At a glance
A course where students design and build digital solutions to real problems. Students use computational thinking and the design process to create things like apps, websites, games, and other digital products.
At Gungahlin College, Digital Technologies is offered through two streams:
- Games Development stream: Learn how games are made, including programming, 2D/3D assets, narrative, user experience (UX) and sound design.
- Programming stream: Learn how to design and build applications, including planning, coding and evaluating solutions for real scenarios.
Students choose one stream (Games Development or Programming).
This course is a good choice for students who:
- enjoy coding, design, data, games or web creation
- like problem solving and making things with technology
- want skills that connect to IT pathways and future jobs
About this course
Digital Technologies explores how digital systems work and how to create new solutions. Students learn to analyse problems, model and evaluate data, test ideas, and improve solutions through feedback and iteration. Students also learn to make responsible choices about privacy, ethics and the impact of technology.
Pathways
This course can support pathways into areas such as:
- programming and software development
- web development and digital design
- robotics and games development
- any pathway that values problem solving, teamwork and digital skills
Units in this course
Students complete 2 units for a Minor or 4 units for a Major.
Digital Assets
This unit is about creating the “building blocks” of digital systems, such as code functions, web pages, 3D models or digital environments.
Students will:
- design and create digital assets for different purposes and audiences
- analyse existing assets and improve them so they work better in a larger system
Digital Applications
This unit is about understanding how digital systems work by looking at the parts of an application and how they connect.
Students will:
- analyse existing applications (from simple websites to complex platforms)
- design and build an application that uses connected digital assets
Digital Solutions
This unit is about creating data-driven solutions to real problems using a design process.
Students will:
- examine existing digital solutions and how they solve problems
- design and build a solution that meets a client or user need
Structured Project
This unit is about planning, building and publishing a larger project from start to finish (for example a program, game or website).
Students will:
- define a project clearly and manage the process from idea to launch
- develop, test and refine a final product using feedback and evidence
Computer Requirements
Please note that the Chrome Operating System used on Chromebooks is not compatible with the specialist software used in Information Technology. It is expected that students studying Information Technology have a computer that meets the following specifications:
| Stream | Operating System | CPU | Memory | Graphics | Peripherals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Robotics and Mechatronics, Networking and Security, and Programming Stream | Windows, Mac, or Linux Operating System | Dual-core Intel or AMD CPU | 8 GB RAM | - | - |
Games Development Stream, Data Science | 64-bit Windows 10+ or Mac OS X10.10+ | Quad-core Intel or AMD CPU – 2.5GHz or faster | 16-32GB RAM | Dedicated Graphics Card* | Three-button mouse |
* This cannot be an on-chip GPU for Windows PCs as the Game development programs are graphic intensive. M1/2 Macbook Pros can work, but will need a minimum of 16 GB of ram as it is shared between the GPU and CPU.