Development of the Essential Skills through Technology

Schools need to ensure in their planning that all students have the opportunity to develop the full range of essential skills to the best of their ability. Technological activities provide opportunities for the development of the essential skills, and the reinforcement and application of skills used in other essential learning areas.

Communication skills

Students will be communicating ideas, possible solutions, reflections, and outcomes. They will use a variety of means of communication, including:

• annotated drawings;
• graphical representation;
• construction of demonstration models;
• modern information and communication technologies.

For example, students may make an oral presentation with the aid of overhead transparencies developed using a computer graphics package.

Numeracy skills

Calculating, measuring, and estimating skills can be practised and developed through technological activities, linking technology with mathematics. Graphs, tables, charts, and other visual presentations of data have a role in technological activities.

For example, students may need to calculate the cost of materials used in making a model of their expected result and estimate the materials necessary for full-scale production.

Information skills

As technology involves the integration of information from a wide range of sources, information skills are of special importance in technology. Technological activities provide students with opportunities to develop and apply all of the essential information skills:

• devising questions, and using a range of inquiry techniques;
• identifying, locating, gathering, storing, retrieving, and processing information;
• organising, analysing, synthesising, evaluating, and using information;
• presenting information clearly, logically, concisely, and accurately;
• identifying, describing, and interpreting different points of view;
• using a range of information-retrieval and information-processing technologies confidently and competently.

Problem-solving skills

The technology curriculum offers rich contexts for problem solving. In particular, the aim of developing technological capability is closely linked with problem-solving skills:

• thinking critically, creatively, reflectively, and logically;
• exercising imagination, initiative, and flexibility;
• identifying, describing, and redefining problems, and analysing them from a variety of perspectives;
• making connections and establishing relationships;
• inquiring and researching, and exploring, generating, and developing ideas;
• testing ideas and solutions, and making decisions on the basis of experience and supporting evidence;
• evaluating processes and outcomes.

Self-management and competitive skills

Technology, with its practical focus, provides a significant context for students to develop self-management skills and to compete in an authentic environment by:

• setting and achieving goals;
• managing time and other resources effectively;
• showing initiative, perseverance, commitment, and adaptability;
• developing strategies to deal with challenges, and resolve conflicts;
• dealing with competition, and feelings of success and failure.

Social and co-operative skills

Learning activities in technology provide natural, regular, and authentic opportunities for students to relate to others and work co-operatively. Many problem-solving tasks demand a high level of negotiation, collaboration, and respect for others.

For example, students could negotiate the allocation of tasks and roles within their group, taking account of the views of all its members.

Physical skills

In planning, developing, and carrying out technological tasks, students have systematic, purposeful opportunities to develop manipulative skills and learn to use tools, equipment, and materials correctly, efficiently, and safely. Students also need to understand and apply health and safety skills, in relation both to themselves and to others, especially when using materials and equipment.

Work and study skills

Technological activities can involve students in working co-operatively with community or business groups. They will develop skills to operate independently, in groups, and in the wider community.