Creating with ICT

Resources that help teachers and students to:

...generate ideas, plans and processes

...generate solutions to challenges and learning area tasks

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SketchUp

URL: https://www.sketchup.com/products/sketchup-free

Video Tutorials: https://www.sketchup.com/learn/videos/826

Overview: 3D modelling and computer-aided drawing (CAD) tool with self-paced video tutorials.

Platform: Web-browser application - all operating systems (Free version). Standalone software for Windows or Mac OS (Paid version)

Cost: Free and paid versions ($71.50 per year)

Age: Year 6 to adult

This resource aligns to the "creating with ICT" capability by providing students with a digital tool for designing, modelling and drawing as they "generate solutions to challenges and learning area tasks" (ACARA, n.d.).

Sketching is considered a "critical aspect of creative thinking in design" (Ranscombe & Bissett-Johnson, 2017, p. 4). It is also a crucial skill that students will learn within the Design and Technology curriculum (Board of Studies NSW, 2003a, 2003b). While sketching with CAD tools has become more accessible for students, it is not without its challenges and is often seen as more difficult than traditional 'pencil and paper' sketching (Ranscombe & Bissett-Johnson, 2017, p. 4). That being said, I think Sketchup could be used quite effectively as an entry-level tool for students to create 2D and 3D design sketches and models, as it “bridges opposing strengths” of traditional and CAD approaches to sketching by removing ambiguity and inflexibility, through easy 'icon-based' commands and simple undo/redo and duplicate/copy functions (Ranscombe & Bissett-Johnson, 2017, p. 13).

References:

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA]. (n.d.). Information and communication technology (ICT) capability. Retrieved from https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/f-10-curriculum/general-capabilities/information-and-communication-technology-ict-capability/
Board of Studies NSW. (2003a). Design and technology years 7–10 syllabus. Sydney: Board of Studies NSW.
Board of Studies NSW. (2003b). Design and technology stage 6 syllabus. Sydney: Board of Studies NSW.
Ranscombe, C., & Bissett-Johnson, K. (2017). Digital Sketch Modelling: Integrating digital sketching as a transition between sketching and CAD in Industrial Design Education. Design and Technology Education, 22(1), n1.
Trimble. (n.d.). Sketchup [Web application]. Retrieved from https://www.sketchup.com/products/sketchup-free

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Microsoft OneNote

URL: https://products.office.com/en-au/onenote/digital-note-taking-app

Sample video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ozk7XneV5Jc

Overview: Digital note-taking application with creative functions for planning, organising and categorising data.

Platform: Software program (web-based, mobile application or able to be downloaded and installed on devices - all OS)

Cost:

Age: Year 6 to Adult

This resource is aligned to the "creating with ICT" capability and will help students and teachers to "generate ideas, plans and processes" through the creation of digital notes and libraries (ACARA, n.d.).

This resource enables students (and teachers) to create annotated and visual 'digital notes' to support the comprehension of ideas and concepts in their learning (Killen, 2015, pp. 337-339). While there are potential issues with digital note-taking, such as the possible lack of a "physio-cognitive connection between writing and learning", the expected benefits are considerable (Stacy & Cain, 2015, p. 3, 5). These include the ability to summarise and categorise concepts, search for a word or phrase in an instant, store large volumes of information on a device or in the cloud, and automatically recognise the intellectual property of copied online content, provide exciting opportunities to support learning that fosters “cognitive involvement in the note-taking process" (Stacy & Cain, 2015, p. 3).