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.

What students learn

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.

Course requirements

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 safety and risk management in delivering the Design Innovation Technology 7–10 Syllabus.

100-hour and 200-hour courses

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. Advice is provided to support teachers.

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.

Life Skills – 100-hour and 200-hour courses

For Design Innovation Technology Life Skills:

Welcome to the NSW Curriculum website

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

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