[On screen text Diversity in the physical domain

High potential and gifted education]

Voiceover

The High potential and gifted education policy of the NSW Department of Education recognises high potential in the physical domain and encourages staff to look beyond competitive sport to identify and develop talent.

[On screen text Samantha Rodgers, PDHPE Teacher]

Samantha Rodgers

Signs that a student may demonstrate to show that they have high potential in the physical domain could include things like they have great muscular strength, they are fast or have great speed, they are powerful, they have good agility or flexibility. And this is not only relevant to a particular sport, but across all areas of the physical domain, so also things like dance, drama, circus skills, even drumming.

Voiceover

The physical domain of potential refers to natural abilities in muscular movement and motor control, and this can be demonstrated in a range of disciplines, including design and technology and engineering. In design and technology, fine motor skills and physical technique are critical for efficient and quality work.

[On screen text Marley, Student]

Marley

So I've been working on making a timber display cabinet, and initially in my design, I had to choose, like, what I wanted to do with it, um, how it was going to be used, and what the purpose was. So, I decided that I was going to use it as a jewellery cabinet.

[On screen text Michael Groves, Head Teacher]

Michael Groves

Marley stood out from her cohort, for me, in the level of manual dexterity that was shown in her work, including the accuracy and the fine motor skills that were involved.

Marley

In TAS, to make a really good product, it's very important that you have the physical skills to do so. When you're using hand tools, you need to make sure that you have control over the tool, that you're in charge and the tool is not going to kick or, um, not do what you want it to do. You need to make sure that everything works together. You need to make sure that you're standing upright. You need to be stable, and that's quite physically demanding. When making something, you've got to really make sure you're looking and feeling the wood, making sure you know how it's supposed to feel.

Michael Groves

Her fine motor skills and control, her concentration, um, that's exhibited, and producing a display cabinet that's of high quality, uh, really is testament to her skills in the, you know, in attributes, in the physical domain.

[On screen text Jake, Student]

Jake

So, in semester one this year, I designed and manufactured a robotic hand that could play paper, scissors, rock.

[On screen text Jonathan Marsh, Head Teacher]

Jonathan Marsh

Through his project work, Jake applies, uh, very fine motor skills in order to be able to construct circuits and debug those circuits to reach a level of success.

Jake

To produce an outstanding project, students definitely need to be able to pay high attention to detail,s for some engineering projects, a small misalignment or inaccuracy can majorly contribute to the function of the final product.

[On screen text Finn, Student]

Finn

In engineering, I enjoy the challenge of making something, the physical skills. It's not strength or power. It's fine motor skills like soldering, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, um, being stable like stability. And another one is accuracy, so you make the correct movements.

Voiceover

By recognising the diversity of skills in the physical domain and identifying and developing talent in students, teachers can nurture the next generation of craftspeople, makers, and artists.

[Title on Screen Find the high potential Develop the talent Make the difference]

[End of transcript]