Course Description: 

• Agriculture is an applied Science. 

• Practical work is used to strengthen the topic areas. 

• Courses are enterprise-based. 

• 3 – 4 enterprises are covered each year. 

• Units of work cover all aspects of these enterprises. 

• The day-to-day running of the Agriculture plots is the responsibility of the students. 

• There will be local excursions during the year as well as some Agricultural Shows. 

• The courses offered each year are rotated to allow both Year 9 and Year 10 students to have access to courses they have not previously done. 

Topics undertaken and approximate weeks’ duration: 

• Beef Cattle Production 4 

• Pasture Production 10 

• Beef Cattle Production 8 

• Horticulture Production 8 

• Pig Production 6 

• Honey/Bee Production 4 

Materials Required: 

• Work boots (when instructed) 

• Wide-brimmed hat, school hat or cap for practical work 

• A4 exercise book 

Course Fees:  $120 per year 

Course Description: 

Integrated Skills, Technology, Engineering & Mechanics 

• Science, technology, engineering and mathematics are fundamental to shaping the future of Australia. They provide enabling skills and knowledge that increasingly underpin many professions and trades and the skills of a technologically based workforce. The iSTEM program applies these knowledge sources to Skills, Technology, Engineering and Mechanics. 

• The proposed iSTEM program utilises a practical integrated approach with engineering and technology to drive interest in science and mathematics by developing technical skills and mechanical engineering knowledge. Its purpose is to increase the number of students studying STEM-based subjects in the senior years and, ultimately, the number of students matriculating to tertiary study in the STEM areas.

• Pure mathematics and science topics are not included in this course proposal. Students learn about technological and engineering concepts, which by their very nature are scientific and mathematical. 

Inquiry-Based Learning 

• To satisfy the requirements of the course, students must undertake a range of inquiry-based learning activities which occupy the majority of course time. Inquiry-based learning assists students to actively pursue and use technological knowledge rather than experience it as pre-packaged and complete – to be accepted and practised. Thus in the course structure, there are many points at which students raise questions and explore ideas. 

• ‘Guided inquiry’ strategies are used in Module 1, and students are later encouraged to shape their own inquiry around questions that interest them, such as in the Major Research Project. 

• The core principle used to describe inquiry is ‘explore before explain’, meaning that students are introduced to technological and engineering concepts after exploring phenomena and raising questions implying a need for these concepts. 

Course Structure 

• This School Developed Board Endorsed Course covers several modules in technology and engineering, including Engineering Fundamentals, Aerodynamics, Motion, Mechatronics and the Major Research Project. These specific modules are not reflected together in any Board Syllabus document. 

Materials Required: Nil

Course Fees:  $100