The Department for Education is to establish a new specialist unit to help teachers integrate digital technologies into what students learn and how they learn it.
Announced by the Premier, Steven Marshall, the new Digital Guarantee Unit is to be made up of curriculum specialists and ICT experts, who will be responsible for providing holistic support to schools to meaningfully integrate digital technology.
Mr Marshall said the Unit would also be responsible for delivering the Digital Strategy for public schools and preschools.
“The Unit will help to build digital capacity within the teaching workforce through tailored training and support, and work with schools to ensure all teachers have a quality device to support their work,” Mr Marshall said.
He said the Unit would support schools to use technology to its maximum effect in all learning areas, improving student outcomes and preparing them for the jobs of tomorrow.
“By blending experts in the fields of curriculum and ICT, the Digital Guarantee Unit will give schools and teachers a central point of advice and support covering what technology to use and how to use it most effectively to improve student outcomes,” the Premier said.
Minister for Education, John Gardner said the ambition set out in the Strategy was possible because of work done over the past three years to deliver a fast, reliable internet connection to every public school in the State.
“Technology opens up a world of possibilities and delivers better outcomes for our students,” Mr Gardner said.
“We expect all our high school students will need access to appropriate devices for both learning at school and at home and this strategy will enable this to happen,” he said.
The Department’s new Digital Strategy can be accessed at this PS News link.
