Digital Technologies Regional Workshop (Geelong and Surf Coast)

Please note, this event has been postponed, and may be rescheduled later in 2022. As schools continue to struggle with CRT shortages, we are experiencing lower than usual registrations for face-to-face events.

In partnership with The Geelong College, join teachers and school leaders from the Geelong and Surf Coast regions to explore Digi Tech in our schools - technologies, curriculum implementation and how to lead and manage technology change in schools.

Choose one of three concurrent professional learning sessions to attend (more details further down):

1. Your school's ICT plan: Asking the right questions
   For school leaders, what to ask when developing and implementing a vision for your school's technology provisioning and use.
   
   
2. Getting hands-on with the DigiTech curriculum
   For teachers and curriculum leaders, refresh yourself on the Digital Technologies curriculum, explore resources and get hands on with micro:bit devices.
   
   
3. Everyone's a DigiTech teacher
   Discover principles and examples for integrating DigiTech across other Learning Areas in your school.

Download flyer (PDF)

Who Should Attend?

• Primary and Secondary teachers from all Learning Areas

• Digital Technologies teachers and curriculum leaders

• School executive and technology leaders

Schedule

1:30pm: Arrival

2:00pm: Welcome session

2:15pm: Concurrent professional learning sessions

3:35pm: Hear from industry partners

3:45pm: Networking

4:00pm: Finish

Session details

OPTION 1: Your school's ICT plan: Asking the right questions

Aside from staff remuneration (and new building costs), the average school’s ICT spend is usually the highest budget bottom line. How confident are school leaders in ensuring they are getting the very best from their ICT spend?

This hands-on collaborative workshop will strengthen participants' understanding of relevant steps to shape the eLearning direction of their school. Participants will leave the sesion with resources and ideas to assist with their plans.

Digital leadership can thus be defined as establishing direction, influencing others, and initiating sustainable change through the access to information, and establishing relationships in order to anticipate changes pivotal to school success in the future.” Eric Sheninger, ( 'Digital Leadership' and Principal of New Milford HS)

At this workshop Daryl English will explore with leaders the following:

• Does your school have a vision for a culture of digital learning? Is the vision one that is shared and understood by all members of your school community? Is the vision and practices that emerge from it embedded within the curriculum. Does the vision look to strong student voice for enhancement and refinement? Does your vision address and make provision for equity of access?
• What core strategies, pedagogies and vision ensure students’ responsible and safe online behaviours?
• Does a shared and agreed pedagogy drive the school’s decisions about the use of digital technologies?
• What are some effective frameworks that can assist leaders in building school ICT goals and action plan?How might you as an ICT leader influence and encourage the community to take on board the ICT plan.
• Where and how does the assessment of the spending take place?
• How might a sustainable action plan be developed?
• Where can leaders find excellent resources for staff professional development?

Daryl English has held a range of eLearning related positions, as a teacher of ICT, Ultranet Coach, 1:1 Project Officer for the DET, and as an eLearning coach. His most recent and exciting work was as Assistant Principal 21st Century Learning at a large P-9 College in Melbourne’s West. Daryl is a highly skilled presenter in the field of Digital Education including presentations at BETT Singapore, Edutech Sydney and FutureSchools.

OPTION 2: Getting hands-on with the DigiTech Curriculum

This session is designed for teachers and curriculum leaders new to the Digital Technologies curriculum, or in need of a short refresher.

The first half will include a brief overview of the Digital Technologies curriculum, how it is distinguished from ICT, and the three Ways of Thinking at its heart. Useful resources for next steps will also be pointed out.

In the second half, attendees will be able to get hands-on with some authentic algorithm coding on the popular micro:bit classroom device.

Note: Attendees will need to bring a laptop and charger. 

Nathan Alison taught Digital Technologies, VCE Computing and Software Development in Victoria for 11 years before beginning work for DLTV. He brings a background in Computer Systems Engineering and years of hobby coding, as well as a keen desire to help teachers with more complex Computer Science concepts through clear explanations and relevant activities.

OPTION 3:  Everyone's a DigiTech teacher: Integrating Digital Technologies across the learning areas

This session is designed for teachers who are looking for refreshing ways to teach the Digital Technologies curriculum across other learning areas.

The first half will include information on techniques to consider how to integrate the curriculum across other areas. Catherine will take you through considerations to get your ideas flowing!

The second session will provide a selection of hands on ideas and resources that allow attendees to experience lessons (including some fun robotics – do not worry no coding skills required) that integrate the Digital Technologies Curriculum across a range of year levels and learning areas.

Catherine Newington is the ICT Educator Specialist at Australian Computer Society. She leads the ACS national program to support schools to implement the Digital Technologies Curriculum. Catherine is a registered teacher with over 12 years’ experience in the classroom including 5 years as learning and teaching leader. She holds a postgraduate degree specialising in Education Technologies. This has tightened her knowledge of how pedagogical practices influence the potential of technology in education.