Techtalk t2 2016
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© State of New South Wales, Department of Education 2016
Welcome to the TAS/Technologies
e -Newsletter The TECHTalk e-Newsletter is designed to support
teachers of all TAS/Technology subjects Years 7—12.
Term 2, 2016 TE
CH
TE
CHtalktalk
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© State of New South Wales, Department of Education 2016
Inside this issueInside this issue
Laser Engravers 3-4
Laser Engraver Safety 5
Laser FAQs 6
Biosecurity and feed storage 7
Agriculture and Food Week 8
STEM Showcase 9
Rural and Remote Conference 10
Updated anaphylaxis resource 11
TAS Leadership Network 12
Archibull Competition 13
Contacts 14
Term 2, 2016
I have devoted a few pages in this issue to the use of laser engravers. I have used laser engrav-
ers in schools and have found them extremely valuable in teaching across a range of TAS sub-
jects. Laser engravers have the advantage of a higher throughput than 3D printers, that can
take hours to produce even simple projects. It is also quite easy for students to develop basic
skills, with only a couple of lessons needed to produce their first simple product. Once students
have the basics, they are eager to design more complex projects and can easily test and modify
their products due to the fast and economical production process.
Unfortunately laser engravers are an expensive investment and a few schools have purchased
machines that are not on the Department contract. This poses a significant safety risk and ex-
poses the teachers and principal to legal action and prosecution in the event of an injury.
Please read this article thoroughly so you don’t put yourself or your students at risk.
There are a number of opportunities coming up, including the STEM showcase. The showcase
will feature the STEM modules developed in the schools that participated in the Stage 4 inte-
grated STEM project. Register early as it will be open to all educational sectors and there are
limited places. The Rural and Remote Conference 2016, is also in week four this term and is a
great way for those schools outside the Sydney metropolitan area to access some great PL.
Enjoy Term 2. I will hopefully see you at one of the events, meetings or conferences this year.
Dan Rytmeister
TAS Advisor
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© State of New South Wales, Department of Education 2016
LASER ENGRAVERS
You have probably heard about laser engravers and how much they can
enhance teaching in TAS and other subjects. Unfortunately they are a big
expense for a school and many are weighing up the benefits compared to
the cost. This article will give a few examples of how they are used in schools
and discuss the advantages of using Laser Technology in
your school. The second part of this article refers to the
safety aspects of laser engravers and is a MUST READ if
you are considering a purchase.
What do they do? Laser engravers use a high powered laser in an enclosed
cabinet to cut and engrave materials. Designs can be
created on a computer in a graphics program and “printed”
to the laser engraver. Cutting and engraving is controlled by
line thickness and colour using both raster and vector
graphics.
Are they safe? With proper training, maintenance and
supervision, the laser engravers on the
Department Machine Tools Contract are
quite safe. These are good quality
machines that have quality interlocks and
screening that prevent exposure to laser
radiation. The biggest risks on these
machines are fire and fumes. Fumes can
be managed with suitable ventilation or
filtering and by ensuring particular
materials are not used. The risk of fire is
reduced through appropriate training in how to avoid the situation and how
to manage a fire if it starts in the machine.
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© State of New South Wales, Department of Education 2016
Who can use it? Equipment Safety in Schools indicates
that students Year 7 and upwards can
use the machine after completing a
safety test. Controls vary slightly as
students get older.
What can I do with it? Laser engravers have applications in all TAS subject areas as well as applications
in other KLAs. Here are some examples:
Technology Mandatory: Students could
start with a simple acrylic key tag using
graphics downloaded from the internet.
Students then design their own graphics
and shapes and complete other design
challenges.
Food: design your own food moulds or
engrave food such as chocolate and fruit.
Textiles: Cutting out patterns and “engraving” images in denim. Create buttons
and other embellishments.
Industrial Technology: Add decorations by engraving materials or cut veneers to
intricate shapes for marquetry.
Graphics: bring designs and models to life
to test developments by cutting shapes in
paper or acrylic.
There are many websites with project
ideas. Here are a couple of examples:
http://www.wired.com/2013/02/10-laser-cutter-
projects/
http://www.hotpopfactory.com/blog/
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© State of New South Wales, Department of Education 2016
LASER ENGRAVER SAFETY
PLEASE READ THIS SECTION BEFORE PURCHASING A LASER
ENGRAVER.
Laser engravers can be very dangerous. The Asset Management Directorate
has risk assessed a number of Laser Engraving machines and has approved
four machines for use in schools. The process of selecting equipment for the
contract takes into account the equipment’s:
Safety
Quality
Provision of training and ongoing
support
Availability of maintenance and parts
SCHOOLS ARE ONLY PERMITTED TO
PURCHASE LASER ENGRAVERS FROM THE DoE CONTRACT SUPPLIER.
Principals were issued the memorandum DN/14/00109 in November 2014
reminding them of their responsibility. Specifically, “Principals are advised
that use of this contract is mandated and is specifically excluded from
alternative methods of procurement including the Local Schools, Local
Decisions Policy purchasing arrangements “.
THE POLICY PROTECTS YOU
Many of the cheaper engravers available on the market do not meet the
safety and quality requirements of the Department. The use of these
machines in schools increases the risk and puts you and your principal at risk
of legal action and prosecution in the event of an injury. Following the DoE
policy will protect you in the event of injury.
Advice on the safe use of Laser Engravers in schools is provided in
Equipment Safety In Schools and this advice must be followed.
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© State of New South Wales, Department of Education 2016
LASER FAQs Q. I saw a laser engraver that looks like the contract one but is a lot cheaper. Can I buy it?
A. No. Memorandum DN/14/00109 is a reminder to Principals that they can only buy this type of equipment from
the contract. Requests to purchase equipment that is not on contract are unlikely to be approved. Generally by
the time the cheaper model is risk assessed, modified and training is provided it can end up costing more.
Q. I saw a laser that had a pass through door so you could engrave larger items. Can I buy it?
A. No. Once the enclosure is opened it becomes a class 4 laser and can easily leak radiation that could cause an
injury. Class 4 lasers have been banned in Department schools due to the significantly higher risk.
Q. What can I cut and engrave with the laser?
A. The 30W laser can cut paper, fabrics, leather. It can also cut wood up to 7.5mm and acrylic up to 11mm. The
50W model can cut wood up to 9.5mm and acrylic up to 13mm. Materials such as PVC emit toxic and corrosive
gasses and must not be used. This will be covered in the training provided when you purchase the machine.
The school approved machines will not cut metals but can engrave the anodising on aluminium.
Q. How easy is it to use the laser engraver?
A. The laser engraver is operated like a printer from a computer except there are elements in the image that
control cutting or engraving. Generally a year 7 class can produce a simple item within a few of lessons.
Q. How fast do they operate?
A. Compared to a 3D printer, they are very fast. Small items such as a key tag could take a minute or two and it is
easy to have multiple small projects in the machine at a time. More complex projects can take longer but
generally the throughput is much higher than a 3D printer.
Q. What are the dangers of laser engravers?
A. Exposure to laser radiation, exposure to fumes and the risk of fire.
Radiation: The maximum power of lasers permitted in DoE schools is 50W. Any radiation that leaks from
the cabinet can cause burns and permanent damage to eyes. Radiation can escape from cabinets through
reflection, inadequate filtering on covers, poor quality interlocks (switches) or interlocks that can be easily
defeated. The engravers on the Department contract have been assessed for their quality and reliability.
Fumes: the fumes from cutting and engraving operations can be toxic. Adequate extraction and ventilation
or filtering is required.
Fire: There is always the risk of a fire starting inside the machine. The training provided includes procedures
to follow that minimise the risk in the event of a fire. Laser engravers require supervision while operating.
Q. What do I need to consider when installing a Laser Engraver?
A. The machine needs to be located near an external wall or window that will allow fixed ducting to vent fumes
safely away from where people could be exposed. If this is not possible you can purchase a filtration unit but
these are expensive to maintain. The machine also requires a power outlet with keyed isolation to prevent
unauthorised access.
Q. What are the ongoing maintenance and costs?
A. You need to keep the mirrors and lenses clean. These should be cleaned at least once a week and takes around
3 minutes. Ongoing expenses include:
Annual service to check operation and focus, usually below $500.
The laser unit may need a service after 3-5 years. This could be $3000.
If reflective mirrors and lenses go missing or are damaged they cost several hundred dollars to replace.
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© State of New South Wales, Department of Education 2016
BIOSECURITY and FEED STORAGE
What are the issues?
Ruminants such as cattle, sheep and goats cannot have feed that
could contains Restricted Animal Material (RAM). Poultry feed
and cattle feed can look very similar but it is common to find RAM
in poultry feed. The consumption of RAM by ruminants can lead to
mad cow disease and is in breach of the Livestock Production
Assurance (LPA) and Biosecurity legislation.
Schools need to take measures to ensure food containing
RAM is not accidently fed to ruminants. This can occur if
students use the wrong feeds or there is cross contamination
between storage containers.
Some schools are only purchasing poultry feed that does not
contain RAM but this is not common commercial practice and
takes away an opportunity to educate students about the
importance of feed separation.
Some schools have been audited by MLA for compliance
with LPA and were directed to improve their feed
storage facilities. The Department sought clarification
from AUS-MEAT Limited and received the following
advice:
“Schools need to have a storage system
that demonstrates and prevents feed types becoming mixed/
combined so that there is no chance animals are fed the wrong feed
type that can lead to a potential food safety/biosecurity situation”.
What should schools do?
Ensure feeds are clearly labelled and separated in such a way that cross contamination
cannot occur when filling bins.
Educate students and staff about the risk of mixing feeds and the importance of separation.
Keep a record of feed batch numbers to ensure traceability.
Store feed in dry, vermin proof containers.
Do not give food scraps to ruminants.
RAM (Restricted Animal Material) is: … meat, meat and bone meal, blood meal, poul-
try offal meal, feather meal, fishmeal or any oth-
er animal; meals or manure.
It does not include: … tallow, gelatine, milk and milk products.
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© State of New South Wales, Department of Education 2016
Agriculture and Food Week
Agriculture and Food Week is a recommendation of the Review into
Agricultural Education and Training in NSW.
The aim of Agriculture and Food Week is to celebrate and appreciate the
roles agriculture and food make to the health, wealth and wellbeing of
society.
The site has been designed to stimulate teaching and learning ideas that can
engage students and help them develop an interest in the origins of food.
Embedding these ideas into integrated learning activities may provide
opportunities for practical and authentic life-long learning for students.
Both the primary and secondary sections contain drop down menus for each
of the learning areas.
Teachers are encouraged to make comment about the existing stimulus
ideas and contribute their own ideas. It is envisaged that this site will further
develop to become a comprehensive collection of teaching and learning
strategies over time.
http://www.learning.schools.nsw.edu.au/foodagweek/
NSW Department of Education
Secondary Schools STEM Showcase
Wednesday 22 June at the Hilton Sydney
The NSW Department of Education Secondary Schools STEM Showcase will be held on Wednesday 22 June at the Hilton Sydney.
During 2015, 28 schools participated in the Stage 4 Integrated STEM Project. Each of these schools developed an individual, interdisciplinary approach to teaching Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Since then, a further eight schools have been selected to work as Action Schools in STEM Education. This conference will showcase the programs developed by the
project schools. The Showcase aims to inspire school leaders and teachers, enhance STEM pedagogy and demonstrate innovative programs for school
communities.
We look forward to seeing you and your school team at the NSW Department of Education Secondary Schools STEM Showcase.
Registration for the conference is via the link
https://www.regodirect.com.au/stemshowcase/.
This event has been communicated in SchoolBiz where further information can be found.
Registrations are now open and will close Wednesday 15 June.
For further inquiries contact: STEM@det.nsw.edu.au
REGISTRATIONS OPEN
Seize the opportunities and the possibilities and attend the
RURAL AND REMOTE CONFERENCE 2016
Tuesday 17 May – Wednesday 18 May, 2016
Mt Panorama Motor Racing Circuit, Bathurst
This conference aims to:
• Share innovative pedagogies
• Demonstrate new and emerging technologies
• Explore the impact of current and imminent educational reforms
• Celebrate educational transformation
• Deliver engaging learning through ‘hands-on’ experiences
• Showcase local and international research
For further information or to register, please visit
www.rde.nsw.edu.au/randrconf2016/
Registrations close 11 May 2016
….…. Building bridges, building futures ……….
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© State of New South Wales, Department of Education 2016
Updated anaphylaxis resource
Food Preparation and Sharing – A student
resource Annual face to face anaphylaxis
training is now mandatory in all
schools and generally TAS
faculties have been very
compliant with the new policies
regarding the use of nuts and
nut products in school activities.
While we can control what
teachers use in class and in
extracurricular activities, we
cannot necessarily control what food students bring to school.
An online resource designed to educate students about the risks of
anaphylaxis was developed in 2012. The Department of Education updated
this resource to include:
removal of flash content and conversion to html 5 to ensure compatibility
with current devices and browsers including IOS systems.
restoration of broken links.
Teachers use the Anaphylaxis - Food Preparation and
sharing resource with classes to help students
understand anaphylaxis, learn how to identify
symptoms of an attack and learn what to do if one of
their friends has a reaction. It is particularly useful in
food preparation areas and schools where there are
known anaphylactic students.
I highly recommend the use of this resource with
your students.
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© State of New South Wales, Department of Education 2016
TAS Leadership Network Do you need some advice or support with your teaching?
The TAS Leadership Network is a group of experienced teachers
advising and mentoring other DoE TAS teachers statewide.
If you are a teacher and would like some advice or mentoring, please
complete the EOI and you will be linked with one of our TAS leaders.
The TAS leaders have undergone an induction and ongoing training to ensure
they provide advice that is consistent with DoE policies. They have
experience in the full range of TAS subjects including Agriculture, Textiles,
Food, Industrial Technology, Engineering, Design and Technology, Graphics
and Computing subjects.
When you complete the EOI you will be asked which subjects you are
teaching and the areas of support you are seeking. You will then be matched
up to the most appropriate leader for support.
How to apply:
discuss with your supervisor and
principal
complete the EOI online.
Teacher EOI https://goo.gl/IYodZI
Other opportunities for participants:
In Semester 2 there will be online master classes in particular subjects.
These will be open to all teachers in the TAS Leadership Network.
EOI
OPEN
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© State of New South Wales, Department of Education 2016
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© State of New South Wales, Department of Education 2016
TAS/Technologies curriculum contact:
Dan Rytmeister TAS Advisor Learning and Teaching NSW Department of Education Level 3, 1 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, 2010, NSW T: (02) 9266 8514
dan.rytmeister@det.nsw.edu.au
If you would like to be added to our TAS/Technology communication network please
send me your details.
If you do not want to receive future communications please
remove me from communication network
If you have feedback or suggestions for professional development or future articles
please send me an email.
The non-DoE products and events listed in this e-Newsletter are to be used at the reader’s discretion. The inclusion of product and event information is not an
endorsement by the Department.
We would love you to join us on our
Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/technologies.curriculum
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