The Digital Technologies is an interdisciplinary domain, focusing on providing students with the tools to transform their learning and to enrich their learning environment.
The knowledge, skills and behaviours identified in the Victorian Curriculum enable students to:
- develop new thinking and learning skills that produce creative and innovative insights.
- develop more productive ways of working and solving problems individually and collaboratively.
- use and apply computational thinking and create information products that demonstrate their understanding of concepts, issues, relationships and processes.
- express themselves in contemporary and socially relevant ways.
- communicate loyally and globally to solve problems and to share knowledge.
- understand the implications of the use of digital technologies and their social and ethical responsibilities as users of them.
At St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, students from Foundation to Year 2 have access to, and use of iPads. This is a tool that is used to support their learning through the use of subject specific apps. For students in Years 3-6, Chromebooks (one per student) are integrated into learning programs, aiming to provide students with a tool used that specifically engages them in rich educational learning opportunities and collaboration through the use of Google Apps. All students who have access to digital tools are upskilled in their use in an explicit, systematic and developmentally appropriate way.
The integration of the digital technologies in S.T.E.M (one of the Specialist subjects) further supports learning in this area, providing opportunities for students to expand and apply their skill set.
St Thomas More is an eSmart school where the smart, safe and responsible use of digital technologies is a cultural norm. Students, teachers and the wider school community are equipped to embrace the best these technologies can offer, while being savvy about the pitfalls. Students are regularly involved in developing and delivering information on the smart, safe and responsible use of technologies to a variety of audiences. A range of personal and social capabilities and skills are also taught. In eSmart schools, relationships are strong and supportive, and learning outcomes are enhanced. Bullying, and cyber-bullying are less likely to thrive (eSmart Schools).