FC DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

What is the nature of Design & Technology at FC level?

Students will receive an introduction to Design & Technology. This will allow students to explore their creativity through analysis of the world around them. Students will gain fundamental knowledge of material properties and applications. They will explore design inspirations through history and be able to identify classic design. Students will gain and utilise various technical skills, and will become better researchers and designers. Students are expected to be reflective and evaluate their process and outcomes.

What will be the approach to learning?

Design & Technology is a subject where students are challenged to apply theoretical knowledge to the production of a physical product. As such it has practical elements as part of its nature. Students will undertake various activities in class including pair and group work, modelling, analysing, designing, technical drawing and written assignments. In the latter part of the year students may undertake a small coursework-based project.

What will be the subject content?

Students may explore the following topic areas:

● Resistant Materials: properties and applications

● Coursework: Research, Design, Manufacture & Evaluate

● Design Inspirations: Exploring classic design

● Smart & Modern Materials- uses and applications

● Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacture

● Modelling to aid in defining, analyzing, and communicating a concept

What will be the nature of assessment?

Assessment will be both formative and summative. Students will be assessed on their skills gained in technical drawing, use of tools and equipment, manufacturing skills, and application of knowledge in written assessments.

What is the nature of History at FC?

History at FC level at SJII involves giving a strong foundation to students, which allows them to discover the historical content, access the wider themes and acquire skills in preparation IB. The course will allow students to engage in a variety of topics and give them a basis to experience, understand and analyse these topics. Above all, it is a process of thinking and developing a range of skills which will set them up for higher-order thinking and independent research which is expected of them at IB level. In Grade 10FC there is a particular focus upon the analytical skills required for the IB Diploma.

What is the approach to learning in History?

The student will engage in a variety of topics from diverse areas of the world which will allow them to challenge their geopolitical understanding and significance of the topics. It will challenge them in their skills of judgment, evaluation and reasoning, and it will strengthen their values as they research and study real world dilemmas. It involves a mixture of research, investigation, presentation, with argument and source analysis. There is a strong emphasis on collaborative and communicative assignments allowing students to develop their skills. There is also inquiry-based learning which focuses on skills to enable students to be risk-takers and to investigate the content.

What is the subject content?

The content of the G10 FC History course is an introduction to the basic skills of the Diploma, directed research project on a topic of the students’ choice which is linked to topics covered in the IB programme such as World War One, World War Two, The Cold War, Dictators of the Twentieth Century, China and Japan. The students will mainly cover 20th Century History in Europe and Asia.

What is the nature of assessment in History?

Students will be assessed throughout with a combination of IGCSE History skills and the IB History skills. The IGCSE assessment prepares the students for the fundamental knowledge, explanation and source analysis skills. For the IB level, students will be exposed to pertinent extended writing skills which will enhance their essay skills, a major component of many subjects at the IB Diploma level. Students will do formative and summative assessments and a final exam.

What is the nature of Art at FC?

FC Art and Design is a one-year course that encourages students to think creatively through visual investigation and technical practice. In the first semester the students have Art once a week and will explore a range of media, techniques and processes. In the second semester the students will select one of the Arts subjects to take 2 times a week. This will be to help them prepare for IB Visual Arts or one of the other Arts subjects.

What is the approach to learning?

Students learn a wide variety of materials and techniques, through demonstration, workshop, practice, individual and group work. All homework is designed to support and enrich the class work. Students learn about a large number of artists, art movements and art from different cultures, and learn how to apply these techniques and processes to their own work. All this knowledge is applied to all assignments, which the students work on individually. There will be a high level of active learning in the course, and lots of academic research to prepare for IB.

What is the subject content?

The projects during the start of the year encourage personal expression, imagination, sensitivity, conceptual thinking, and powers of observation, an analytical ability and practical attitudes. Students will learn how to use and understand a wide variety of materials, techniques and processes, and will create a diverse portfolio of work. During the second half of the year, students will work in a more IB focused way, producing work like the work produced in Grades 11 and 12 but on a smaller scale.

Project Subjects Skills

Observational drawing in a variety of drawing materials

Semester 1

The Natural world

Drawing, painting and mixed media, experimentation.

Painting- watercolor, acrylic, dye and ink

Collage techniques

Semester 2

IB Visual Arts Style work

Various – depending on the individual’s interest

What is the nature of assessment?

Art making, research, analysis, evaluation, presentation.

Students will be assessed periodically throughout the course using the IB Assessment Criteria. This will come in the form of peer assessment, self-assessment, and teacher assessment. All assessment will also provide feedback for the students on how they can improve their work.

1. What is the nature of Theatre at FC level?

The aims of the Theatre course at FC are to enable students to:

● Know and understand theatrical styles, theories and terminology.

● Apply practical skills for rehearsal and performance in order to create and present art both independently and collaboratively.

● Engage in a process of creative exploration and (self-) discovery.

● Communicate feelings and ideas to an audience.

● Use Drama to explore and express self and the world around oneself.

● Enjoy drama.

2. What will be the approach to learning?

Students will be exposed to a range of dramatic materials. Different types of activities will also be used in class, such as: pair work, group discussions, debate, devising, and written assignments. There will be opportunities to develop language, skills and confidence through presentations and performances.

3. What will be the subject content?

Performance Skills

Drama and Theatre skills will be introduced to students. Students will develop their performance skills such as the use of voice and physicality and how these are utilised in performance to create characters as well as tension, emotion, atmosphere and meaning.

Production

Students will watch live performances and discuss the use of production and performance techniques. Students will practically explore how to use production elements such as set, props, costume, sound and lights in a performance context. They will analyse scripts, exploring context as well as the aims and intentions of the authors and how these might be incorporated into their own designs.

4. What will be the nature of assessment?

Assessment will be both formative and summative.

Students will be assessed through performances, written assignments and reflections. Their engagement in lessons will also be taken into account.

What is the nature of Music at FC level?

A vibrant musical education fosters curiosity and openness to both familiar and unfamiliar musical worlds. Through learning and participating in the study of music we are able to explore the similarities, differences and links in music from within our own culture and that of others across time. At SJI International student’s learning and active musical engagement allows them to become informed, reflective and critical practitioners in music, to explore and value the diversity of the music across time, place and cultures and develop confidence and experience as a performer.

What is the approach to learning?

FC Music lessons occur once a week, the basis of which are formed by investigating foundation areas of inquiry (AOIs), similar to units, which act as a springboard to expanding the student’s awareness of music in a global context. Students are encouraged to use these areas of inquiry as a starting point to further investigate their own interests in music. The course enables students to acquire and consolidate a range of basic musical skills, knowledge and understanding, through the exploration, experimentation and presenting of music they:

● Developing appropriate musical terminology through the lens of the musical elements (dynamics, rhythm, context, structure, melody, instrumentation, texture and harmony)

● Develop knowledge and understanding of music in relation to time, place and cultures

● Comparatively analyse music in relation to time, place and cultures

● Develop creativity through the exploration, control and development of musical elements

● Develop performance skills through presenting music as solos or in ensemble groups

What is the subject content?

Students are introduced to the Areas of Inquiry by investigating:

● Samba drumming

● African Ensembles (marimbas and drumming circles)

● Music production through a variety of technology

● Performing in groups (rock bands and ensembles)

Student-led areas of inquiry are interests that students generate themselves. These interests are encouraged and developed in a more organic way, either as an off-shoot of the foundation AOIs or from their own study into music. From identifying their own interests and exploring, experimenting and presenting music in these personal contexts students generate a life-long love of music learning. There is the potential to create service based opportunities based on the work produced as a result of these areas of inquiry to help students understand the role of music in a local context and to further embed SJI Internationals mission of leaving to serve.

Students will be given the opportunity to use a variety of acoustic instruments as well as ongoing access to music technology resources to assist their investigations into the AOIs.

The above AOIs are studied through the approaches of exploration, experimentation and presentation:

Exploration

When exploring music in context, students will learn how to engage with a diverse range of music that will broaden their musical horizons and provide stimuli to expand their own music-making. Students will demonstrate diversity and breadth in their exploration by engaging with music from the areas of inquiry in personal, local and global contexts.

Presenting

When presenting music, students learn to practice and prepare pieces that will be performed or presented to an audience (of at least their peers in the classroom). In working towards completed musical works, students expand their musical identity, demonstrate their level of musicianship, and learn to share and communicate their music as researchers, creators and performers.

Experimenting

When experimenting with music, students connect their studies of the AOIs to practical work and gain a deeper understanding of the music they engage with. Through this theoretical and practical work student will learn to experiment with a range of musical material and stimuli from the areas of inquiry across local and global contexts.

What is the nature of assessment?

Students will be assessed periodically throughout the course. This will come in the form of peer assessment, self-assessment, and teacher assessment. All assessments will also provide feedback for the students on how they can improve their work.

Students are given the opportunity to take part in a variety of assessment tasks and develop skills linked to both the student-led and foundation AOIs outlined above. This is in the form of performance based evidence, composition work, written tasks, portfolio style log entries and listening work.