Have you seen our new look?

The Digital Technologies Hub has recently undergone a face lift. Aside from a fresh new look, you should find that the resources are more easily discoverable. You'll also find videos that explain the Digital Technologies Curriculum, great lesson ideas linked to the curriculum, our NEW topics pages, school leader support, and more.

Discover the new topics available on the Digital Technologies Hub website. Each topic features curated resources to:

give you ideas about how to teach the topic
use applications and games in the classroom
see what other schools are doing
enter competitions and challenges.

Computer science unplugged

Teaching computer science without the computer!

‘Computer science unplugged’ is a way of describing learning and teaching activities that develop the fundamental skills and concepts of computer science without actually using a computer. By using physical objects and real world ideas, they can assist students to understand the relationships between computer science and the world around them through language and representation, routines, decision-making, or sequencing steps. They can also be a terrific springboard into digital activities for students to further apply and develop their understandings.

CS Unplugged is a free resource that educators around the world use to teach computer science concepts through engaging activities that use everyday items. No technology is required to facilitate the learning. Code.org also has a collection of unplugged curriculum activities sorted by age and concept.

Don’t forget, you can also use our search to filter for unplugged resources and activities on our website.

Webinar with Tim Bell, from CS Unplugged

29 March, 4.30–5.30pm (AEDT)
Find out how to introduce students to computational thinking through concepts such as binary numbers, algorithms and data compression, separated from the distractions and technical challenges of having to use computers. Importantly, no programming is required to engage with these ideas!

Register here

Lesson ideas

The Digital Technologies Hub features lesson ideas with step-by-step instructions for implementing one or more of the Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies content descriptions for each band of the curriculum.

In these featured lessons, see how you can design algorithms with students in an unplugged mode before moving on to a digital solution.

Making Maths Quizzes 1: Plan and test our programs (years 5–6)

In this sequence students plan, create and edit a program that will ask maths questions that are harder or easier depending on user performance.

Making Maths Quizzes 2: Implementing a digital solution (years 5–6)

In this sequence students implement a digital solution for a maths quiz. They test and assess how well it works.

Check out what other lesson ideas are available for: Primary and Secondary.

Spotlight case study

North Fitzroy Primary School

In this case study, discover how North Fitzroy Primary School (NFPS) has focused on both ICT integration across the school, and building digital technologies competencies and knowledge. This case study includes a set of videos demonstrating examples of teachers and students working with both ICT use in classes and/or the Digital Technologies Curriculum.

You can find further examples of practice and school communities embracing digital technologies on our case studies page.

Webinars

So far, we've hosted two live webinars, with another three in the works over the coming months. Our next live webinar will be on 29 March, with Tim Bell.

To access the recordings and slides from our first two webinars, use the links below.

Getting started with digital technologies in schools

Presented by Chris Harte, this webinar focused on auditing technology, curriculum, and expert capacity to implement the Digital Technologies Curriculum. If you missed the webinar, you can view the slides and full recording on our webinars page.

It starts with teachers: Building teacher capacity in digital technologies

This webinar was presented by Dr Rebecca Vivian and Lauren Stanhope from The Computer Science Education Research (CSER) Group. It looked at professional development resources teachers can access for the Digital Technologies Curriculum. The slides and full recording for this webinar are available on our webinars page.

Upcoming events

Find out what competitions, conferences and professional learning opportunities are on offer in 2017 through our events calendar.

Women in STEM; various dates in March–August, VIC
Digital Technologies Masterclass at Melbourne West Summit featuring Google for Education; 3 April, VIC
TeachTechPlay Conference; 3–4 April, VIC
<Code/17> Conference; 10–11 April, SA

Digital technologies making news

Is coding the blue collar job of the future?, The Age
Luddenham to house Australia’s first STEM based school, The Daily Telegraph
6 ways of building the STEM education path for tomorrow’s classrooms, Lee Crocket
How I taught third graders binary numbers, Rick Regan
Role modelling breaks down tech gender barriers, ACER Teacher Magazine
A guide to programming languages for coding in class, ACER Teacher Magazine
Robotics: The future of STEM education, Emma Davies

Join us on Google+

Did you know that we're also on Google+? Pop over to learn about site updates, featured resources, case studies, and information to help support your implementation of the Digital Technologies Curriculum.