7–10Aquatic Technology 7–10 Syllabus
The new Aquatic Technology 7–10 Syllabus (2024) is to be implemented from 2027.
2025 and 2026 – Plan and prepare to teach the new syllabus
2027 – Start teaching the new syllabus
School sectors are responsible for implementing syllabuses and are best placed to provide schools with specific guidance and information on implementation given their understanding of their individual contexts.
Content
Stage 4
- AQT4-ADJ-01
in Stage 4 teachers may adjust the Stage 5 outcomes as appropriate to the needs of students in Years 7 and 8
Teachers select options from:
- Aquatic biology
- Aquatic ecology
- Investigating aquatic ecosystems
- Local area study.
This focus area allows a detailed study of the student’s local area, highlighting the marine or freshwater ecosystems present and performing a local area study on one or more of these ecosystems. The local area study cannot be the same ecosystem as the aquatic ecosystem investigation if both focus areas are chosen. The local area study should be undertaken as a collaborative group project. Conservation programs and local community groups may be useful sources of information for some local area studies. Practical activities are a requirement.
Conduct a field trip to investigate an aquatic ecosystem in the local area.
Identify different aquatic ecosystems in a local area and select one for in-depth analysis
Identify the Traditional Owners of the selected Country and the Practices they use to conserve this ecosystem
Describe the study site including geographical location and physical characteristics, relevant environmental conditions and methods used for data collection
Identify the components that make up the aquatic ecosystem
Investigate the interactions and interrelationships of biotic and abiotic factors in the ecosystem
Conduct an investigation to measure the impact of abiotic factors on water quality
Analyse the water quality of the ecosystem in terms of pH, temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand and chemical contaminants
Explain how matter and energy are cycled through the ecosystem
Construct food webs of the ecosystem
Investigate the adaptations of different species in the ecosystem
Determine the distribution and abundance of different species
Analyse collected data to assess the species diversity in the ecosystem
Investigate human impacts and threats on the ecosystem
Analyse and predict the impact of climate change and global warming on the ecosystem
Explain how the ecosystem can be protected and conserved for future generations
Describe how advances in technology can help to conserve the ecosystem
Present findings from the study using oral, visual, written or multimodal texts