In 2016 Queensland state schools started fast tracking the implementation of the Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies. Developing students’ digital literacy will ensure they become effective users of digital systems, critical consumers of information conveyed by digital systems and innovative creators of digital solutions.
Fast-tracking the implementation of Digital Technologies is an initiative of #codingcounts that includes
Robotics of the future and the Premier’s coding competition.
Why study digital technologies?
More than 90% of Australia's current workforce will need digital skills to perform their roles in the next 2-5 years and 60% of Australian students are studying or training for jobs that will be largely automated in the near future.
(Source: Foundation for Young Australians, 2015, The new work order: ensuring young Australians have skills and experience for the jobs of the future, not the past, viewed 29 September 2015.)
What will students learn?
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Prep — Students learn about how digital technologies work through exploration and problem-solving.
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Years 1 and 2 — Students learn how digital and other technologies work and how to create solutions with technologies through exploration, design and problem-solving.
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Years 3 and 4 — Students begin to create digital solutions such as animations and games through the use of visual programming.
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Years 5 and 6 — Students use design processes to produce digital solutions. They further develop their knowledge and understanding of digital systems and data while learning to act to ensure their personal safety when engaging online.
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Years 7 and 8 — Students develop their computational thinking to create a range of digital solutions, such as robotics, using programming. They learn to communicate and collaborate online with an understanding of cyber-safety as well as legal responsibilities.
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Years 9 and 10 — Students learn how to solve complex problems through the creation of digital solutions. They create a range of sustainable digital solutions such as data driven websites and artificial intelligence.
More information about the Australian Curriculum can be found on the Parent information page.
Resources
The Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies does not specify that students require any additional equipment to study this subject. Schools will advise parents of any specific requirements needed.