What is a technology exemplar?
A technology exemplar is a sample of authentic student work annotated to illustrate learning, achievement, and quality in relation to levels 1 to 5 of Technology in the New Zealand Curriculum.
Using the technology exemplars
The student work in each exemplar relates to one or more of the technological areas and to the three curriculum strands:
- Strand A: Technological Knowledge and Understanding
- Strand B: Technological Capability
- Strand C: Technology and Society.
In general, each exemplar features the work of a single student or a group working on a shared project.
The "What the work shows" page on each exemplar gives a brief overview and links to sections that detail the work and indicate what was achieved at each stage.
The "Curriculum links" section relates students' work in the exemplars to one or more achievement objectives (AOs) in the curriculum, showing how students work towards these AOs in their technology practice. The AOs are interrelated in technology practice (All curriculum links are to the generic AOs in the left-hand column of the fold-out table at the back of Technology in the New Zealand Curriculum).
Each exemplar includes teacher-student or peer conversations that illustrate how classroom learning can be reinforced by focused questioning or feedback. Student reflections on what has been achieved are also included in several exemplars. The "Learning context" section details the context of the student work, and the section "Where to next?" suggests next steps in students' learning and additional strategies for teaching or assessment that will enrich learning in technology.
The technology exemplars show how a variety of planning formats can be used to plan and negotiate clear learning outcomes.
Development of the technology exemplars
The technology exemplars are based on extensive classroom observation and interviews and interactions with students and their teachers throughout New Zealand. They provide a snapshot of different approaches to technology education and technological practice in the classroom.
Developing Technological Literacy
Technological literacy, encompassing technological practice, is achieved through the development of:
- technological knowledge and understanding
- technological capability
- understanding of the relationship between technology and society.
Being Innovative, Creative, and a Risk Taker
A student may be innovative, creative, or a risk taker at any level or in relation to any strand of the curriculum. This key characteristic has been identified in the exemplars to encourage teachers to recognise and foster this characteristic in their students' technological practice. Innovation, creativity, and risk taking may be expressed in outcomes, processes, ideas, or approaches to a technological solution.
Communication and Modelling
Communication and modelling are necessary throughout technological practice to clarify, explain, and promote ideas or developments. Modelling assists with analysis and evaluation. It is not restricted to 3-dimensional modelling but includes 2-dimensional modelling, simulations, and computer-modelling techniques. Encouraging students to use appropriate technological language will enable them to express their technological ideas with increasing precision.
Decision Making and Discernment
Students need to develop and exercise skills in decision making and discernment throughout their technological practice. These characteristics are essential to technological literacy. By examining and becoming aware of the values and beliefs which impact on any technological development, students learn to think critically about the selection of resources and the development of technologies, both for themselves and in relation to others.
Developing and Achieving Solutions
This aspect acknowledges the importance of developing technological solutions through to a practical outcome such as a product, a report, a model, a simulation, a system, or an actual environment.
Developing and Using Technological Knowledge
Technological content knowledge is contextually based and cannot be directly listed by levels. Students will also access knowledge and skills from other curricula when necessary to complete technological outcomes. The exemplars illustrate how specific technological knowledge can be learned in a variety of contexts.
The availability of the technology exemplars
Online
The New Zealand Curriculum Exemplars
View all the exemplar materials, including the 36 technology exemplars and the technology teachers' notes.
PDF format is available for printing the online versions.
In print
Ten of the technology exemplars and the technology teacher's notes are available in print.
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