With the Ministry of Education’s focus on the new Digital Technologies curriculum and assisting those children who are disadvantaged, we are hopeful that our Digital Immersion Programme will receive increasing support over the next few years.
Rolling out this year, the new curriculum (which was announced by the previous Government in July) aims to teach our young people the computer science principles that all digital technologies are built on.
According to the Ministry of Education, “Digital Technologies and Hangarau Matihiko is about teaching our tamariki and children how technology works, and how they can use that knowledge to solve problems. Once this new curriculum is introduced, our kids won’t just be using devices like computers and smart phones… Students will find out about how computers work – understanding what makes ‘algorithms’ and ‘binary code’. Our young people will benefit from having these future thinking skills.”
At Taitokerau Education Trust, our focus is about giving children the opportunity and access to digital technology throughout any of the curriculum, it’s not limiting it to say simply doing coding but rather using digital resources no matter what subject. It’s on all the time.
Executive officer Liz Cassidy-Nelson says that although we are excited by the learning opportunities that the digital technology curriculum offers, it is imperative that equitable access to learning is a priority.
“We are mindful of the need for teachers to receive appropriate upskilling and for adequate resources to be available for all students.
Our concern is that all students, including those living in low income communities, should have the same access to resources. They will all then have the same opportunity for accelerated learning, rather than a gap in learning potential for those who can afford the resources compared with those who cannot.”
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