Y12 Electronics and Mechatronics

There are two primary ways to approach the Year 12 Electronics and Mechatronics course. Both pathways allow for success, but they offer different advantages depending on the student’s learning style and future academic goals (specifically regarding Scholarship).

Option 1: The Iterative Approach (Recommended)

Structure: Skills Development --> Football Project --> Personal Project Development

In this pathway, students complete a smaller, guided project (The Football Project) in Term 1 before moving on to a larger Personal Project in Terms 2 and 3.

• Key Advantage: This provides students with "two shots" at the practical standards. By completing the Football Project first, students gain confidence and technical competence.

• Creative Freedom: If students excel in the first project, they can approach the Personal Project with greater creativity and attempt more complex concepts (such as advanced microcontrollers or complex robotics) with less academic risk.

• Assessment Focus: This pathway typically utilizes the Generic Technology Prototype Standard rather than the Inquiry standard. It is often the best fit for students who learn by doing.

Option 2: The Engineering Design Process (Inquiry-Led)

Structure: Skills Development $\rightarrow$ Inquiry $\rightarrow$ Personal Project (2 Terms)

In this pathway, students spend approximately 8 weeks on skill development before beginning a formal Inquiry that snowballs directly into a significant, two-term Personal Project.

• Key Advantage: This method closely mirrors the Engineering Design Process. It allows for deep-dive research and is highly advisable for students intending to attempt Scholarship in Year 13, as it builds the necessary academic rigor.

• Alignment: If this course is being taken in conjunction with other Digital Technology strands, this method is advisable as it likely follows the timeline across all of Techquity’s courses.

Group Work & Assessment Protocols

While collaboration is a vital part of Engineering, strict guidelines apply to ensure academic integrity:

• Group Size: Groups are strictly limited to a maximum of three students.

• Individual Assessment: Although students may build a physical project as a group, all assessment material must be produced independently. This includes the Inquiry (if applicable), Design Report, and Development Log.

• Documentation: Students must ensure their documentation reflects their specific contribution to the project. They should only include and analyze aspects they have personally worked on.

• Feedback: When seeking feedback (e.g., stakeholder surveys or testing data), questions must be specific to the individual student's contribution, ensuring they can evidence their own decision-making process.