This toolkit is intended to be an invaluable resource for teachers to use when implementing the F-10 Design & Technologies - Engineering Principles and Systems curriculum.

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THE CURRICULUM

The Design & Technologies 2.0 Curriculum - Victoria

The VCAA 2.0 Curriculum website offers all the necessary information about Design Technologies, including the Engineering Principles & Systems context. You'll find guidance on the structure, scope and sequence, and elaborations, and there are also resources to support teachers with implementation.

The Design & Technologies 8.4 Curriculum - Australia

If your school has chosen to deliver the National curriculum, you'll find all the details, including band descriptions, content descriptions, achievement standards and sample portfolios on the ACARA website.

Sample Work Portfolios

ACARA have published examples of student portfolios to demonstrate satisfactory, above satisfactory and below satisfactory work in the Design & Technologies national curriculum. Click on the following links and scroll down to the bottom of the page to find;

• F-Year 2
• Years 3/4
• Years 5/6
• Years 7/8
• Years 9/10

CLASSROOM RESOURCES

VCAA Learning Resources

VCAA have produced a range of Sample Teaching Planners for Design & Technologies, which include documents for Engineering Principles & Systems.

Primary Connections

Primary Connections is a flagship primary school STEM program from the Australian Academy of Science. It is an innovative approach to teaching and learning which aims to enhance primary school teachers' confidence and competence for teaching STEM.  The units of work are designed to address the primary Science curriculum, but several of the teaching sequences - including Push Pull, Machine Makers and On the Move - are a great way to introduce younger children to engineering principles.

Make an Automata

This members' resource features a great engineering principles and systems project for years 7/8 from Michael Gowers at St Monica's College Epping.  The recording offers a step-by-step guide to running the project, and the package contains a template and a materials list.

Engineers Australia

Engineers Australia have a fantastic package of resources to introduce young people to engineering.

ARC

ARC has an range of Engineering resources and events aligned to the Victorian Curriculum.

STEM Unit - Electric Cars

Thanks to Stuart Hensely from Ave Maria College for sharing this fantastic STEM unit of work on designing and building electric cars.

• Unit Plan & Work Program
• Build Instructions
• Gears & Speed Theory
• Assessment Task

Scootle Units of Work

Scottle has a range of Engineering Principles & Systems resources and units of work that address the Australian Curriculum.

STEM and Innovation

Museums Victoria have published a range of student resources which explore STEM and Innovation.

Cracking Contraptions

Maryann Augustinus has shared her Cracking Contraptions unit, where year 7 students design a machine inspired by Rube Goldberg.

Questacon Resources

Questacon have several experiment guides which are relevant for the Design & Technologies - Engineering Principles & Systems context;

• Earthquake Shake
• Wind Turbine
• Cardboard Train Wheels
• Build a Wind Tunnel
• Ball Run

The James Dyson Foundation

This UK website has a great range of free resources to teach engineering in schools, including units of work for different ages exploring how engineering can tackle global problems.

The 3D Print a Car Challenge

The 3D PrintaCar Inquiry Planner is a unit outline on 3D Printing & Technologies, written by Laburnum Primary School, who were the winners of the Quantum Victoria 2015 3D Print a Car Challenge.

CSIRO Education and Outreach

CSIRO have a range of resources for teachers and students of STEM. You can browse them all HERE. 

What's your Problem?

Joseph Herscher and his team solve kids' really annoying everyday problems in this ABC Education series by making hilarious contraptions out of ordinary household objects. Watch all episodes HERE. You can also watch their DIY Tutorials.

ENGINEERING CHALLENGES

• Spaghetti Marshmallow Challenge
• Magnet Challenge
• Egg Drop Challenge
• James Dyson Foundation Engineering Challenges
• Humans in Space Innovation Challenge
• NASA/Glenn EDC Solar Powered Pump Challenge
• Gaining Traction on Mars Challenge

• Wind Power Challenge
• Rube Goldberg Machine Challenge
• Smallpiece Trust Engineering at Home Challenges
• Life on Mars Challenge
• Wearable Teach Challenge
• NASA/Glenn EDC Let it Glide Challenge
• Five Days of Engineering Challenges

ENGINEERING CAREERS

Careers In Engineering

DATTA Vic and Monash University collaborated on this resource that promotes further study in Systems Engineering, from VCE at your school and on to university. It also introduces students to amazing and diverse young people who are working in this field.

Guide to Engineering Careers

Engineers Australia has produced this great document which explores the engineering industry, the types of jobs that exist within it, and pathways to those careers.

This is Engineering

This Meet Real Engineers resource from the UK includes a collection of interviews with practicing engineers - from a "Thrill Designer" to a "Catastrophe Consultant". 

DIVERSITY IN ENGINEERING

Diverse Role Models & Professional Practice

DATTA Vic has collated a web page focusing on the professional practice of positive role models in design and engineering. It’s a great tool to focus on the importance of human-centred design, as well as providing case studies of diverse innovators.

Diversity in STEM Toolkit

DATTA Vic has compiled a list of resources to encourage all students, no matter their gender, identity, ethnicity or disability status to engage in Design & Technologies and STEM education.

The Girls in STEM Toolkit (GIST)

GiST is a fantastic resource to engage girls in STEM. It's packed full of activities, resources and lesson plans, with content designed for students, teachers and families.

The ATSE STELR Project

THE ATSE STELR Project has produced some fantastic resources to encourage girls to pursue further education in the STEM fields.  These include a range of STEM modules and a series of video profiles featuring female role models and entrepreneurs from STEM fields, which include engineers and roboticists.

Robogals

Robogals Vic aim to increase female participation in engineering and technologies through hands-on activities delivered in schools. They provide some great incursions for free and cover both Melbourne metro and regional areas.

DATTA Vic members receive discounts on all items sold in our online shop. Below you'll find some of our upskilling resources focused on learning STEM skills. But make sure you browse our shop for the full range of teacher and student resources.

• Fusion 360 Online Training Package
• Onshape - Cloud-based CAD for Beginners
• Getting Started with 3D Printing
• Introduction to SketchUp
• Tech by Design 7-10 Text Book & Workbook

• Start Designing in 3D with Tinkercad
• Getting Started with Laser Cutting
• Getting Started with Vex Robotics
• The Systems Engineering Process Poster
• Technologies Education for the Primary Years Text

FIRST NATIONS DESIGN & ENGINEERING

First Weapons

Culture is Life have created an education resource on First Weapons, which explores the history and innovation behind the weapons used by First Nations peoples for thousands of years. It accompanies the six part series by Blackfella Films and ABC, which investigates the science and technology behind our most ancient and innovative First Weapons. These resources are free, but sign-up is required.

Five Indigenous Engineering Feats You Should Know About

This 2023 article from the Conversation celebrates examples of innovations by the First Engineers of Australia, including the Kimberley Raft (pictured left), the Yidaki and the Budj Bim eel traps.

The Aboriginal People of Budj Bim as Engineers

The National Museum of Australia has produced a great online learning resource for younger students on our First engineers as part of their Australia's Defining Moments: Digital Classroom. It's a great way to explore the impact of First Nations peoples on the environment.

Stories of Indigenous Engineering by Engineers without Borders

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people represent 3.8 % of the Australian population, but just 0.5% of total engineering students. Engineers Without Borders have developed Stories of Indigenous Engineering to celebrate and encourage diversity in the engineering profession and open our eyes to different knowledge systems and perspectives.

The Circular Economy

DATTA Vic partnered with Sustainability Victoria and Replas to run a series of teacher PDs on the circular economy. Our resource package includes an Introduction to the Circular Economy with Florian von der Corput and an Electronics x The Circular Economy session with Brijesh Parmer. This is a great resource for senior students.

A Year 9/10 Unit of Work on E-waste

This resource package was created following our Online Teach Meet from August 2023, where Michael Gowers shared a great Year 9 & 10 Design & Technologies - Engineering Principles & Systems project. This unit of work focusses on e-waste and sustainability, is low in cost, encourages student agency and looks at how a transistor works. All necessary resources are included, including student quizzes to assess progress throughout the project.

Practical Action

Practical Action are a group who work to tackle poverty and climate change around the world. Their website has a great range of projects perfect for teaching engineering in the Design & Technologies classroom, searchable by age and subject.

Sustainable & Ethical Design & Engineering Toolkit

This free toolkit is intended to be an invaluable resource for teachers to use when introducing the concepts of sustainability and ethical practice to their Design & Technologies, VCE PD&T and VCE Systems Engineering students.

Notable Sustainable Projects in Victoria

This OzGeos article lists a range of innovative, sustainable engineering and design projects happening in Victoria, with a particular focus on ecofriendly materials.

CODING & ROBOTICS

Guide to the Best Robotics Programs for the Classroom

Hour of Code

Sign your students up to the Hour of Code, with free coding tutorials available in 45 languages.

Scratch Coding

Scratch is a great way for students to code their own interactive animations and games - plus the website has great resources to help teachers.

Blockly

Blockly Games is a series on online games that teach programming to younger students.

Grasshopper

Grasshopper is a free coding app for beginners, developed by Google.

CS First

CS First is another great Google resource on coding for senior students. It's designed for the US Computer Science curriculum, but there are a lot of great tutorials and games.

GROK Academy

Grok Academy provides support for Digital Technologies teachers and students through free teaching resources, professional learning, and curriculum guidance.

Girls Who Code

During Covid, Girls Who Code published a great range of free resources on coding. These are a great way to get started with programming.

Disclaimer: These resources are the work of practising teachers or education providers. They have been sources and shared in good faith and for general information only. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DATTA Vic, nor do DATTA Vic endorse the accuracy or suitability of the information for any particular purpose. Note that this material has not been verified by VCAA. Responsibility in response to the material must be accepted by users. For VCE, teachers must refer to the mandatory documents in relation to the VCE Product Design and Technologies/Systems Engineering study designs from VCAA, which are available online and updated every year. For safety information, teachers must consult the relevant OHS Hazard Management section of the department's website.