This section explores the ways in which connecting your professional learning about digital technologies is of value professionally and how it might be recognised professionally.
Use it to:
- find out which professional standards might be met through developing skills in this area
- become aware of your sector’s policies and resources regarding digital technologies
- reinvigorate your repertoire of teaching ideas and methods.
The Case studies section of this site provides insights into how individuals and teams of teachers have found value, new energy and improved student outcomes through implementing a focus on digital technologies in their classroom and schools.
National context: STEM strategy
National STEM School Education Strategy: This PDF outlines a comprehensive plan for 'Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education in Australia'. One useful element for schools is a list of 7 guiding principles to support STEM education. The strategy was endorsed by Australian Education Ministers in December 2015.
National context: Professional standards
The AITSL Australian Professional Standards for Teachers make explicit the elements of high quality teaching. Several standards can be met or partly met through developing your digital technologies skills along with those of your students.
STEM in Australian states and territories: government sector
ACT
ACT Education Directorate: The main portal to all ACT Education Directorate Resources and Curriculum guidance.
NSW
BOSTES: A Guide to Coding and Computational Thinking Across the Curriculum: This website includes links to useful resources and outlines where computational thinking can be leveraged within current NSW K-8 syllabuses.
STEM NSW: This site provides examples of school practice and resources to support the teaching of STEM-based subjects.
Futures Learning: The key focus of this site is rethinking learning and teaching in NSW public schools and leveraging future-focused learning spaces and technology to enhance learning.
Northern Territory
Northern Territory Department of Education: The main portal for education information from the Northern Territory Department of Education.
South Australia
Technologies: Find a range of short videos that unpack the meaning and importance of this learning area.
Teaching and Learning in South Australia: Scroll down to 'STEM subjects – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics’ for some useful videos.
Scroll further to 'Digital Media – New Media – Social Media – Technology and Computers in Education’ for some more videos with a focus on using ICT in the classroom.
Victoria
The Digital Technologies Curriculum Digipub includes a rationale, and it links to lesson plans, case studies and advice on Digital Technologies assessment and reporting.
Tasmania
The Department of Education Tasmania: Information on all aspects of education from the Tasmanian Department of Education.
Western Australia
E-Schooling Services includes links to resources that support whole-school planning, development of students’ digital literacies and ICT professional learning and pedagogies.
STEM in Australian state/territory jurisdictions: independent, Catholic
Independent schools sector
Note that all jurisdictions offer support to schools implementing the Digital Technologies curriculum. The following list includes links to materials made available by specific organisations for both specific cohorts of teachers and/or broad use by educators.
This site welcomes links to new content or updates to existing content as it becomes available; email digitaltechnologieshub@esa.edu.au.
AIS NSW STEM Project includes examples of what STEM projects look like in schools, and it provides links to networks, research, resources and professional learning opportunities.
Integrating Technology – AGQTP – ICT & Pedagogy School Based Project. In 2013, a group of Queensland independent schools participated in this project. Each school wrote an article about it, which you can read here. Note that the focus is on the development of ICT-focused skills rather than the implementation of the digital technologies curriculum, which is more recent in implementation.
Find professional development events related to coding, computational thinking and other related skills on this site. You will also find a link to the Research Project: 'The Impact Of Humanoid Robots On Student Learning 2015-2017' under the heading 'Centre for Excellence' in the General Information section of this site.
Catholic schools sector
Note that all dioceses offer support to schools implementing the Digital Technologies curriculum.
This site welcomes links to new content or events as they become available; email: digitaltechnologieshub@esa.edu.au
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