Integrating the new Digital Technologies into your already choc-a-bloc class timetable can be tricky.
The Digital Technologies curriculum has now become mandatory in Queensland state schools. The remaining Australian states will soon follow. The Digital Technologies curriculum is not a stand alone subject, it is to be integrated into current curriculum subjects. For example, Digital Technologies can be integrated into Humanities and Social Science (HASS) or Science.
Parents are asking for coding and robotics classes and children are already engaging with technology. As a teacher it may be a challenge to keep up with your students, parents and the mandatory Queensland curriculum requirements.
Over 20 schools, libraries, and organisations in Queensland, including the State Library of Queensland, Queensland College of Teachers and the Australian School Librarians Association, have chosen to work with Coding Kids.
Learning to code for children is the current hot topic for schools and parents, but this is just scratching the surface. It is not just about teaching children to code so that they can get jobs in the future. Getting into university or getting a job are not longer the ultimate goal posts for our children.
Developing transferable skills in computational thinking, design thinking and entrepreneurship develops children who are creative, curious, engaged, informed and empowered. It encourages children to become change makers, innovators, inventors and creators.
This is why I am passionate about the Digital Technologies curriculum.