Kids Design Challenge: TiPS

TiPS background

The Kids' Design Challenge is the initiative of Technology in Primary Schools (TiPS) network, an organisation of committed primary school teachers supporting and promoting Science and Technology learning as a critical part of students' experiences in NSW schools.

The Science and Technology K-6 syllabus was first distributed to NSW schools in 1991. It is unique in Australia, bringing together an active investigative approach to understanding the world and how it works, with the creative process of designing and making solutions to realistic problems, to meet real needs.

For several years TiPS has provided practical professional development activities for teachers through promotion of purposeful and relevant learning tasks for students, including a variety of well-attended workshops and weekend conferences.

In establishing the Kids' Design Challenge TiPS works in partnership with the NSW Department of Education and Training and the Catholic Education Office, Sydney Archdiocese to promote connections between students and professional organisations from a variety of technological fields.

about the Kids' Design Challenge

The Kids' Design Challenge provides a unique opportunity for primary aged students to participate in real-life tasks of personal and community relevance.

Kids' Design Challenges support students to work collaboratively as they research needs and issues and devise design ideas and solutions. The aim is to promote and use design and technological know-how as a means of solving problems related to our world. Designing and making is well integrated with investigating as students explore and clarify ideas and solutions.

The challenge involves students in investigating a topical problem or issue and generating real-life solutions.
Classes submit their final proposals to the project to receive feedback from industry practitioners and expert teachers.
Outstanding achievements of students are celebrated and showcased on the Kids' Design Challenge web site and at the celebration event for each Challenge.
Online communications are used to bring students in touch with each other and with the wider community, providing access to expert advice from industry professionals.
Online support is also available for teachers in implementing activities with their classes. Requirements for design solutions are clearly set out for teachers.

Kids' Design Challenge outcomes

The Kids' Design Challenge will:

promote the image and value of science and technology learning in primary schools and in the education of NSW students
celebrate and showcase exemplary projects; highlighting the outstanding achievements of NSW students
enhance learning outcomes in S&T for participating students
develop online resources and models of good practice in S&T
promote quality teaching strategies in S&T learning contexts
enhance teacher confidence, knowledge and expertise in the implementation of the S&T K-6 syllabus
model professional development activities that directly support purposeful student activity.

The project focuses on teachers' development of enhanced skills and understanding of the Science & Technology Key Learning Area and appropriate uses of information and communications technologies (ICT) in Science & Technology.

The Science and Technology K-6 syllabus learning processes provide a pedagogical basis consistent with the Quality Teaching in NSW model. In particular they require students to engage in tasks of personal and community relevance which provide significant intellectual challenge.

Showcasing excellence

Final class-based solutions are exhibited in the project Showcase, celebrating the efforts and achievements of participating classes.

An archive of previous year's projects provides a valuable resource for teachers.

Kids' Design Challenge contact

For information and support throughout the pilot challenge contact:

Kids’ Design Challenge Coordinator
kdc@det.nsw.edu.au

02 9715 8358