11 Digital Technology

11 Digital Technology

Digital Technologies helps ākonga to acquire the skills, project management and design thinking skills used in fields such as Software Engineering, Website Development, Creative Technologies, Database Development and Computer Science.

Course Content:
This course has four main projects:

• CREATE A COMPUTER PROGRAM - PROGRAMMING / ELECTRONICS:  In term one, will learn the basics of programming in Python.  Ākonga will also learn iterative procedures to refine their outcome when designing and

  
  

   developing the program, through user feedback, and reflection.  Ākonga will create an electronics outcome using relevant techniques and resources that consist of a working combination of hardware and software components that perform a specific function.  NOTE:  Although ākonga are not formally assessed in NCEA, this unit of learning is modelled/aligned to DT 1.1 (92004).
• DESIGN A DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES OUTCOME: In term two, ākonga will design a website prototype. The process of learning focuses on understanding the need, the potential user/s, design elements, and web conventions, to meet industry standards guided through the process of manaakitanga / kaitiakitanga (implications and end user needs).  Ākonga will iteratively develop their design through ongoing user feedback and user experience methodologies to create a refined outcome. NOTE: Although ākonga are not formally assessed in NCEA, this unit of learning is modelled/aligned to DT 1.4 (92007).
• DEMONSTRATE UNDERSTANDING OF USABILITY IN HUMAN COMPUTER INTERFACES: In term three, ākonga will conduct a theory course that explores the usability heuristic principles of design.  Ākonga will also consider mātāpono Māori (i.e. the clear use of te reo Māori, orthography, tikanga Māori, whanaungatanga, and wairuatanga) in the contextual setting that they are given.  NOTE:  This will be an Externally Assessed exam (DT 1.3; 92006) conducted at the end of Term 3 or beginning of Term 4.
• DEVELOP A DIGITAL OUTCOME: In term four, a digital outcome is developed.  The options for this in order of priority are:
  • Learn the basics of HTML5 and CSS3 to build a website
  • Create an electronics outcome i.e. environmental monitoring system, wearable tech, or robot.
  • A digital information outcome such as a database. 

NOTE: Although ākonga are not formally assessed in NCEA, this unit of learning is modelled/aligned to DT 1.2 (92005).