Unit 4: Sample approach to developing an assessment task

Guide to choosing areas for evaluation of a new or emerging systems engineering technology

• List the key knowledge and key skills. The VCE Systems Engineering Study Design provides details of the key knowledge and key skills related to Unit 4 Outcome 2 and the area of study, New and emerging technologies, on pages 29–30.
• For Unit 4, Outcome 2, students must complete any one or combination of the following: a short-written report in the form of a media analysis or a case study or based on structured questions; a multimedia/simulation presentation or report or an oral presentation (see page 26 of study design). In this example, students will complete an oral presentation.
• Identify the key knowledge and key skills that you are looking for in a student response and design the criteria and a marking scheme.
• The performance descriptors for each outcome identify the key knowledge and key skills that need to be identified in a student response.
• Identify the nature and sequence of teaching and learning activities. In this example, students are required to do an oral presentation where they evaluate one new or emerging systems engineering technology and analyse the likely impacts of a selected technology.
• Students may select the new and emerging technology with teacher direction so that it allows them to demonstrate the criteria for assessment, and ensure there is a range of technologies researched by the class.
• The teacher can provide some guidance to assist students with their research for their oral presentation by asking questions such as:
  • How does the new or emerging development work and what are its applications?
  • What are the reasons for, and drivers of, its development (including discoveries, new materials, technology convergence and new manufacturing methods and processes)?
  • What are its impacts (positive and negative) taking into consideration economic and environmental sustainability, efficiency and risk management?
  • What is its potential?
• Decide the most appropriate time to set the task and advise students regarding the length of the oral presentation.
  • Students are given two 40-minute sessions to complete their research and create their oral presentation.
  • The oral presentation may be submitted as an audio or video file; or it may be completed using PowerPoint or PhotoStory when presented to the class.
  • Use the school-based assessment authentication form if the task goes over several sessions.