7–10Design Innovation Technology 7–10 Syllabus (2025)

The Design Innovation Technology 7–10 Syllabus includes 4 elective courses:

• Design Innovation Technology 200 hours
• Design Innovation Technology 100 hours
• Design Innovation Technology Life Skills 200 hours
• Design Innovation Technology Life Skills 100 hours.

The focus of learning in the Design Innovation Technology 7–10 Syllabus is described below.

The Design Innovation Technology 7–10 Syllabus enables students to develop knowledge, understanding and skills to explore the application of technologies and design processes in real-world contexts. They investigate approaches to innovation and how technologies can be applied to develop creative solutions for identified user needs. Students engage in practical experiences and project work to develop project management, collaboration and communication skills.

Students develop knowledge and understanding of design practices and approaches to innovation, including those used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. They are provided with opportunities to engage with materials, technologies, and design and production processes, both individually and collaboratively. Students investigate how the application of technologies can help solve real-world challenges, such as issues with sustainability.

Students learn and apply safe practices when applying technologies in workshop environments. They explore innovative and sustainable practices in design, and investigate the impacts of cultural, social and economic factors on the environment. Students apply design processes to develop, prototype, produce or realise innovative design solutions.

Through diverse and real-world learning experiences students engage with traditional, contemporary and emerging technologies that could transform local and global systems and industries. They learn to recognise career opportunities through an exploration of current and emerging technologies and design practices.

Schools may choose to offer and/or deliver 7–10 elective courses which may be studied in any year.

Elective courses in Years 9 and 10 contribute towards the RoSA.

Practical experiences and project work

To satisfy the requirements of the syllabus, students undertake a range of practical experiences and project work. These experiences should be used to develop the skills of designing, investigating, prototyping, using technology and communicating.

Practical experiences must make up the majority of the course and should be designed to be accessible to all students. Practical experiences may include:

• design and production project work
• collaborative activities
• modelling and prototyping
• testing and trialling
• experiments
• workshop activities
• investigations.

Design projects are integral to the Design Innovation Technology 7–10 Syllabus. The practice of design projects involves designing and documenting solutions, which can include products, systems, environments and events. In their design and production folios, students should record all aspects of the design process used to realise their projects.

As part of practical experiences and project work, students can undertake a design project of interest and personal significance that demonstrates their ability to integrate and apply technological concepts and skills. The project should enhance student learning through:

• identifying a problem or opportunity
• planning, gathering and analysing research
• developing specifications
• generating and refining ideas
• making, prototyping or realising their design
• testing and evaluating their solutions.

Students with disability may require adjustments to engage in project work or practical experiences, including the use of assistive technology.

Safety and risk management

Schools are required to ensure they follow Loading  in delivering the Design Innovation Technology 7–10 Syllabus.

Design Innovation Technology 7–10 may be studied as a 100-hour or a 200-hour course. The content available for Stage 4 is identical to Stage 5. Teachers teaching the course in Stage 4 may adjust the Stage 5 outcomes as appropriate to the needs of students in Years 7 and 8. Loading .

Exclusions: Students may not access both Life Skills outcomes and other outcomes from the same subject.

All outcomes must be programmed for 100-hour and 200-hour courses.

100-hour course

Students are required to undertake:

• the study of selected syllabus content, as relevant to each design project
• at least 2 design projects with associated design and production folios
• at least one collaborative activity.

200-hour course

Students are required to undertake:

• the study of all syllabus content, as relevant to each design project
• at least 4 design projects with associated design and production folios
• at least one collaborative activity.

For Design Innovation Technology Life Skills:

• Students are required to demonstrate achievement of one or more Design Innovation Technology 7–10 Life Skills outcomes.
• Outcomes and content should be selected to meet the particular needs of individual students.
• The focus areas provide possible frameworks for addressing the Design Innovation Technology 7–10 Life Skills outcomes and content and are suggestions only. Teachers have the flexibility to select, group and sequence outcomes and content to meet the needs, strengths, goals, interests and prior learning of their students.
• Where appropriate, students should have the opportunity to engage in practical experiences or project work, including documenting project work using visual, audio, written or multimodal forms. Some students with disability may require adjustments in order to engage in practical experiences.
• Collaborative activities provide opportunities for students to develop communication and interpersonal skills. Where appropriate, students should have the opportunity to collaborate on tasks. Some students may require explicit teaching of collaboration skills.