Year 9 Electronics and Mechatronics

Electronics Knowledge

Technological Modelling Expectations for Year 9 Students:

• Students will understand how functional modelling represents reality to test design concepts before they are built. They will do this by using Fusion 360 to create digital representations of their designs.

• They will use prototyping (constructing physical circuits for the Night Light and Drawbridge) to test that the outcome is fit for purpose and identify any potential issues early.

Technological Products Expectations for Year 9 Students:

• Through Electronics Fundamentals, students will understand that materials (components like resistors, LEDs, and conductive tracks) can be manipulated and transformed to control the flow of electricity.

• They will learn how selecting the correct components influences the performance of the final product.

Technological Systems Expectations for Year 9 Students:

• Using the Picaxe microcontroller, students will understand that electronic systems are made up of inputs (sensors), transformations (code/processing), and outputs (motors/lights).

• They will understand how control interactions allow these parts to work together as a complete system, such as programming a Drawbridge to open or close based on specific commands.

Assessment

The range of assessment opportunities for Electronics Knowledge, Nature of Electronics Technology, and Technological Practice will start with introducing the building blocks of systems before moving into project-based application.

Students will first focus on understanding the "black box" nature of electronic systems—identifying inputs, transformations, and outputs—alongside an exploration of how technology expands human possibilities through the Expertise Presentation. Practical skills are introduced early, with students using Fusion 360 to learn the importance of functional modelling and digital design prior to manufacturing.

Once these foundational concepts are understood, students will progress to the Night Light and Drawbridge projects. Here, they will combine their knowledge of Picaxe programming and component assembly with the structured design process, engaging in brief development, planning, and final evaluation to ensure their outcomes are fit for purpose. This approach ensures students understand the logic behind their devices before they begin building them.

Nature of Electronics Technology

Characteristics of Technology Expectations for Year 9 Students:

• Students will understand how technological developments expand human possibilities. They will explore this through the Expertise Presentation, identifying how electronics rely on knowledge from other disciplines (like math and physics) to function.

Characteristics of Technological Outcomes Expectations for Year 9 Students:

• Students will understand that outcomes (like the Night Light) are designed with a specific physical nature to fulfill a specific functional job.

• They will be able to interpret why the product was designed that way based on who will be using it.

Designing and Developing Electronics Outcomes

At the end of the student-led project topics (Night Light / Drawbridge), students will have covered:

Technological Practice

Planning for Practice Expectations for Year 9 Students:

• Students will use planning tools to manage their time and resources effectively during the Night Light and Picaxe builds.

• They will ensure that their planning allows them to complete their outcome to a high standard within the available time.

Brief Development Expectations for Year 9 Students:

• Students will describe the nature of their intended outcome, explaining how it addresses a specific need (e.g., "A light that turns on automatically when it gets dark").

• They will identify the key attributes their project must have to be considered successful.

Outcome Development and Evaluation Expectations for Year 9 Students:

• Students will investigate the context of their project to generate design ideas.

• They will evaluate their final Night Light or Drawbridge against the key attributes they identified earlier to confirm it works as intended.