Skip to main content
Skip to main content

Design & Development

Design & Development

Grade 10 Design and Development

In this introductory course, students will journey through Architecture, Mechanical CAD, 2D and 3D Drawing, and Computer Science to allow students to sample a wide variety of modules that have complementary skill sets. Students will expand on this knowledge, exploring such things as digital drawing of fantasy map, design and render 3D houses from 2D floor plans, and build the necessary CAD skills to be able to build and reproduce 3D object destine for a 3D printer.  This course helps students determine which specialization (see below) they would prefer to explore at the intermediate level.


Grade 11 Design and Development

At the intermediate level, students will specialize in a specific area to build on their existing knowledge to develop higher-level skill sets, and possibly compete at Skills Alberta. Students often choose one of the specialization listed below.


Grade 12 Design and Development

As students progress to this advanced level, specialization in a stream of interest is expected.  Students will be challenging themselves to complete work that can be presented to an outside audience, including Skills Alberta.  Students at this level will have the skills to help and support those around them; its truly amazing seeing each student use their own skill set to help others where possible. Students often choose one of the specialization listed below.


Specializations

Architecture is for students that have an interest in Architecture or Interior Design.  They will focus on using programs like Autodesk Revit to design and build their own custom house.  They will have a chance to complete a BILD challenge to design a house for a small town in the Rockies and will learn how to render/present their work in an effective manner. The expected level of detail will be enough to be able to build a scale model and to have parts of the designs 3D printed and incorporated into a scale build of their house.  Students in this specialization can compete at Skills Alberta, please ask you teacher for more details.

Mechanical CAD is for students that want to specialize in CAD, Engineering, and/or Product Design.  Student will use a program called Fusion360 and expand their knowledge and incorporate more advanced features such as joints and assembles.   These students often are recreating, modifying, or are asking to redesign a part needed in mechanics, wood shop, or elsewhere. The expected level of detail will be enough to have these projects digitally explored via Augmented Reality or be reproduced as a scale model using a 3D printer. This is also a great course for those that are combining it with woodshop/construction or welding/fabrication, and have a interest in CNC design. Students in this specialization can compete at Skills Alberta, please ask you teacher for more details.

2D or 3D Animation is  for students that have an interest in digital drawing and animation.  Students in this specialization have a focus on either 2D or 3D Drawing and Animation; and on building their existing understanding to further their skills to be ready to have a portfolio and present their work when needed. Students can utilize either a 2D program such as Krita or a 3D program like Blender.  Some students opt to use their own familiar programs and technology due to the custom setups that each student has already built. Students in this specialization can compete at Skills Alberta, please ask you teacher for more details.

Computer Science introduces students to the essential components of any program via an exploration of Python. Students will learn how to handle loops, conditional statements, methods, and other aspects of any programming language. As students progress through data structures, they will learn about 1D and 2D arrays, including dictionaries. Computer Science includes an investigation of the surrounding concepts that exist, including the ethics, number systems, and hardware of computers.


Skills Canada

The Skills Canada Secondary Competition is an annual event that brings together high school students from across Canada to compete in various skilled trades and technology disciplines. The competition aims to showcase the talents of young Canadians and encourage them to pursue careers in skilled trades, technology, and applied sciences.

Key points about the competition:

  1. Categories: The competition includes a wide range of categories such as welding, carpentry, automotive technology, culinary arts, robotics, graphic design, and more.
  2. Participants: It is open to high school students, typically between the ages of 14 and 17, who have qualified through regional or provincial competitions.
  3. Skills Development: Students compete by demonstrating their skills in real-world challenges designed to assess their technical abilities, problem-solving, and creativity in various fields.
  4. Promoting Career Paths: The event promotes careers in skilled trades and technologies, helping to bridge the gap between education and employment in these fields.
  5. Recognition: Winners receive medals, scholarships, and the chance to represent their province at the national level.

Overall, Skills Canada aims to inspire and motivate students to explore and excel in the world of trades and technology, contributing to a skilled and diverse workforce.

Mr Bannister's Design and Development class has a rich history of finding success at all levels of Skills Canada, including National Bronze in Architecture, Provincial Gold and Silver in Architecture, Provincial Bronze in Animation and a 5th in Mechanical CADD.


Meet Mr. Bannister

Mr. Bannister teaches both Design and Development; and Robotics.  He has extensive experience in a wide range of design, including 3D Modelling and CAD, and combines that with his love for creation and repair of electronics.  He holds a Master's degree in Education Technology from the University of Calgary in Alberta; a Bachelor of Education from Murdoch University in Western Australia; and a Bachelor of Science from Carleton University in Ontario.

Please contact Mr. Bannister for more information regarding Design & Development.

image description
Back to top