Digital Technologies in Focus: Supporting Implementation of Digital Technologies Project Overview

ACARA’s three-year project Digital Technologies in focus: Supporting implementation of Digital Technologies funded through the Australian Government’s National Innovation and Science Agenda (NISA) is being run in 160 schools across Australia.

The Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies was published in October 2015 and is gradually being implemented in Australian schools. In Queensland, Digital Technologies implementation has commenced in government primary and secondary schools in 2017.

On 7 December 2015 the Australian Government released the National Innovation and Science Agenda (NISA). $64.6 million has been committed to STEM education initiatives, aimed at ensuring all Australian students have the opportunity to embrace the digital age and develop the STEM skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow. ACARA’s Digital Technologies in focus project is one of these initiatives.

The project aims to support the implementation of the Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies in nominated disadvantaged schools across Australia. It is anticipated that by participating in this project teachers will develop their Digital Technologies knowledge, understanding and skills and in turn, students’ computational thinking and ICT capability will be enhanced. Professional learning communities will be an important strategy and outcome of the project.

Schools will be expected to undertake some action research supported by ACARA staff. A Curriculum Officer will assist each selected school to develop an action research proposal that best meets the school’s needs and ensure the implementation of the action research. This support is available from 2017 to December 2019. Initially the focus will be on working with school leaders to implement the Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies in ways that align with the school plan and meet the needs of students and teachers.

In 2018-19 the focus will be on customised professional learning (face-to-face and online) for teachers, support staff and community members to ensure long term, sustainable implementation.