School Newsletter

Digital Technologies

Term 2 has seen some very exciting things happening in the classrooms.

We have finished our unit on online safety and the foundation of what makes a good Digital Citizen. 

SO many positive things have come out of our work this term and the students are using the vocabulary to describe the learning that is taking place.

We have welcomed a new TSSP (Technical Support to Schools) Technician, Heather Pritchard.  Heather comes with a wealth of knowledge and professionalism and has already made an impact on our school network.  We are looking forward to the exciting things that will eventuate moving forward.

Foundation – Level 2

Teaching Focus:

  • Explore how people safely use common information systems to meet information, communication and recreation needs
  • Recognise and explore digital systems (hardware and software components) for a purpose.

The students in Foundation have begun using the school iPads and earning our “iPad Licence”.  We have practiced walking safely while holding the devices, zipping up the covers and putting the devices away safely.

The Level 1 and 2s have continued using the Hector’s World online safety resource from the eSafety Commisioner.  This resource looks at online safety through the lens of Hector and his friends.  We have watched some of the online videos and followed up with what information we should and shouldn’t share online.  The resource can be accessed using the link below. I have asked students in Level 1 and 2 to talk to their parents about this and make sure that their parents are using the internet safely :)

https://www.esafety.gov.au/education-resources/classroom-resources/hectors-world

Level 3 & 4

Teaching Focus:

  • Identify and explore a range of digital systems with peripheral devices for different purposes, and transmit different types of data.
  • Explain how student solutions and existing information systems meet common personal, school or community needs

 

The students have continued to adapt to the laptops and the logging in procedures.  We have introduced a new program call Tux Typing.  This software is aimed at developing touch typing skills for the students.  For many using a physical keyboard has been a new skill to learn.

 

Tux Typing is a Department of Education learning tool from the eduSTAR software catalogue that can be downloaded for free via the following link:

https://www.edustar.vic.edu.au/Catalogue/Pages/Tux-Typing-v1-8-1.aspx

Level 5 & 6

Teaching Focus: 

  • Plan, create and communicate ideas and information, including collaboratively online, applying agreed ethical, social and technical protocols.

Level 5 and 6 have continued to look at what it takes to be a good Digital Citizen.  Our Google Suites have been utilised to collaborate with each other to work in a way that is very new and exciting for the students.

Our Google Classrooms have been developed and have allowed students to access learning content and assignments that need to be completed in our sessions. Here is a quick infographic on what these tools allow us to do.

 

Students have been looking at online communication tools and how we can share ideas and collaborate within and beyond the classroom. Students can work on collaborative documents / presentations with other students in their own homes. It is very exciting seeing this come to life and how the students are developing their understanding of the importance of their online…

- Conduct

- Language 

- Content

As this progresses we will look at our digital footprint and see the importance of what information we put online.

Mr Matt Jackson, Science and Technology Leader