Programme Overview Design Technologies

KLA Name: Design Technologies (Aspects of Design and Technologies and HPE)
Sub KLA Name: Home Economics
Programme Name: Year 8 Human Ecology
Description:
Human Ecology is concerned with empowering students to advocate for the wellbeing of individuals,
families and society across a variety of context. Through the study of Human Ecology, students
develop a deep understanding about the reciprocal impacts that individuals, families, government and
non-government organisations and local and global communities have on each others wellbeing. It
draws on a range of disciplines and explores pertinent practices and issues to promote action in
pursuit of individual and family wellbeing in the context of maintaining healthy and sustainable local
and global communities. The study of Human Ecology as a field of study facilitates student discovery
and investigations to further develop their critical and creative capabilities. In turn, these attributes can
be used in their personal and professional lives, informing future decisions and actions
In Year 8, the Human Ecology course is broken into four units of inquiry.
Learning in Year 8 Human Ecology involves students participating in both theory-based and practicalbased learning experiences across food and textiles contexts throughout the course.
In food contexts, students engage with a variety of health and nutrition mediums, viewing, interpreting,
analysing and evaluating them to inform their decisions about their own and others eating behaviours
and the consequences of these behaviours on the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and
communities. Food literacy is focused on, combining knowledge of food and nutrition with food
preparation skills to empower students to make healthy food decisions. In Year 8 Human Ecology, the
focus is on establishing and maintaining balanced eating patterns and exploring the nutritional
requirements of meals. Students use their food literacy skills to complete practical tasks and create an
informative feature article.
In textiles concepts, students develop the knowledge and skills to safely and effectively work with
textiles equipment to produce high quality products suitable for the intended purpose. Students in
Year 8 Human Ecology explore the nature of textiles, investigating the process from fibre to yarn to
fabric in addition to the variety of fibres and their properties. The issue of sustainability is explored in
relation to wool. Throughout the course, students are encouraged to develop and refine a repertoire of
practical textiles skills through the use of exploration, trialling and reflection. The focus of these skills
is on basic machine construction and finishing techniques in addition to embellishment techniques as
guided by student interests.
The essential question that drives all Human Ecology learning in Year 8 is In what ways can I
promote my own and others wellbeing through the contexts of food and textiles?

Overview:

Units
Aims

1.
2.
3.
4.

You Are What You Eat

Stitch and Roll
Meals For Life
Pyjama Party

Establish a sound knowledge and understanding of food and nutrition

concepts and the ability to use this information to support decisions in
relation to healthy food choices.

Develop the knowledge and skills to be able to select, create, adapt and
produce simple, nutritious foods and meals.
Understand the nature of food selection models and, combined with a
sound knowledge of nutrition, use this information to critically analyse
and evaluate foods and diets and suggest improvements.
Appreciate the process of fibre to yarn to fabric.
Understand the difference in properties between different fibres and fibre
sources.
Realise the significance of sustainability as an issue within textiles.
Develop quality research journal, process journal skills and feature article
writing skills.
Develop and refine a variety of practical food and textiles skills and
techniques.
Understand the importance of and be competent at working safely in food
and textiles practical contexts.

Caption: Inquiry Process

Source: Senior Home Economics Syllabus, QSA, 2010

End of Year 8 Achievement Standard:

By the end of Year 8, students investigate strategies and practices that enhance their own and others
health and wellbeing. Students apply personal and social skills to establish and maintain respectful
relationships and promote fair play and inclusivity. They demonstrate skills to make informed
decisions, and propose and implement actions that promote their own and others health, safety and
wellbeing. (Health and Physical Education)
By the end of Year 8 students explain factors that influence the design of products, services and
environments to meet present and future needs. Students explain how the features of technologies
impact on designed solutions and influence design decisions for each of the prescribed
technologies contexts. Students create designed solutions for each of the prescribed technologies
contexts based on an evaluation of needs or opportunities. They develop criteria for success,
including sustainability considerations, and use these to judge the suitability of their ideas and
designed solutions and processes. They create and adapt design ideas, make considered decisions
and communicate to different audiences using appropriate technical terms and a range of
technologies and graphical representation techniques. Students apply project management skills to
document and use project plans to manage production processes. They independently and safely
produce effective designed solutions for the intended purpose. (Design and Technologies)
Course Duration: Whole of year

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Tags: Year 8, Home Economics, Human Ecology, Secondary, Middle School, HOL Design
Technologies, 2015, elective, practical
John Paul College programme references: Australian Curriculum Design and
Technologies; Australian Curriculum Health and Physical Education
Course Responsibility: Head of Learning - Design Technologies