The KDC-NRMA Technology Challenge is an exciting program where students, teachers and local communities will work together to design and construct a vehicle to detailed specifications. It will require a team effort including all students, and promotes a connected outcomes approach.

Pushcarts have provided many hours of enjoyment for children. A pushcart is a billycart that is designed to be pushed by one person and steered by another person seated in it. As with many products, science and technology have contributed to the evolution of the pushcart. Today pushcarts are built using a variety of materials; in all sorts of shapes and with a focus on safety. Design brief: Your task is to design and construct a pushcart and participate in a series of performance challenges. This will also involve the teams producing a class fitness program, safety guidelines and promotional materials to be presented at the KDC-NRMA TechnoPush Challenge event.

Participating classes will gather together and participate in performance trials at the KDC-NRMA Technology Challenge event to be held 9 August 2007 (Week 4, Term 3).

Students will:

• conduct investigations related to aspects of the pushcart construction and operation. Results of students' investigations will inform the design of the pushcart.
• design and make a pushcart. Assistance may be sought from within the school community and must be fully acknowledged.
• have access to expert advice from industry professionals through communications facilities on the web site.

The KDC-NRMA TechnoPush Challenge will celebrate and showcase the outstanding achievements of students, exhibiting successful pushcart designs and results of the performance trials, on the Kids' Design Challenge web site.

Getting started

This following sections assist teachers to implement the KDC-NRMA Technology Challenge.

Background information for teachers
Syllabus links: information about the learning processes (Investigating, Designing and Making and Using Technology) and the content strand Physical Phenomena.
Essential information to assist in the implementation of the KDC-NRMA Technology Challenge.

Step by step A detailed plan for implementing the challenge in the classroom.
The unit Pushcarts to go... is provided for downloading.

Timeline Important dates and detailed implementation schedule.
The KDC-NRMA Technology Challenge will commence in Week 8, Term 1, 2006.

Resources Useful references, web sites and organisations to contact.
Teachers are encouraged to suggest resources to add as the list is periodically updated.