Digital technologies are transforming how we live; shaping our homes and our workplaces, changing the way that we interact with each other and live our everyday lives.
Through incorporating digital technologies in all subject areas, our students learn how to participate, create and thrive in this fast-moving digital world with confidence.
Technology is much more than designing and implementing technological outcomes; it involves critiquing past, existing and possible future technologies, while considering their environmental, social and cultural impact.
Our Digitech Learning area identifies five technological areas of focus for students:
Computational thinking for digital technologies
Computational thinking enables a student to express problems, and formulate solutions in a way that means a computer (an information processing agent) can be used to solve them. Students develop computational and algorithmic thinking skills, and an understanding of the computer science principles that underlie all digital technologies. They become aware of what is, and is not, possible with computing, so they are able to make judgements and informed decisions as citizens of the digital world.
Designing and developing digital outcomes
Students understand that digital applications and systems are created for humans by humans. They develop increasingly sophisticated understandings and skills related to designing and producing quality, fit-for- purpose, digital outcomes.
Students develop knowledge and skills in using different creative digital technologies to create digital content for the web, interactive digital platforms, and print. They also learn about the way electronic components and techniques are used to design digital devices.
Designing and developing materials outcomes
Students develop knowledge and skills working with materials, textiles and fashion in order to create both conceptual and prototype outcomes that solve human problems and satisfy needs and opportunities.
They develop an increasing awareness and understanding of the systems, structures, machines and techniques used in manufacturing products. Students learn to be critical, reflective and creative as they evaluate the quality of technological outcomes and their fitness for purpose.
Designing and developing processed outcomes
Students develop knowledge of the materials and ingredients that are used to formulate food, chemical, and biotechnological products. They develop their expertise in manipulating materials or ingredients to develop conceptual, prototype and final technological outcomes that will meet increasingly diverse societal needs.
Students explore the impact of different economic and cultural concepts on the development of processed products, including their application to product preservation, packaging, and storage. They become increasingly skilled in applying their growing knowledge of design principles to creating desired, feasible outcomes that resolve real world issues.
Design and visual communication
Students learn to apply design thinking and develop an awareness of designing by using visual communication to conceptualise and develop potential design ideas in response to a brief. Students apply their visual literacy by using sketching, digital modes and other modelling techniques to produce effective communication and presentation of design ideas.
In all of the above, students examine the practice of others and undertake their own. They develop a range of outcomes, including concepts, plans, briefs, technological models, and fully realised products or systems.