real world applications, really challenging

As part of its participation in the 2017-2018 DigiTech Start-ups Initiative from the Victorian Government Department of Education and Training, Brauer College received funds to spend on relevant classroom tools.

School Profile

Brauer College is a public high school in Warrnambool, Victoria and has a student population close to 800 students from Years 7 to 12.

• High school improvement culture.
• Vertical curriculum: Complete newbies in a subject without pre-requisite skills! 
• Difficulties acquiring staff for some subjects. 
• Delia Jenkins: A curriculum futures powerhouse! 
• Strong trade and technologies background

STARTING POINT

In early 2018, DigiTech had a low subject profile, picking up all the new students and non academics. Very much a hands on class.

A strong focus on robotics/electronics  in the Digitech curriculum. In Year 8, the focus appeared to be around “hands on” construction of circuitry and electrical fundamentals, and less about the design process. Students from a less academic background. 

Robotics Academy provided a strong foundation towards redesigning the DigiTech curriculum.

First step: Understanding the curriculum (what language is this?)

PLANNING FOR 2019

A lot of collaboration and planning was required to redesign the DigiTech curriculum for 2019. The planning process kept in mind realistic restrictions around:

• Facilities
• Existing resources
• Student prior knowledge

The curriculum was planned to scaffold DigiTech knowledge from Year 7 to VCE Computing AND provide a pathway for VCE Systems Engineering.

REFINING DIGITECH

We chose engaging projects first and determined where they would fit into the curriculum. Examples include:

• Mouse Traps
• Autonomous green house
• Light tracking solar cars

We introduced an emphasis on data (binary, SQL, Excel, compression), a significant part of the DigiTech curriculum that had not been addressed.