Students' technological experiences should reflect the interlinking nature of the strands: technological knowledge and understanding; technological capability; technology and society. When involved in any technological activity, students should adapt and apply knowledge, strategies, and skills from a variety of sources. Within a range of technological areas and contexts, students should produce technological solutions. They will: 5. identify needs and opportunities to provide information for possible technological practice; 6. with reference to identified needs and opportunities, a. generate possible options and strategies, and select, develop, and adapt appropriate solutions; b. produce technological outcomes to agreed quality standards, managing time, and using human and physical resources skilfully, safely, and effectively; c. present and promote ideas, strategies, and outcomes throughout technological practice; d. evaluate designs, strategies, and outcomes throughout technological practice in relation to their own activities and those of others.

Technological capability, the practical application of knowledge and ideas to develop technological solutions, is central to technology education.

In the active process of generating, designing, making, communicating, and evaluating technological solutions to meet identified needs, students should be applying their knowledge and understanding of existing technologies, and considering the values, priorities, and possible impacts on society which underlie their proposed solutions.

There are particular links between the fourth objective of Strand A: Technological Knowledge and Understanding, where students investigate the strategies used in communicating and evaluating technological ideas and outcomes, and 6c and 6d of this Technology Capability strand, where students communicate, promote, and evaluate their own solutions.

In developing their solutions, students should be encouraged to show how existing technologies might be adapted or modified, as well as the possibility of generating a new product, system, or environment. A technological solution may be produced as a scale model, a simulation, a representation, or a product &; an object, a system, or an environment.

Students will often bring a product to a sophisticated level of production, and should be encouraged to take pride in a high level of aesthetic and craft qualities. On other occasions, the activity may appropriately result in conceptual models or drawings, supported by notes, which generalise and demonstrate a solution rather than bring it to a refined conclusion.

Students need time to analyse decisions and strategies throughout the process, and to evaluate their outcomes, their use of time and resources, and the ways they can communicate their ideas. They should recognise the importance of meeting consumer needs and being responsive to the community. Students should be encouraged to rework and refine outcomes to achieve a solution. The solution may sometimes be accidental and unexpected, resulting in an innovation which offers new possibilities for development.

Technological Capability: Level 1

Achievement Objectives Within a range of technological areas and contexts, students should produce technological solutions. They will: 5. identify and discuss needs, opportunities, and preferences in their immediate environment; 6. with reference to identified needs and opportunities, a. share ideas about possible solutions and strategies, and choose a practicable option; b. identify and gather necessary resources, and model or make their preferred solution; c. discuss their ideas, intentions, progress, and outcomes with others; d. describe and discuss how they feel about what they have accomplished.

Technological Capability: Level 2

Achievement Objectives Within a range of technological areas and contexts, students should produce technological solutions. They will: 5. gather information, and identify and discuss needs, opportunities, and preferences in their local environment; 6. with reference to identified needs and opportunities, a. discuss possible solutions and strategies, and select and develop a suitable option; b. identify and gather necessary resources, and model or make their preferred solution; c. show and describe examples of their intentions, progress, and outcomes to others; d. describe how satisfied they are with their progress and outcomes, and how well they are achieving the intended solution.

Technological Capability: Level 3

Achievement Objectives Within a range of technological areas and contexts, students should produce technological solutions. They will: 5. gather and collate information on needs and opportunities in the local environment; 6. with reference to identified needs and opportunities, a. explore possible solutions and strategies, and select appropriate options, justifying their decisions; b. prepare a plan of action, identify and collect the required resources, and produce the selected solution to meet agreed or specified criteria; c. present designs, plans, and outcomes to selected groups, using suitable means of communication; d. review decisions and progress, assessing how satisfied they are with their strategies and outcomes.

Technological Capability: Level 4

Achievement Objectives Within a range of technological areas and contexts, students should produce technological solutions. They will: 5. use quantitative and qualitative methods to identify and clarify needs and opportunities; 6. with reference to identified needs and opportunities, a. identify the nature and details of the issue and explore feasible strategies; select an appropriate solution through testing, adaptation, refinement, and modification; b. prepare plans of action, identifying the required resources (time, human, material, financial); produce the selected solution to meet agreed or specified criteria; c. present and explain designs, plans, strategies, and outcomes to specific groups, using a variety of forms of communication; d. explain their choices, review strategies, and appraise outcomes, taking responses of others into account.

Technological Capability: Level 5

Achievement Objectives Within a range of technological areas and contexts, students should produce technological solutions. They will: 5. use a range of appropriate techniques to investigate and determine needs, opportunities, and consumer preferences; 6. with reference to identified needs, opportunities, and preferences, a. consider relevant factors and constraints, including existing solutions; develop and test a solution through modification and adaptation, justifying decisions; b. develop plans of action which allocate time, equipment, materials, and people efficiently; produce a solution to meet agreed or specified criteria; c. present and promote designs, plans, strategies, and outcomes, using appropriate forms of communication for their audience; d. review the ways their chosen strategies and solutions have developed in relation to intentions and agreed criteria, such as cost-effectiveness; social and environmental implications.

Technological Capability: Level 6

Achievement Objectives Within a range of technological areas and contexts, students should produce technological solutions. They will: 5. use a range of appropriate techniques to investigate and review needs and opportunities, analysing information to identify factors such as trends in consumer preferences; 6. with reference to identified needs, opportunities, and preferences, a. consider existing solutions, and the range of available options, such as materials; propose and test ideas and strategies to select a solution; b. develop and record plans of action which apply resources efficiently; produce a solution which meets specified criteria, including agreed standards, such as fitness for purpose; c. demonstrate and explain designs, plans, strategies, and outcomes, using communication and promotion methods which meet specific consumer preferences; d. review the chosen strategies and outcomes, debating their decisions in relation to a range of criteria.

Technological Capability: Level 7

Achievement Objectives Within a range of technological areas and contexts, students should produce technological solutions. They will: 5. use a range of appropriate techniques to collect, analyse, and appraise data to identify and refine consumer preferences and market needs and opportunities; 6. with reference to identified needs, opportunities, and preferences, a. specify the tasks, establish constraints and considerations through consultation, analyse possible solutions, and select, test, and modify or adapt a feasible option; b. develop a critical path, applying resources to ensure efficiency and quality; produce a solution which meets physical and aesthetic criteria, service requirements, and health and safety standards; c. present, interpret, and promote designs, plans, strategies, and outcomes to a specific audience, using appropriate specialist vocabulary and symbols; d. critically evaluate strategies and outcomes with reference to factors such as society, environment, finances, standards, and regulations.

Technological Capability: Level 8

Achievement Objectives Within a range of technological areas and contexts, students should produce technological solutions. They will: 5. use a variety of appropriate techniques to identify, clarify, and review needs and opportunities, taking into account consumer and market demands and preferences; 6. with reference to identified needs, opportunities, and preferences, a. identify task specifications, establish constraints and considerations, apply relevant research to generate viable preliminary solutions and strategies, and test, select, and modify or adapt a viable solution; b. develop a critical path, managing resources effectively; produce a solution which meets the identified requirements, including production efficiency, quality assurance, commercial standards of performance, and health and safety standards; c. make informed decisions about and implement strategies for the communication and promotion of ideas, decisions, and outcomes, with reference to community responses; d. critically analyse and evaluate the strategies and outcomes, appraising the systems used to meet standards and criteria related to performance, aesthetics, and consumer demand.