Year 10 Subject Options 2017
Please select 4 option subjects but you will only study 2. This is because some Options may not be offered if only a few students select it, or some Option course may be over subscribed.
Please note the following selection restriction that is applicable to the Technology Options, and Visual Art/Design & Visual Communication.
Technology (Digital, Hard Material, Fabric, Food)
– students can select a maximum 1x technology subject within their first two choices
– students can select a maximum 1x technology subject within their two back up choices
Visual Arts and Design & Visual Communication
– students can select one of these subjects within their first two choices
Year 10 Business Studies
Business Studies enables you to look and appreciate the issues that challenge business in a rapidly changing world. As citizens it is important that you are able to make informed and rational decisions about business matters.
In Business Studies your year will be broken up into three sections; business studies, economics and accounting. This enables you to get a taster of each before heading into Level One.
In Business Studies you will be looking at different products, target markets and how they are sold. This will lead onto a NCEA Standard which allows you to gain 4 credits. Accounting will allow students to explore financial statements and make decisions about whether the business should continue or not. Finally, Economics will allow students to look into supply and demand.
Business contexts often offer opportunities to integrate learning across a number of different subjects or learning areas and has strong links to everyday life. Business Studies offers opportunities for practical and creative thinkers as well as for those interested in money!
Year 10 Media Studies
In Media Studies you will learn to explore media concepts with critical awareness and have practical experience in production work. This course can give you essential skills and expertise as you progress to senior Media Studies, and beyond.
You will develop the ability to communicate confidently as you work in production groups developing media products such as short films. You will develop flexibility, problem solving and openness to new ideas. You will experience “hands-on” use of technology such as cameras and digital editing software.
You will be able to critically interpret a wide range of media. Your group project experiences will enhance your problem solving skills and ability to use your creative skills to produce a finished product to fit a brief.
Year 10 Visual Arts
“The internet has created an explosion of opportunity for digital designers and multimedia artists”
This option focuses on practical art-making. In Visual Arts opportunities will be given for you to express yourself effectively and extend your range of skills, knowledge and techniques using a variety of media and processes. These may include drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture and design using both traditional and contemporary approaches.
You will be encouraged to use technologies, including emerging applications in digital media within your work.
You will also be required to keep a Visual Arts diary and can expect to be assessed both
formally and informally on your practical knowledge, understanding and skills throughout the
course. There will also be an opportunity to participate in a Level One NCEA Achievement standard which focuses on using a range of wet and dry media.
*This option is a prerequisite if you are considering taking Graphics at senior level, as Graphics is part of the Visual Arts programme – not to be confused with D.V.C.
http://www.studentartguide.com/articles/reasons-to-study-art
Year 10 Graphics (Design and Visual Communication)
Design and Visual Communication (DVC) is a main communication tool, it is an international language therefore, it enables students to show their ideas avoiding languages barriers.
The Year 10 DVC course lays the foundation for Year 11 DVC and future years and it is based on the Year 9 DVC course, though no previous experience is required to take this option, it is ideal as a continuation of Year 9 DVC.
DVC combines the important educational aspects of communication and creative problem solving. This course will give students the chance to develop their own solutions to realistic design problems through the application of a design process. They will also get the skills to precisely communicate their solutions, by applying a range of Graphics Modes;
- Free hand sketching
- Technical drawing
- Rendering
- Graphics softwares
It is directly related to the dramatic technological developments that have occurred in today’s society, and involves fields such as;
- Architecture
- Environment
- Engineering
- Technological
- Media
- Packaging
This is a course with the emphasis placed on creativity and individual choice, developed to meet the needs of today’s students and tomorrow’s citizens. The programme is developed around briefs that are based on realistic and thought provoking situations. This course stimulates students’ self confidence, self esteem and pride in achievement through enabling them to reach personal success.
DVC is taught through to Year 13 level and further study is available at Technical Institutes and Universities in such areas as architecture, graphics design, engineering, interior design, advertising, computer graphics etc.
Students will have the opportunity to gain 6 credits in NCEA Level 1 towards Technology, Visual Arts, Graphics and Design.
Year 10 Food Technology
This course involves using technological practice to develop food solutions that meet a design brief. You will co-construct your focus area and develop your own design brief. You will have the opportunity to work individually or as a member of a team working on a small group design brief. You will have to design, develop and test your ideas until you find a solution to meet your brief.
You will develop skills to become a supportive team player able to undertake research accessing a variety of sources. You will be able to produce written and practical evidence to support your development work.
The variety of skills you will learn at Year 10 Food Technology lead smoothly on to Year 11 and beyond.
Year 10 Hard Materials Technology
This course involves working within a context to develop technological products. It builds on the Year 9 General Technology Course. You will generate ideas that will allow you to develop a range of outcomes. In the development of your ideas you will be investigating existing products to identify the key attributes that make products successful. You will make mockups or models that can test your ideas, then use a range of hard materials to develop those ideas into a final outcome.
You will learn new skills and knowledge and develop strategies to embrace challenge. You will have the opportunities to work on individual projects and group projects.
You will have the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills and knowledge that will prepare you for NCEA Level 1, 2 and 3. There are many Technology related careers and University courses that have Technology as an entry subject. You will also have the opportunity to sit an NCEA Achievement Standard to gain credits as you work through one of your projects.
Year 10 Fashion and Design
This course involves developing a range of outcomes related to Fashion and Design. You will learn about the Fashion trends of the past and how they have influenced Fashion today. You will develop knowledge and skills to make items that meet a given Design Brief or Challenge following the Design Process.
You will explore who you are in a conceptual form and learn the skills of design, including looking at digital designing. You will then transfer these new design skills and look at ‘who you are’ to influence the design and making of a ‘personal item’. This will allow you to express yourself in a unique way, while also gaining fundamental design skills and more specialist construction skills.
You will conduct some research into your culture and heritage to find similar existing products, suitable materials and learn how to manipulate a range of different materials. After the introductory project you will be given the opportunity to Design and Make items suitable for a personal project or you may wish to get involved in a community project. Or enter a competition such as the local schools Wearable Arts Competition and/or the National Brother Design Stars Competition.
You will also have the opportunity to sit NCEA Achievement Standard 91060 Demonstrate understanding of basic concepts used to make products from textile materials or Achievement Standard 91045 Use planning tools to guide the technological development of an outcome to address a brief.
Year 10 Digital Technology (Electronics/Coding)
Digital technology is a University approved course and in secondary schools continues to Year 13. As this is a new, Year 10 option course for 2017 students and will begin with an introductory unit which will equip them with the required skills to proceed to programming and use of microcontrollers with the intended outcome of being able to design, manufacture and programme an autonomous robot.
The course will be project based, concentrating on enquiry learning and ‘learning by doing’ and will incorporate these areas of digital technology (as well as safe and competent use of workshop machinery and power tools)
- Understanding of circuit design and electronic components
- Using prototype boards to test and prove electronic circuit designs and programmes
- Manufacture of electronic circuit boards and associated practical skills
- Programming and use of microcontrollers with a practical outcome
- 3D design using CAD (3D printing and laser cutting, if time allows)
The course is biased towards practical outcomes but students must be prepared to complete all areas of the course including theory and assignment work. Students who opt to take this course do not need any prior knowledge or experience of electronics or programming a willingness to learn and a strong work ethic is required. Students taking this course will have the opportunity to participate in relevant NCEA level one digital technology achievement standards.
Year 10 Drama
In Year 10 Drama you will build on some of the performance skills developed in Year 9 such as Drama Techniques, Drama Elements and Drama Conventions. You will work in groups to develop performance pieces and perform for students at MHJC and the wider community. There will be an opportunity to participate in an NCEA assessment and to prepare for option choices at Year 11.
You will learn to work with a wide range of people in various situations. You will develop your communication abilities and confidence in public forums. An interest in performance techniques and creating original work for an audience would be of benefit but these skills will be taught during the course so are not essential. Enthusiasm and a willingness to try everything are essential.
The skills acquired in Drama can be fed into any number of pathways. Being able to speak with confidence in a public situation is an invaluable asset in many other subject areas that involve discussion and presentation. Being able to work cooperatively and creatively in a group develops excellent problem solving skills that can be applied to many areas.
Year 10 Music
Year 10 Music will see a development of the skills learned in Year 9. Practical work will largely focus on group and solo performance as well as song composition. The course will involve an NCEA unit based on digital aspects of music using programs such as MuseScore and Ardour. You also will have the opportunity to record one of your own songs. There will be an element of the theory of minor and major scales and the investigation of chords in a key.
Learning to develop confidence when performing is a huge part of music at year 10 and plenty of opportunities, both formal and informal will be offered as an opportunity to shine.
Year 10 Spanish
Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages, there are more Spanish than English speakers in the world. There are over 350 million native speakers of Spanish in twenty two countries. The Year 10 Spanish course teaches not only a lively and expressive language, but a fascinating and different culture.
Students will have the opportunity to learn:
- to describe themselves and others.
- To describe places and other things.
- to use articles and adjectives applying correct grammar.
- to conjugate verbs with confidence.
- about Spanish and Latin american lifestyle, festivities and traditions.
Our Year 10 Spanish students learn through;
- videos and presentations
- our language softwares “Linguascope and Language Perfect”
- interacting within the class using their acquired, written, reading and speaking knowledge
- experiencing field trips where they will apply their conversational skills.
- being in contact through e-mails with Spanish speaking students, exchanging experiences and making friends overseas
- having an opportunity of gaining 4 credits for NCEA Level 1and earning a Spanish Certificate in language competence from the Australian Council of Educational Research.
Learning Spanish will give students the possibility to understand other Latin based languages like Portuguese and Italian. Year 10 Spanish is a preparatory year to go further and study Spanish at a professional level giving you the chance of having a success.
