Students and teachers from Dampier Primary School today shared their learning journey from Scitech’s Future Computing program at a special event for Karratha teachers.
In partnership with Mitsui Iron Ore Development, the Future Computing program is a new year-long teacher professional development program that covers subject areas from computer science to coding, machine learning, AI, internet of things and mechatronics.
Dampier Primary School is the inaugural focus school for 2020, where classes in years four to six have been provided with fully funded Raspberry Pi educational computing kits.
At this special event, teachers from other schools in the Karratha area will see first-hand how this unique program is fast tracking Digital Technology education, with students from Dampier Primary School demonstrating the new computing skills and ICT capabilities they have developed through Raspberry Pi.
Kalien Selby, Scitech Chief Executive Officer said, “The Future Computing program develops the technological skills and knowledge of both teachers and students, while raising awareness of the importance of technology skills to participate in the future workforce.
“Our industry partnerships are extremely important as they enable us to deliver quality and contemporary STEM engagement programs that up-skill our teachers and inspire our students.
“We are proud to be working closely with Mitsui Iron Ore Development as they share our commitment to developing the capability of Western Australian teachers as a sustainable approach to long term change and improvement.”
Scitech and Mitsui have delivered Digital Technology education in the Pilbara region since 2014. Over the last six years the partnership delivered the Intensive Robotics program, which invested $530,700 in STEM education in the Pilbara, up-skilling 158 teachers and impacting 2,317 students, or 72% of primary aged children in the city of Karratha.
By 2019, educational robotics was firmly embedded in Pilbara schools and the Future Computing program was introduced as the logical evolution to take education in the region to the next level.
The Future Computing program comprehensively addresses the Technologies learning area and ICT capability of the Western Australian curriculum and incorporates General Capabilities and Cross-curriculum Priorities.
