Australia · ACARA Content Descriptions
Year 10 Technologies
A comprehensive exploration of high level computational thinking and systems design. Students develop sophisticated programming skills and critical perspectives on how emerging technologies restructure global social and economic systems.
Algorithmic Logic and Modular Design
Focuses on decomposing complex problems into functional modules using advanced control structures and object oriented principles.
Identifying recurring patterns in logic to create reusable functions and libraries that streamline the development process.
Analyzing how different ways of organizing data impact the speed and resource consumption of an application.
Implementing rigorous testing protocols and trace tables to ensure software reliability and security.
Data Intelligence and Big Data
Investigating how massive datasets are collected, cleaned, and modeled to predict trends and inform decision making.
Designing and querying relational databases to manage complex information sets with integrity.
Transforming raw numbers into compelling visual narratives that reveal hidden insights.
An introduction to how algorithms learn from data to make predictions or classifications.
Networks and the Invisible Web
Examining the hardware and protocols that facilitate global communication and the security measures needed to protect them.
Understanding how data is packetized and routed across the internet using TCP/IP and other protocols.
Exploring the mathematics of encryption and the ongoing battle between privacy and surveillance.
Analyzing common attack vectors like SQL injection and phishing to build more resilient systems.
User Experience and Human Centered Design
Focusing on the interface between humans and machines through the lens of accessibility and empathy.
Distinguishing between visual aesthetics and the holistic experience of a user interacting with a product.
Ensuring that digital technologies are usable by everyone, including people with diverse physical and cognitive abilities.
Using low fidelity and high fidelity prototypes to test ideas and gather user feedback early in the design cycle.
The Automated Society
Critically examining the impact of automation and artificial intelligence on the future of work and social equity.
Analyzing which industries are most susceptible to automation and what new roles might emerge.
Investigating the balance between technological convenience and the right to privacy in public and private spaces.
Assessing the ecological footprint of hardware manufacturing, energy consumption, and electronic waste.
Capstone Innovation Project
A student led project where learners apply the full design cycle to solve a real world problem using digital technologies.
Defining the boundaries and specific requirements of a technical solution to meet a user need.
Using agile methodologies to manage tasks and collaborate effectively within a development team.
Presenting the final product to an audience and reflecting on the design process and outcomes.