Digital Learning

Digital Learning at Brookside

Digital Learning at Brookside College involves equipping students with the skills to be lifelong digital citizens. This means that students will use technology in a safe and responsible manner and learn essential skills such as collaboration, communication and creativity. In order to allow students to reach their fullest potential in Digital Learning, the College will be utilising EduPass and Microsoft365 as a tool for education.

Recently, the World Health Organisation released their guidelines for Screen Time for children under 5 years of age. Below are the recommendations at a glance (for an extended version, please click the link):

Infants (less than 1 year) should:

• Be physically active several times a day in a variety of ways, particularly through interactive floor-based play; more is better. For those not yet mobile, this includes at least 30 minutes in prone position (tummy time) spread throughout the day while awake.
• Not be restrained for more than 1 hour at a time (e.g. prams/strollers, high chairs, or strapped on a caregiver’s back). Screen time is not recommended. When sedentary, engaging in reading and storytelling with a caregiver is encouraged. 
• Have 14–17h (0–3 months of age) or 12–16h (4–11 months of age) of good quality sleep, including naps.

Children 1-2 years of age should:

• Spend at least 180 minutes in a variety of types of physical activities at any intensity, including moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity, spread throughout the day; more is better.
• Not be restrained for more than 1 hour at a time (e.g., prams/strollers, high chairs, or strapped on a caregiver’s back) or sit for extended periods of time. For 1-year-olds, sedentary screen time (such as watching TV or videos, playing computer games) is not recommended. For those aged 2 years, sedentary screen time should be no more than 1 hour; less is better. When sedentary, engaging in reading and storytelling with a caregiver is encouraged.
• Have 11-14 hours of good quality sleep, including naps, with regular sleep and wake-up times.

Children 3-4 years of age should:

• Spend at least 180 minutes in a variety of types of physical activities at any intensity, of which at least 60 minutes is moderate- to vigorous intensity physical activity, spread throughout the day; more is better.
• Not be restrained for more than 1 hour at a time (e.g., prams/strollers) or sit for extended periods of time. Sedentary screen time should be no more than 1 hour; less is better. When sedentary, engaging in reading and storytelling with a caregiver is encouraged.
• Have 10–13h of good quality sleep, which may include a nap, with regular sleep and wake-up times.

At Brookside College in Term Two, students will be engaged in Digital Technologies through a range of planned experiences in all curriculum areas, there are also stand-alone Digital Technologies focuses including:

• Prep – 2: Introduction to and building foundation skills with Seesaw
• Year 3: Coding through the use of Spheros
• Year 4: Animating classes (4A, 4B and 4C this semester and 4D and 4E in semester two)
• Year 5: Using Minecraft to represent how Australia has changed over time
• Year 6: Virtual Worlds
• Year 9: Documentary making through the Futures Program

There will also be a Parent Information session run later this term, to assist us in best planning for this, I am asking for parents to complete the feedback form attached. This is the same feedback form that was posted on Compass in Week Two. Information gathered from this form will also be used to develop further newsletter items.