14 June 2023
Events and initiatives Public school life
An innovative program is allowing our schools to share knowledge and boost technology skills in remote parts of the state.
Staff from Koondoola Primary School recently travelled more than 2,000 km to the Kimberley to demonstrate effective use of technologies at Wangkatjungka Remote Community School and Muludja Remote Community School as part of our Quality Teaching Strategy, DigiTech School program.
DigiTech team with Wangkatjungka Remote Community School student.
Five schools were selected for the DigiTech School program to model the use of ICT to increase student access, engagement, performance and progress. The focus includes two-way learning and technology applied practically in remote communities.
As part of the trip, staff, students and members of the community engaged in an On Country experience, using technology to capture Country. Some of the school activities included robotics, iMovie, online learning, drone lessons and camera work techniques using iPads for students.
Koondoola Primary School DigiTech Coordinator Alana Em said the remote program is incredibly important because technology is a way of the future.
Ms Em said the Koondoola staff were also enriched by the cultural learnings during their remote visits.
The community showing the DigiTech team their country.
“It’s very important for our community at Koondoola to connect with a remote community as well,” Ms Em said. “It's good for teacher practice and it's great for professional development in terms of remote teachers being able to observe another teacher."
“I'm learning just as much as I'm giving, which is fantastic. The community themselves will take us out On Country separate to our work and show us things, talk to us and educate us so that's been really nice to be embraced in that way.”
The DigiTech team from Koondoola Primary School have been visiting remote communities as part of the program for the past 2 years.