys a depth of knowledge. The ability for students to articulate their knowledge clearly in their portfolio is a requisite to perform well. The Design and Technology Department, under the guidance of Visiting Academic Fellow Julia Anstey, has begun to review the tasks and activities that students complete to develop their writing. Julia has provided some fresh insight into how best to reframe activities and tasks in which students engage. The ability to build specific skills that can later be tapped for larger tasks has been a positive move. This fits well within the Barker College Teaching and Learning Framework which is focused on inquiry-based learning – an approach with which students in a practical based learning environment are constantly engaged.

Ben Lam (Yr 12)

The purfling platform of the violin is marked using a pencil gauge. Two pencil gauges are preferred as the lines must be constantly reapplied as they rub off during the chiselling and gouging process. The shaped ribs of the violin are then clamped and glued onto the corner, top and bottom spruce blocks. Care is required so that no glue is applied to the template as it would make the removal of the template more difficult. To ensure that this does not occur, soap is applied to the edges of the template that are in contact with the ribs, because the hide glue will not stick to soap.

Francesca Buffa (Yr 12)

Using a ruler and pencil I marked out the joint locations on each edge of the coffee table, ensuring that the dimensions were accurate and aligned with the top and bottom panels. I then set the table saw blade to a 45-degree angle and used a test piece of timber to determine the length of the mitre to be cut. I ensured that a fence was positioned so that the cut was made exactly on the corner of the timber. I then adjusted the blade so that it was at 90-degrees and set up the fence so that the rebate could be cut to the correct depth.

Bio-medical Animations

This semester Year 9 Design and Technology students have engaged in producing ‘bio-medical’ scenes for the production of a video to inform viewers about a specific medical condition. The ‘COVID’ virus has been a theme for some, though other students have opted to present medical conditions such as asthma, snake bites, arthritis and rabies. Students have collaborated with one another to research a condition in which they were interested – the cause, symptoms, the effect on the body and method of treatment. This authentic learning experience helped them to build up an understanding of what is going on inside the body, then how best to generate a narrative to communicate this effectively. Storyboards, illustrations of subject matter and clarification of the correct terminology associated with the condition have all been part of the process. Undoubtedly the fun part has been the creation of subject matter using polygon modelling, the creation of paths for moving objects, the addition of atmospheric effects and the animation of scenes. The ability to take the viewer inside the body – to a place they otherwise cannot view has inspired the students. The desire to communicate this accurately to an audience has been engaging and motivating.

Darren Woodrow Head of Design & Technology

Winter Playhouse

On a cold, rainy Thursday night Drama Captains Jess Samuelson and Bailey Angus hosted a fantastic offering of the Creative Arts at Barker.

There were gorgeous paintings from Visual Arts and clever constructions from Design and Technology in the foyer, a range of performances from curriculum Drama classes, Theatresports games and two special “sneak peeks” from the Year 11 and Year 10 play. An absolute highlight for me was the winner of the Barker Public Speaking competition Yue Han Chia discussing the importance of napping. The Winter Playhouse was an idea borne of the Drama Captains over five years ago and has become an important event in the school calendar. It was greatly missed last year due to COVID, and although there was blustery winter weather the move to Leslie Hall certainly didn’t take away from the supportive, generous energy of the audience as they were treated to a range of some of our best work. We don’t have many opportunities to showcase the committed and talented students we have at Barker working away on a huge range of creative projects, so when you add banana bread, hot chocolate and the entertaining Year 10 band, it makes for a fantastic night.

Pia Midgley Head of Drama

You’re on a stage. The audience is watching. You haven’t learned a single line for this show. It’s going to be phenomenal anyway. Welcome to TheatreSports.

TheatreSports is a terrifically funny and challenging form of improvised theatre. Teams compete against each other in rounds to create performances with the most engaging characters and the most persuasive narratives. Every game has its own set of whimsical rules that must be followed – yes, there is some order to the chaos. Every game has a prompt from the judges (a place, an activity, an object). Every game has a moment of panic and then… magic. Our intermediate and senior teams just returned from the TheatreSports School Challenge. They were up against some strong competition, and they did a fantastic job. Jess (senior competitor) sat down to chat with us about her experience. What do you love the most about TheatreSports? You all go into it together, you don’t know what you’re going to do and then you make this masterpiece out of nowhere. What skills have you gained from TheatreSports? Collaboration is a big one. You can’t make the whole scene yourself. You must listen to others, you have to accept offers, you can’t say no, you have to work together. The other thing is being able to think quickly on the spot. If you were talking to someone who was thinking about getting into TheatreSports, what would you say them them? Just go for it! If you want to be part of the TheatreSports madness, join us for TheatreSports on Tuesday and Wednesday lunchtimes in K104.

Keshini de Mel Languages Teacher, CCC Theatresports