Year 6 students at Dilworth School designed a fabric storage container for a client during the Soft Materials focus in their Technology programme. The students learnt to make patterns and how to use a sewing machine during the development of their containers.

http://www.techlink.org.nz/CP1007.htm

Hussam designed and built a device that automatically opened and closed windows to maintain a desired room temperature, for which he gained a 2009 Transpower Neighbourhood Engineers Award.

http://www.techlink.org.nz/student-showcase/electronics/Hussam-Auto-window.htm

This Technology unit focused on the development of a performance costume for a ballet dancer. The student worked with the dancer as her client. She researched the technological practice undertaken by professional technologists to inform the practice used to develop a tutu that was 'fit for purpose'.

http://www.techlink.org.nz/student-showcase/Scholarship/Estelle-Peacock.htm

The Applications series of booklets is intended for use with students in Years 9 – 11. It presents scientific and technological information within the context of narratives that reflect real-life problems and experiences. This approach supports the development of language across the curriculum.

http://www.techlink.org.nz/teaching-snapshot/Resource-Reviews/applications-series.htm

Robert was asked to develop a gift, something meaningful that his stakeholder would cherish, and decided to make a toy for his one-year-old niece. He first thought about creating a mini drum set on a platform but realised that this would be too difficult to construct in 12 two-hour lessons, he then considered other toys suitable for a young child. Remembering how much his sister had enjoyed a rocking chair their grandfather had made for her, Robert chose to make a rocking chair for his niece's favourite doll as a Christmas present.

http://www.techlink.org.nz/student-showcase/materials/Robert-Dolls-rocking-chair.htm

In this school-wide Technology unit, students illustrate the concept of 'transformation' by creating their own short video adaptations of Māori myths and legends. Involving over 180 students, this unit illustrates ideas within the Nature and Knowledge strands while enhancing skills in soft materials, electronics, and video and sound editing.

http://www.techlink.org.nz/teaching-snapshot/Y07-10-Middle/Northcross-Myths-videos.htm

When the Technology team at Remuera Intermediate created a programme of learning in 2009 they established Technological Modelling as the focus component in Year 8 Food Technology. This presented a challenge for their new Food Technology teacher Sonja Potter, who returned to teaching Technology in 2010 after several years running her own business so had to update her knowledge of the Technology Curriculum. The team had created technological modelling assessment criteria using the Indicators of Progression, as part of the team-wide use of rubrics. Sonja decided on a 'mini units' approach for her first Year 8 cycle and her students worked on two different challenges during the twelve weeks. They were first introduced to the concepts within technological modelling when designing and creating a "healthy" cake for a cafe. The students created at least two prototype cakes over several weeks, which they evaluated against their attributes and brief.

http://www.techlink.org.nz/teaching-snapshot/Y07-10-Middle/Remuera-Perfect-Pasta.htm

Year 13 students at Takapuna Grammar School created replica furniture and fittings to be installed in Fort Takapuna for their clients – the Department of Conservation and the Tamaki Reserve Protection Trust. The unit evolved from a two-student project in 2007 into something most of the class worked on in 2008 and 2009. The 2010 class is also working on the project which has expanded to incorporate students not directly involved in the unit.

http://www.techlink.org.nz/Case-studies/Classroom-practice/Materials/CP1006-Fort-Takapuna/index.htm

What do making toys, diarrhea, a space mission to Jupiter and designing a tapa cloth have in common? Well, they are all Connected – that is, they are all topics in the Ministry of Education free educational resource booklet series of that name. And if you are planning a Technology, or cross-curricular unit, then they come highly recommended.

http://www.techlink.org.nz/teaching-snapshot/Resource-Reviews/Connected.htm

Promotional CD produced by Techlink in conjunction with Futureintech that illustrates the practice and achievements of Technology students and their potential career paths in a 56 image power point slideshow. The CD was created to promote Technology as a learning area and to inform parents of intermediate and secondary school students of the benefits of Technology education.

http://www.techlink.org.nz/teaching-snapshot/Resource-Reviews/Techlink-slideshow.htm

Fabrics Technology teacher Maya Foster planned a wearable arts unit around a two-day workshop in which her Year 12 students would work with wearable artist Anita Peters. This skills and knowledge-development initiative became part of a wider collaboration with Year 9, 10 and 13 students and culminated in a Recyclable Wonders Fashion Show.

http://www.techlink.org.nz/teaching-snapshot/Y12-13-Senior/Rangitoto-Working-with-technologist.htm

When Takapuna Normal Intermediate joined the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme in 2008, Technology teachers had the challenge of developing their own course within the IB framework. The school chose to follow the IB primary years programme (PYP, ages 3 to 12) rather than middle years programme (ages 11-16), in part because it is inquiry-based and the school was already operating on an inquiry-based system. The primary years programme, however, does not recognise Technology as a subject area, but as a discipline within a trans-disciplinary programme.

http://www.techlink.org.nz/teaching-snapshot/Y07-10-Middle/Takapuna-IB-Programme.htm

Jessica's client for her Year 13 Digital Technology project was Tania Roxborogh, a beloved New Zealand author of young adult fiction, nonfiction and educational books. Tania wanted a website that would give her a web presence that did justice to her well-established reputation, serving as a place to promote her existing catalogue and keep her fans updated on news and developments in the author's professional and personal life.

http://www.techlink.org.nz/student-showcase/ict/Jessica-Website.htm

Tayla and Alana worked together on a wearable arts project, with an emphasis on recycling, for which they each created five garments. Their organisation of a charity fashion show Recyclable Wonders, which expanded to include Year 9, 10 and 12 students, also involved them being stakeholders for the Year 12 class.

http://www.techlink.org.nz/student-showcase/materials-soft/Alana-Tayla-Wearable-arts.htm

Evocative of a wave, perhaps the ribs of a whale, a korowai (cloak) or albatross feathers, Te Rewa Rewa Bridge in New Plymouth shows the capacity of engineering to combine utility with fine art. The pedestrian/cycle bridge spans the Waiwhakaiho River and is part of the extension of the city’s award-winning coastal walkway.

http://www.techlink.org.nz/Case-studies/Technological-practice/Materials/Te-Rewa-Rewa-bridge/index.htm

In 2009 Rachel Lawson was awarded a New Zealand Scholarship in Technology for her work in developing a one-off solution (three screen printed glass panels) for a client. This technology unit focused on developing of a glass panel sculpture for a specific location within her client's house. Rachel decided to embark on this project when she was approached by her client with the issue of there being a wall in her clients house that required decoration. She undertook research, trialed materials and techniques, and consulted a variety of practising technologists to inform her technological practice and the technological outcome that was eventually developed.

http://www.techlink.org.nz/student-showcase/Scholarship/Rachel-Lawson.htm

In 2009, Lucilla Gray was awarded a New Zealand Scholarship in Technology for her work in designing and creating a range of 'High Fashion Clothing' for a photo shoot. In particular, an outfit was developed for a particular client. Her work in creating this range provided her with an opportunity to demonstrate how she could synthesise information from a range of sources when undertaking technological practice to meet a client's needs.

http://www.techlink.org.nz/student-showcase/Scholarship/Lucilla-Gray.htm

When an accident in early 2009 caused Tom Maguire to be thrown from his trail bike, the hand guard trapped his wrist when he fell forward, nearly "twisting it to breaking point".

Tom did some research within the local rider community and on blogs and online forums and found that this issue was well-recognised. "I found that in many cases the risk of using hand guards outweighed the safety benefits they provided," he says. "There was no evidence that there was a hand guard available that gave full impact protection while allowing hands to be free in an accident."

http://www.techlink.org.nz/student-showcase/materials/Tom-Hand-guard.htm

Year 13 students in the Project-based Technology class at Wainuiomata High School exemplify the adage "success breeds success". The opportunity to work across learning areas and gain NCEA credits has given them a sense of accomplishment to the benefit of both their Technology and their ambitions for the future – with most of the 2009 class planning to go on to tertiary study.

http://www.techlink.org.nz/teaching-snapshot/Y12-13-Senior/Wainuiomata-Project-based-Technology.htm

Over 2009/2010, Selena and Paul have collaborated on a number of projects to help teachers understand aspects of Technology in The New Zealand Curriculum (2007). Selena has been facilitating the GIF Resource Development and Facilitation Years 7-10 Technology Project and Paul has been working as a Technology Facilitator and is currently part of the team of National Technology Professional Development Facilitators.

http://www.techlink.org.nz/teaching-snapshot/Y07-10-Middle/Curriculum-activities-Selina-Paul.htm