Quality Science and Technology Learning

What is quality science and technology learning

    Science and technology education in the primary school involves students learning to use the processes of investigating scientifically and designing and making to explore the natural and made environment.

   Students participate in the process of investigation by observing, classifying, exploring, predicting, testing, modifying and applying understanding to reach a conclusion. Through scientific investigation students develop conceptual understandings about physical phenomena, living things and earth and its surroundings.

   Students learn to meet needs and create opportunities by applying a design process to develop products, systems and environments. They explore needs, generate ideas, model, test, produce and reflect. Through designing and making students develop conceptual understandings about products and services, information and communication and built environments.

  Aspects of designing and making occur within a scientific investigation, for example devising an experiment or preparing a model for testing. Aspects of scientific investigation occur within a design process, for example testing the properties of a material or structure.

Students learn to select and efficiently, appropriately and safely use technologies including tools, techniques, hardware, software, materials and equipment to support the processes of designing and making and investigating scientifically.

  Science and technology education provides opportunities for students to become creative, critical, innovative and enterprising as they systematically engage with science and technology content and processes. From Kindergarten to Year 6 students become increasingly sophisticated in their conceptual understandings about science and technology and their ability to apply the processes of designing and making and investigating independently and in new contexts.