Scholarship

Undertaking a Technology Scholarship at Secondary School level typically involves a rigorous course of study that focuses on the principles and applications of various technological fields. This may include subjects such as computer science, engineering, electronics, robotics, and information technology. Scholars may be required to take advanced classes in these subjects and may also be expected to participate in research projects, competitions, and other extracurricular activities related to technology. Additionally, scholarship recipients may be given opportunities to work with industry professionals and gain real-world experience in their field of study. The goal of the Technology Scholarship is to provide students with a strong foundation in technology and prepare them for future careers in these fields.  

Overall, a good high school digital technologies project should aim to support and inspire the next generation of digital technologies leaders, and help to build a more diverse and inclusive digital technology industry.

Your process should include:

1. A high level of thinking

2. You should seek opportunities to connect with mentors in industry to help you develop skills and gain practical experience

3. Diversity and inclusion

4. Community involvement

5. Long-term support

There are certain traits that you should aim to include in your project. Here are some suggestions:

• Originality and Innovation: Your project should be innovative and demonstrate creativity. It should be something new that has not been attempted before.

• Technical Proficiency: Your project should showcase your technical skills, and demonstrate your ability to utilise various tools, technologies and software in a meaningful way.

• Impact and Relevance: Your project should demonstrate its potential impact on society, economy or any other domain relevant to the outcome. It should be aligned with the values and mission of the direction taken.

• Clear Objectives: Your project should have clear objectives that you aim to achieve with the project. The objectives should be achievable and realistic.

• Quality: Your project should demonstrate a high level of quality, with a professional and polished finish. It should be well-organised, coherent, and free of errors.

• Ability to Communicate: Your project should be presented in a clear and engaging manner. You should be able to communicate your ideas effectively, and to present your project in a way that is easy to understand.

• Collaboration: Your project chould demonstrate that you have the ability to work well in a team and/or collaborate with others.

Overall, the key to a successful scholarship project is to demonstrate that you have a clear understanding of the topic, and that you have the skills and creativity to make a significant contribution to the field of digital technologies.

There are many significant problems facing us in the next few years that require urgent solutions.

Here are a few of the most pressing:

1. Climate Change: The threat of climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing the world today. We need to find solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, transition to renewable energy, and protect vulnerable communities from the effects of climate change.

2. Global Health: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of global health issues, including infectious diseases and the need for strong health systems. We need to find solutions to address current and future pandemics, and strengthen health systems around the world.

3. Inequality: Inequality continues to be a significant challenge facing many societies. We need to find solutions to address issues such as income inequality, racial and gender discrimination, and unequal access to education and healthcare.

4. Cybersecurity: The increasing reliance on technology has led to new challenges in cybersecurity, including cyber attacks, data breaches, and online privacy. We need to find solutions to address these issues and protect individuals and organizations from harm.

5. Political Instability: Political instability and conflict continue to be major challenges in many parts of the world. We need to find solutions to promote peace, stability, and democracy, and to prevent and resolve conflicts.

These are just a few of the major challenges facing us in the next few years that require urgent solutions. Addressing these issues will require collaboration, innovation, and a sustained effort from individuals, governments, and organisations around the world.

There are a number of requirements you will need to meet throughout the year to enter a Digital Technologies Project in the  Technology Scholarship

Phase 1 | Inquiry due end of Term 1

If you intend to enter Technology Scholarship you must complete an Inquiry to start your project. 

If Inquiry is not taught as part of your course you can find information on it here. If you need some more help you can speak to Mr. Backhouse-Smith or Mrs. Ong.

If you need help with how to set up your project doc you can see Mr. Backhouse-Smith or Mrs. Ong.

An inquiry is important to undertake at the start of a digital technologies project because it helps to gather information and identify the specific needs and requirements of the project. An inquiry allows the project team to understand the problem that the project is trying to solve, the user needs, and the context in which the project will be used. This information is crucial for making informed decisions about the project's scope, objectives, and technical requirements.

Conducting an inquiry also allows you to identify any potential risks, challenges, or constraints that may impact the project's success. By understanding these factors early on in the project, you can plan accordingly and take steps to mitigate or address them. Additionally, an inquiry can help to identify any external stakeholders who may be impacted by the project or who can provide valuable input or feedback.

Overall, an inquiry is an important step in the project planning process that helps to ensure that the project is well-defined, well-designed and will meet the needs of its users.

This needs to be completed in Term 1 and be marked at an Excellence level for you to continue down the Technology Scholarship path. 

Phase 2 | Design - due week ? Term 2

The design phase of a technology project is important because it sets the foundation for the entire project. During the design phase, you define the project's goals and objectives, creates a high-level plan for how the project will be executed, and identifies any potential risks or challenges that may arise. It is also the time when key decisions are made about the overall architecture and technology stack that will be used. By thoroughly planning and designing the project during this phase, the team can ensure that the project stays on track and is completed on time and within budget. Additionally, the design phase is crucial for creating a clear and comprehensive project plan that can be used to communicate the project's progress to stakeholders. 

This needs to be completed by Week 5 Term 2 and be marked at an Excellence level for you to continue down the Technology Scholarship path.

Phase 3 | Development

At this point in your project you have completed the ground work to set up the base for a great development process. 

You will work on developing your DT outcome, based on the design you have created, from Mid Term 2 to about the end of Term 3.

During your development process you will need to meet with Mr. Backhouse-Smith and Mrs. Ong at least twice to go through your progress. These meetings will take place on Friday during Break 2 and you need to set up 2 meetings and attend these, if further guidance is required there will be no problems given you have worked through phase 1 and 2 and attended your scheduled meetings. 

By the end of Term 3 you should have a working Prototype that has been tested in the intended environment with end users.

For those interested in Scholarship Technology you will find all the documentation below:

Scholarship Performance Standard (93601) Technology

Method of assessment Report (digital submission)

For year 2022

Format of the assessment

The assessment will be in the form of a reflective report based on experiences in developing a technological outcome(s). A report is an organised collection of evidence that clearly communicates the candidate's knowledge, understanding, and skills relevant to the Technology Scholarship standard.

A report must be clear and contain easily accessible evidence of the candidate's outcome. It may include a combination of:

clear photographs

brief videos to communicate development of technological outcomes

graphical, audio, video, and/or digital media to enhance or illustrate aspects of the candidate's experiences shown in the report (note: audio / visual appendices should not repeat material in the report). 

Requirements of a report:

Length: maximum 60 A4 pages.

Typeface: 12pt Arial (or similar).

Margins: 2.5cm (top, bottom, left, and right).

Where ITC outcomes include websites, databases, apps, games, etc., these will not be accessed by the marker. Dynamic aspects should, therefore, be communicated in the report using screen-capture techniques and/or video evidence.

Where candidates have been involved in a group project, they must explicitly declare their individual role within the project, and report on their own work only. Where this is not clear, the marker may not see the evidence as belonging to the candidate.