Digital Technology

There has been a lot of media attention recently about on-screen usage in schools and its links to learning outcomes. As educators and parents, we question how to achieve this ‘optimal balance'. When we look at technology in school and its use, it is easy to look at it as time spent on screen. At HEPS our digital technology program includes both online and offline components. We educate students on how to stay safe online, be responsible digital citizens, whilst providing students with rich learning experiences to research, create, explore and analyse. 

Not all digital technologies learning is equal: 

Low Tech Learning isn’t about going back in time. Instead, it’s an approach that recognises that technology can have both positive and negative outcomes. In terms of quantity, it isn’t just time in front of screens. For example, in 20 minutes a student could have been creating a podcast, sketching and building collaborative ideas or they might be completing a differentiated assessment.  All of which involve students thinking and creating.

For families wrangling with this and trying to find this balance, The CyberSafetyProject  recommend looking at your families individual usage and activities. Consider what time you are spending on devices but more so what are you engaging with whilst online. There are many resources available online which support these discussions at the e-safety commission (https://www.alannahandmadeline.org.au/what-we-do/prevention-programs/esmart) and also Cyber Safety Project family hub (https://cybersafetyproject.com/).

Digital technologies learning across the school:

Mars Mission

Students across grades 3 and 4 have started engaging with the Scitech Mars Mission. HEPS was chosen to participate in this program which is coordinated by Scitech and the Australian Space Agency.  During the mission students will design and build a mars lander and measure g-force using Microbits.