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General-purpose programming languages

This video takes viewers through the transition from visual programming (block-based environments) to general-purpose programming (text based environments). It guides teachers as they assist students to move from block-based programming used in primary schools to general-purpose programming languages used in secondary schools.

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Planning an action research project to facilitate implementation of Digital Technologies

This document includes ideas for planning and developing action research projects to facilitate implementation of digital technologies.

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Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies years 3-4 Digital Systems sample assessment task: Cooling the school

This document provides a scaffold to teach and assess students’ understanding of how digital systems can be used to monitor and collect information used for mapping and making judgements about the environment. Students record information using digital systems to investigate a school need, then design solutions to improve ...

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Booth Sweeney review: Systems literacy

This article explores how children’s innate understanding of systems can be developed through deliberate educational programs that support systems thinking. This can happen by encouraging students to identify patterns, consequences and feedback (loops) associated with social, environmental and economic problems; and by ...

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Volmert et al. review: STEM learning

This report examines the similarities and differences in the understandings about STEM education between experts and the general public in some American states. The authors contend that one of the most interesting findings is the role of Science: the general public equates STEM as Science, whereas the experts view all STEM ...

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Lockwood & Mooney review: Computational thinking

This article provides a literature review of how computational thinking fits into a school curriculum. The aim of the report is to provide educators with an overview of the current research in this field and the work that is being done in teaching computational thinking.

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Expert webinar video: In conversation with Paul Mead from She Maps: A wide-ranging discussion from women in Technology and unconscious bias to digital systems and the ethical and safety considerations of using drone technologies

Paul Mead, from STEM education provider She Maps, discusses unconscious bias in young students and how She Maps is spreading the word about women who work with technologies in the field. He discusses digital systems and explains how geospatial systems and geographical information systems are used to collect, analyse and ...

Online

Creating compost

Compost is created when organic materials such as twigs, leaves, dry grass and kitchen food scraps break down. Composting is a great way to reduce the amount of landfill that is produced, and also provides soil full of good nutrients that can be used on the garden. OUTCOMES of this learning activity are for students to: ...

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Whose Country: exploring First Nations peoples languages map (7-13yrs)

Learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages can help children build their understanding of land, water and people. This activity helps to assist the identification of the language group/s on which the school, youth group or home is situated. To understand local perspectives and support these activities, ...

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Alyangula Area School – Progress report 1

This video is a summary of a progress report into the implementation of Digital Technologies in the Alyangula Area School.

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Mossman State School

Mossman State School is a government school located in Mossman, Queensland, on the Traditional Lands of the Kuku Yalanji Peoples. Beth Claydon is the curriculum officer who works directly with the school to support the implementation of the Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies. Teachers at the school have chosen ...

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Newsletter – December 2019

This newsletter from the Digital Technologies in Focus project includes information about schools' projects, information for parents and teachers, the Australian Curriculum, and useful resources.

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Creating a yarning circle: background

This activity introduces children to the idea of a yarning circle and its importance in First Nations Culture. It is part of a sequence of 8 individual learning activities designed to support the meaningful use of yarning circles in learning environments. OUTCOMES of this learning activity are for children to: understand ...

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St Mary’s Primary School – Podcast

This podcast includes information about the aims, challenges, insights and accomplishments of St Mary's Primary School's participation in the Digital Technologies in Focus project.

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Morphology lesson student worksheet: -s suffix for plural nouns

This worksheet for independent student practice accompanies the morphology lesson slides for adding the -s suffix to create plural nouns.

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Professional learning workshops

This webpage provides details of ten workshops that focus on understanding and implementing the Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies. The workshops are provided for Digital Technologies in Focus project schools and, where possible, schools not involved in the project.

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Big deal

Big Deal investigates the role of money in Australia’s democracy and explores some of the reasons people’s trust in democracy is declining. Host Christiaan Van Vuuren speaks to current politicians, former politicians, journalists, community members and a lobbyist in a quest to understand how rules around political donations, ...

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How to disagree productively and find common ground - Julia Dhar

Debating champion Lauren Dahr discusses the principles and potential of civil and productive debating. In this 15 min video she reflects on the state of public discourse and the role listening and persuasion play in debate. She proposes some strategies and approaches to move a disagreement to more common and respectful ...

Online

Starting school: autism

This website provides a series of practical ideas and resources for educators of students on the autism spectrum (diagnosed and undiagnosed) as they prepare for and settle into the first year of primary school. This strengths-based collection of resources was co-designed with autistic individuals, subject matter experts, ...

Interactive

Assess your classroom environment

Not every classroom is specifically designed to respond to the needs of all students. Using this interactive questionnaire, audit a classroom environment and create a task list of simple changes that can be made to create a more space inclusive for neurodivergent students.