RATIONALE:
Our students live in a digital age where it is imperative that they are taught the necessary skills to effectively, safely and appropriately make use of the incredibly powerful tools that today’s technology offers them to support their learning. We want our students to develop ICT (Information and Communication Technology) capabilities that allow them to access, create and communicate information and ideas, solve problems and work collaboratively in all learning areas at school and in their future lives beyond school.
We believe students must have the opportunity to explore and develop an appreciation and understanding of how ICT is used to share, develop, analyse, create and present ideas in a technologically-sophisticated society. We want our students to be empowered with the knowledge, skills and confidence to make ICT work for them while limiting the risks to themselves and others in a digital environment. St. Dympna’s supports and develops the concept of Digital Citizenship in an ever-increasing online world.
Our students have ready access to over three hundred and fifty ICT devices. These devices are constantly maintained and updated to adapt to ever-changing technological developments. We use desktops, laptops and iPads in a combination of labs and laptop trolleys within classrooms. All students integrate ICT as a routine part of classroom learning across the curriculum. We aim to provide an ICT program that is fast, interactive, multimodal and engaging for all students at different levels of ICT competency. ICT has the ability to transform the way students think and learn and allows them to have greater control over how, where and when they learn.
St Dympna’s is currently in the process of implementing the Australian Curriculum which details its requirements for ICT in Australian schools.
The Australian Curriculum has organised ICT into five interrelated elements.
1. Applying social and ethical protocols and practices when using ICT
2. Investigating with ICT
3. Creating with ICT
4. Communicating with ICT
5. Managing and operating ICT
Applying social and ethical protocols and practices when using ICT
At St Dympna’s, all students learn about CyberSafety and how to participate responsibly in an online digital environment. They gain an understanding of the benefits and consequences of using ICT appropriately.
Investigating with ICT
Students at St. Dympna’s learn to use ICT as an investigative resource tool. They learn different skills of investigating where they can define, plan, locate, generate, select and evaluate information and data.
Creating with ICT
Students use ICT to generate ideas, plans and processes to respond to questions and inquiries. Students realise creative intentions by using a variety of different tools to construct possible solutions to challenges and tasks.
Communicating with ICT
Students use ICT to communicate, share and exchange ideas and information. They develop an understanding of context, audience and techniques used to collaboratively construct knowledge and digital solutions.
Managing and operating ICT
When investigating, creating and communicating using ICT, students select and use appropriate hardware, software and ICT systems. They apply technical knowledge and skills to efficiently manage and maintain digital data.
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