The Melbourne Declaration on the Educational Goal for Young Australians acknowledges that the digital age is changing the way people use, develop, communicate, and share information and communications technology (ICT). It is essential that young people be responsive, highly skilled and confident in its use (MCEETYA, 2008). Goal 2 of the Melbourne Declaration on the Educational Goal for Young Australians states that:
‘Successful learners have the essential skills in literacy and numeracy and are creative and productive users of technology, especially information and communication technology, as a foundation for success in all learning areas.’
Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA), 2008
Floreat Park Primary School recognises the importance of successfully leveraging the technology as a tool to implement the curriculum (Tamin et al., 2015). ‘Systems should ensure that ICT programs are fully integrated with the curriculum and instruction and are supported by teacher professional development and coaching.’ (Chen et al., 2017, p. 10). The Western Australian Curriculum (School Curriculum and Standards Authority, 2014, [SCSA]) ICT Capabilities are embedded throughout our program to provide students with a solid foundation of essential knowledge and digital literacy skills. To support this, we have focused over the past four years in providing our ‘teachers with professional development to support their ability to integrate the technology of the day effectively into their teaching and to create teaching and learning environments conducive for meaningful learning.’ (Tamin et al., 2015, P. 40).
‘The nature and scope of ICT capability is not fixed but is responsive to ongoing technological developments’ (SCSA 2014). We want our students to feel empowered to contribute to the advancement of technical and scientific innovation confidently and actively within a technologically sophisticated society. That is why Floreat Park Primary School’s vision is for all students to become ‘confident, future-oriented learners, equipped with the skills and knowledge to successfully navigate their digital future’.
References
School Curriculum and Standards Authority [SCSA] (2014). Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability. Retrieved September 4, 2021, from https://k10outline.scsa.wa.edu.au/home/p-10-curriculum/general-capabilities-over/information-and-communication-technology-ict-capability/introduction
Chen, L., Dorn, E., Krawitz, M., SH Lim, C. & Mourshed, M. (2017). Drivers of Student Performance: Insights from Asia. Mckinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/public-and-social-sector/our-insights/drivers-of-student-performance-asia-insights
Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (2008). Melbourne Declaration on the Educational Goal for Young Australians http://www.curriculum.edu.au/verve/_resources/national_declaration_on_the_educational_goals_for_young_australians.pdf
Tamim, R., Borokhovski, E., Pickup, D., Bernard, R. & Saadi, L. (2015). Tablets for teaching and learning: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Commonwealth of Learning. 10.13140/RG.2.1.3670.5042
