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Science and Technology
meeting the needs and interests of both students and the wider community.
Dramatic and rapid change in science and technology is a basic fact of life for all students. For personal, social, environmental and economic reasons, young people must be well equipped to be active participants in our scientific and technological society.
Science and Technology K-6 provides learning experinces in the areas of science and technology which will assist inThe aim of Science and Technology Kâ6
* an enriched view of themselves, society, the environment and the future, and
* an enthusiasm for further learning of science and technology.
The aims, objectives, learning experiences and learning outcomes of the syllabus are drawn from science education and technology education. Science is concerned with finding out about the world in a systematic way. Science is not just a body of knowledge but is also a process of investigation. Due to the rate at which scientific activity is generating knowledge in the area, the syllabus supports learning by providing students with the processes and skills to access this knowledge. The syllabus assists students to understand themselves and the environment and provides opportunities for them to develop independent rational thought and responsible action. In science the syllabus emphasises first-hand experiences, investigating, designing, problem-solving and clarifying understandings.Technology is concerned with the purposeful and creative use of resources in an effort to meet perceived needs or goals. It extends beyond the tools and technical inventions of a society and involves the application of human skills, knowledge, techniques and processes to expressive and practical problem-solving situations in all aspects of human life. The syllabus assists students to manage and influence technological change and to gain greater control over their lives in an increasingly technological world. In technology the syllabus emphasises purposeful learning through designing, making and investigating. These processes involve consideration of issues such as social and environmental responsibility in the application of technology.
The syllabus requires that students learn about and engage in:
* the process of investigating;
* the process of designing and making;
* the use of technology.
Within this syllabus students will engage in these processes and as a result will develop their knowledge of a range of scientific and technological concepts. These concepts are embodied in each of the content strands of the syllabus. Learning about science and technology will occur in relation to each of the strands.The content strands are:
* Built Environments, in which students learn about the structures and spaces that people construct, modify and adapt.
* Information and Communication, in which students learn about communication technology and the ways people make, store, organise and transfer images and information.
* Living Things, in which students learn about people, other animals and plants.
* Physical Phenomena, in which students learn about phenomena related to energy, space and time.* Products and Services, in which students learn about goods and commodities, and the systems used to produce and distribute them.
* The Earth and Its Surroundings, in which students learn about the Earth and its environment, and how people use the resources it provides. Science and Technology Kâ6 forms part of a Kâ12 continuum, providing a foundation for learning in the Science key learning area and the Technological and Applied Studies key learning area of secondary schools.
