In old-school terms, this includes woodwork, metal work, electronics, cooking, but in Victoria these ideas can be used in VCE subjects like design and technology, food and technology and VET Furnishing.

One school that I worked with, was having trouble getting their Year 12 students to produce high quality written work that documents the process of creating a piece of furniture, so they started using podcasts instead of a written diary. By being more flexible in their methods of assessment, they were able to engage their students and get better quality documentation of the process (which accounts for most of the students mark).

  1. Record presentations and explanations of key terms and concepts covered. For example, an explanation with visuals about things that must be included on a food label in Australia, or a presentation about occupational health and safety issues.
  2. Record steps or instructions in a process: using diagrams, images or video footage where necessary. For example, create a podcast about keeping the work area clean and safe or document the process of creating something, whether it be a recipe or a piece of furniture. In IT, you could even create tutorials for using particular programs and software, using programs like Screenflow.
  3. Record news stories and breakthroughs about developments in technology, for a radio show type segment. This could be innovations in our understanding of diet or new technologies that emerge in a particular industry.
  4. Record interviews with experts, for a radio show type segment.
  5. Record student progress in the subject. For example, students could create a folio of evidence that documents the process of creating a particular recipe or object. This folio can include digital photos, video footage, explanations of the process, reflections and interviews.
Written by Callie Whelan.
Melbourne Beyond Chalk Facilitator