Year 9 Technology electives
Digital Technologies – 3D Game Development
Advisor: Mr Nicholas Hall
In 3D Game Development, you’ll learn how games are designed and built by working with the Godot game engine. You’ll code using the engine’s scripting language, create 3D models and audio, and apply problem-solving and creativity to your own original game. By the end of the subject, you’ll complete an inquiry project where you design and develop your own playable 3D game. 3D Game Development builds digital skills that connect directly with future careers in design, coding, and creative industries.
Digital Technologies – Programming & Data Analysis
Advisor: Mr Nicholas Hall
Programming & Data Analysis teaches you how to use code and data to understand the world around you. You’ll work with real data sets from sources such as NASA, the Bureau of Meteorology, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics, using JavaScript and Excel to create visualisations. You’ll also collect and analyse local environmental data with sensors, Arduino, and Python. Programming & Data Analysis develops valuable skills in coding, problem-solving, and critical thinking, helping you make sense of complex information; skills essential for 21st-century life and work.
Design & Technologies – Practical Woodwork Skills (Sem 1) & Woodwork Design (Sem 2)
Advisor: Mr Jay Leidl
Whether you select this for one or both semesters, Woodwork builds on your foundational design skills through hands-on making and design challenges. You’ll learn to read technical drawings, measure accurately, and use a range of tools to design and construct small-scale furniture such as organisers, drawers, or display pieces. Along the way, you’ll explore joinery techniques, surface finishing, and sustainable design choices. The focus is on creativity, problem-solving, and developing solutions that are functional and visually appealing. These design skills prepare you for future projects, senior studies (including VET Building & Construction), and the challenges of 21st-century design.
Design & Technologies – Materials
Advisor: Mr Tony Schaefer
Materials gives you the chance to explore how different materials shape the way we live. You’ll design, construct, and evaluate projects using a range of materials while considering sustainability, life cycles, and the environmental impact of design decisions. You’ll also visit the Ballarat Technical School to see how new technologies are changing the way we work with materials. OnGuard safety training is completed at the start of the subject to ensure safe work practices, supporting your ability to design responsibly and effectively.
Design & Technologies – Jewellery Design Challenge
Advisor: Tony Schaefer
In Jewellery Design Challenge you’ll explore design thinking on both a small and global scale. After completing OnGuard safety training, you’ll experiment with different jewellery-making techniques and materials through a series of smaller projects before working on a major design piece. You’ll research how jewellery is used across cultures and time, then apply these ideas to your own work. You’ll also take part in design challenges that solve real-world problems in teams and visit the Ballarat Technical School to engage with current technologies and design practices.
Design & Technologies – Food Around the World
Advisor: Emma Rhodes
In Food Around the World, you’ll explore how culture and identity shape what we eat while learning practical cooking skills. You’ll try recipes from different countries, experiment with new techniques, and discover how food connects people and communities. Along the way, you’ll look at dietary requirements, sustainability, and how globalisation has influenced modern eating. This subject gives you the chance to be creative in the kitchen while also thinking about the bigger picture of food in today’s world. You’ll finish with valuable life skills that are useful at home, at work, and in future studies.
Design & Technologies – Sustainable Food for You
Advisor: Emma Rhodes
In Sustainable Food for You, you’ll explore how the food choices we make affect our health, the planet, and the future of food. You’ll take part in practical cooking sessions, experiment with fresh ingredients, and learn how to prepare healthy meals that taste great and minimise environmental impact. Alongside cooking, you’ll investigate food trends and think critically about issues like sustainability, food waste, and your own environmental footprint. This subject makes food preparation both enjoyable and meaningful; while helping you build life skills that support wellbeing, independence, and responsible decision-making.
Systems Engineering – Small Engines
Advisor: Dean Jones
In Small Engines, you’ll learn how engines work by studying both two-stroke and four-stroke models. You’ll practise correct tool use, explore how to maintain and repair engines, and develop problem-solving skills that apply to mechanical systems. Beyond the practical, you’ll also investigate the environmental impact of engine technology and consider how innovation can reduce harm. This subject connects mechanical knowledge with real-world issues such as sustainability and energy use, helping you think about the future of technology.
Systems Engineering – Electronics
Advisor: Dean Jones
Electronics introduces you to the world of circuits and electronic systems. You’ll design and build your own printed circuit boards, beginning with etching simple designs before creating a more complex project. Along the way, you’ll learn to troubleshoot and problem-solve like a real engineer. You’ll also complete a research assignment on the environmental impact of electronic systems, building awareness of issues like e-waste and sustainability. Systems: Electronics blends creativity with technical skill, preparing you for a future shaped by technology.