STEM Term 3

Welcome back! This term, we are diving into Digital Technologies. We are learning about hardware (including peripheral devices) and software and how these work together to make a Digital System. 

Mario Kart practice for Grade 5 & 6 will be held during lunchtime on Wednesday and Thursday. All Grade 5 and 6 students are welcome to join! 

Prep:

This term, Preps will be provided with opportunities to recognise and identify familiar digital systems used within everyday life. They also explore how these systems are used to communicate and talk about the different ways we can use digital systems to communicate. 

Students will be provided with opportunities to explore algorithms through digital technologies and ‘pseudo-code’. They will develop an understanding that algorithms are a sequence of steps or procedures for carrying out instructions to solve problems or achieve certain things. Students will follow instructions to create a sequence of code and talk about the function of each block type. 

Grade 1-2:

This term, students will be learning about digital systems, including identifying hardware and software and the functions they perform. Students also explore how digital systems are used in everyday life, with a particular focus on how people use them to communicate. Students learn that  algorithms are an effective sequence of steps with an intended outcome and can be represented by code.  Students will use a range of block code and will talk about the functions of each block type. 

Grade 3-4: 

This term, students will investigate what a digital system is, and identify peripheral devices on digital systems. They learn about input and output and identify devices for each. 

Students will be introduced to and explore the ways in which we use data. There are many different types of data - numbers, text, images, sounds etc. Students will identify the purpose of different types of data and explore how the same data can be represented in different ways. 

Students will learn about algorithms, how these function in computers and that there are three different types of algorithms: pseudocode, flowcharts and code. 

Grade 5-6: 

This term, students will learn about binary numbers, and how digital systems use whole numbers as a basis for representing a variety of data types. Students will explore how the binary system works and begin to understand that binary digits represent on and off. Students explore the use of infographics as a form of data visualisation and begin to understand how data enables us to more easily see patterns and trends. Students use data visualisation tools to present data as charts and graphs. 

Students will investigate the importance of incorporating user interface design and use this information to design a website.