Central+Y5-6+Technology+Challenge+2014

Technology is how things are made to solve problems. A group of Year 5 and 6 students met with Mrs Leckie with hands-on learning challenges around technology.

**We were learning to** 1. Design and develop solutions to problems 2. To be innovative 3. To encourage and develop problem-solving skills 4. Develop skills in applying scientific and technical knowledge 5. Work with elements of competition and fun 6. Take risks with our ideas 7. Transfer knowledge and skills to new situations

**We achieved these goals by**
 * 1) Reading the instructions carefully
 * 2) Drawing a plan, compromising and adapting
 * 3) Being a good team member and co-operating in our group
 * 4) Using our prior knowledge
 * 5) Listening to each other and using our individual skills and knowledge
 * 6) Organising our time and resources
 * 7) Being self managing
 * 8) Building on feedback within our group
 * 9) Being creative and divergent thinkers
 * 10) Being positive, persevering, learning and having fun.

**The Key Competencies we used in our teams were** • Thinking • Using language, symbols and texts • Managing self • Relating to others • Participating and contributing

**The materials we used were common** newspaper plastic shopping bags strings A4 paper sticky tape scissors straws paper clips

**Technology Challenges usually include:** - building towers - grabbing things over a distance - moving an object across a construction e.g. bridges - moving an object with your construction e.g. fishing rod - moving an object down e.g. parachute

**Mrs Leckie’s advice is great for Technology Challenges and for life.** Here are some of her wise lines. “The base needs to be strong, no matter what structure is going on it.” “Get the paper rollers going quickly.” “Adapt as you go.” “Affirm one another in your group.” “Give people in your team feedback as you go.” “Sometimes it’s the simple ideas that work the best.” “Everything in life is practice!” “Think, talk, listen, share ideas, respect ideas, plan, co-operate, adapt, make, test, re-design.” “One strategy is to quickly sketch your own ideas and then share them in your group. Then combine a number of features from each person’s plan.” “Instead of saying “No,” you could say “How about this idea?” “ Metacognition is vital in the Technology challenge… reflecting and adapting as you go.” “Remember team work.” “ Don’t get distracted.” “ Have fun.” “ Use your prior knowledge and adapt it.” “ Respect people.” “ Listen to suggestions.” “ Use manners.” “ Respect ideas, talk, and come to a consensus.” “ Outriggers give stability.” “There are time limits. The challenge is getting done in time.” “ It’s the effort that people put into it that is the most important thing.” media type="file" key="Y5-6 Technology 2014.mov" width="363" height="363"

**If you are interested in a career using technology…** • There was an article on the front page of the newspapers we were using. Mrs Leckie said it was interesting to read about these students from Southland farms who had gone on to be engineers. She’s sure that they will have taken part in the Technology Challenge too when they were at primary school. • Look at this enormous number of jobs that use technology. Follow the links to find out more. [|Biotechnologist] [|Design/Product Development Engineer] [|Electronics Engineer/Technician] [|Food Technologist] [|Product Evaluator] [|Digital Technology Jobs Overview] [|CAD Draftsperson] [|Computer Systems Engineer] [|Electronics Engineer/Technician] [|Geospatial (GIS) Analyst] [|ICT Support Professional] [|Software Developer/Engineer] [|Software Tester] [|Web Developer] [|Acoustic Engineer] [|Biomedical Engineer] [|Building Services Engineer] [|CAD Draftsperson] [|Chemical & Process Engineer] [|Civil Engineer] [|Computer Systems Engineer] [|Design/Product Development Engineer] [|Electrical Engineer] [|Electronics Engineer/Technician] [|Engineering Geologist] [|Engineering Technician] [|Environmental Engineer] [|Geotechnical Engineer] [|Mathematical Modeller/ Mathematician/ Statistician] [|Mechanical Engineer] [|Operation or Production Engineer] [|Power Systems Engineer] [|Project/Contract Manager] [|Quantity Surveyor] [|Robotics/Automation Engineer] [|Site/Project Engineer] [|Software Developer/Engineer] [|Structural Engineer] [|Surveyor/Survey Technician] [|Transportation Engineer] [|Water Resources Engineer] [|Agricultural/Horticultural Scientist] [|Biomedical Scientist] [|Biosecurity Officer] [|Biotechnologist] [|Chemist] [|Climate Scientist + Meteorologist] [|Ecologist] [|Environmental Scientist] [|Environmental/Urban Planner] [|Food Safety or QA Officer] [|Food Scientist] [|Forensic Scientist] [|Geologist] [|Geospatial (GIS) Analyst] [|Marine/Coastal Scientist] [|Microbiologist] [|Mathematical Modeller/ Mathematician/ Statistician] [|Physicist or Medical Physicist] [|Product Evaluator]
 * [|Technology Jobs Overview] **
 * [|Engineering Jobs Overview] **
 * [|Science Jobs Overview] **
 * [|Surveyor] **
 * [|Quantity Surveyor] **

• Check out this excellent website for more information. []