Introducing the Digital Technologies curriculum
Grok Learning Co-Founder and Director of the National Computer Science School, James Curran, explains in Education Matters why digital literacy is critical to maintaining a functioning society and the workforce.
In this article, James Curran discusses:
- The new Digital Technologies curriculum
- Why it is so important
- Some of the challenges teachers will face as a result of its introduction.
- The many resources available to help teachers with this transition.
“The introduction of Digital Technologies is perhaps the most disruptive curriculum change that Australia has seen in many years, especially in primary. Teachers will need substantial support and professional development to teach it confidently and correctly.
Many educators will be unfamiliar with the knowledge and skills that the new Digital Technologies curriculum entails. The curriculum is ambitious and will stretch teachers, but the learning and engagement opportunities will be rewarding for students and educators who embrace it.”
James also covers how Digital Technologies have reshaped just about every aspect of our every day lives: financial, social, political, recreational education and ethical. The curriculum is future proofed to deal with how quickly Digital Technologies changes the world and how different we expect it to be when the first complete cohort finishes their schooling in around 20 years.
“To put it in perspective, 20 years ago, in 1997:
• There were no smartphones — one of the most popular mobiles was the Nokia 5110
• Google was just founded (1998), but AltaVista was the most popular search engine.
• There was no Facebook (2004), Twitter (2006), Instagram (2010), Snapchat (2011)
• Microsoft introduced Windows 98 in 1998”
To read more about the impact of Digital Technologies, the features of the curriculum and advice and suggestions for preparing to teach it, read the full article: Introducing the Digital Technologies curriculum
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