Length: 10-week rotation

Recommended background: None

Content:

Digital technologies is about exciting interest in computer science. It is about empowering students to understand how the devices they use, actually work. Students will develop the confidence to create their digital solutions.

Computational, systems and design thinking are fundamental to digital technologies learning.

Computational thinking is a problem-solving process involving:

• Pattern recognition – understanding trends, similarities and patterns in data to define problems
• Decomposition – breaking down complex problems into simpler parts
• Abstraction – identifying and removing unnecessary details to simplify a problem.
• Algorithmic design – creating a step by step solution to a problem
• Modelling and simulation – implementing the steps to identify and fix ‘bugs’ or mistakes
• Evaluating – testing out solutions with different audiences. This makes sure the solutions meet the needs of the end user, as well as contribute to preferred futures.

Systems thinking is the ability to see the big picture. Students need to understand the impact of digital solutions. They need to see the solution through legal, ethical and sustainability lenses.

Design thinking is the process of imagining, creating and realising solutions.

When using these thinking strategies together, students can develop powerful digital solutions.

Student’s will undertake the following units of work within the Digital Technologies rotation:

• Computational Thinking and Robots
• Data Science

Assessment:

Students’ performance will be determined according to the subject’s Achievement Standards as outlined in the framework of the Australian Curriculum. Grades A to E will be used for reporting purposes.