Schools Digital Strategy (SDS)

 

[Narration]

Simplifying the digital landscape and bridging the gap.

Empowering school leaders to innovate,

Supporting teachers to deliver a richer learning experience.

Helping students learn on their own terms.

Connecting parents and carers with their child's learning

Streamlining processes for support staff.

Working with schools to build a brighter future.

Schools Digital Strategy.

Preparing today's students, for tomorrow's world.

[End of narration]

Interactive elements:

Eight clickable hotspots are displayed in sequence in the video, each hotspot representing a key focus area of the Schools Digital strategy. When clicking a hotspot, information about the focus area will be displayed on screen. Below is an overview of each of these 8 overlays:

1. Creating a level playing field

The Rural Access Gap is the first stage of the Schools Digital Strategy that will ensure these schools are digitally transformed to match their metropolitan counterparts.

It's aim is to close the gap in rural and remote areas by delivering the following:

More than 12,000 teachers will have access to a portable device.

More than 220,000 students will benefit from a higher availability of devices to reach a minimum device-to-student ratio of 1:4.

More than 10,000 learning spaces will have access to a Main Learning Display (interactive display).

1,004 rural and remote schools will achieve network connectivity of 5 Mbps per student.

“I have been in the game for over 30 years (but) it's only since the Rural Access Gap initiative has come through that I’ve really seen some ground gained in the availability of digital technology in schools.” – Debbie Pritchard, Principal at Dubbo Public School.

2. Empowering school leaders to map out their digital journey

Digital maturity is defined as a school's ability to take advantage of technology as it develops. The Digital Maturity Planner (DMP) is designed to assist school leadership teams to navigate that digital transformation journey.

It helps school leaders to identify and deliver technology and resources to support their school's improvement objectives.

The Digital Support Team (DST) provides needs-based support to schools at all stages of digital maturity, and tailored assistance to make the most of the digital opportunities available to them.

"We completed the DMP and we were able to identify our areas of strength and look at what we needed to do." – Jenny Lamborn, Principal at Wallerawang Public School.

3. Easier access to quality resources

Improved access to quality digital tools and resources, and customised professional development, will result in a better teaching experience.

Teachers will receive improved support material, making content creation and lesson planning easier with initiatives such as the Digital Learning Resources Hub.

Greater connectivity and learning space upgrades enable teachers to collaborate with teachers across the state.

"With the hub, we are given the opportunity to just grab what we need without spending endless hours searching." – Lynette Tran, CLAST Sir Joseph Banks High School.

4. Students prepared for future work

Proven practices that improve student outcomes are delivered by a team of educators working in the program, who also provide the advice, tools and support to implement these practices across our schools.

Students will be prepared for work in the future with enhanced digital literacy and critical collaboration, and team-based problem-solving skills. Their education will be personalised and flexible - wherever they are.

“Not every student learns the same. Not every teacher teaches the same. It's really important to empower them to make the right choices to get the best possible outcomes for students.”- Chris Cividino, Head Teacher Innovative Technologies Callaghan College.

5. Better communication with parents and carers

The Schools Digital Strategy includes a range of initiatives to support communication and engagement of parents and carers with their child’s learning journey.

Parents and carers will interact more easily with their school, including communicating about consent, payment, enrolment and learning support via the digital channel of their choice.

One of the initiatives that is currently being rolled out is the parent app, allowing parents and carers to keep track of news and events from more than one school in a single app.

6. Reducing the admin burden for support staff

Simplifying and streamlining school management and student administration processes will significantly reduce the admin burden for school leaders, teachers, and school admin staff.

Initiatives include:

Solutions such as automated attendance reporting and digitisation of more than 50 commonly used forms.

Decluttering and streamlining systems.

“Admin staff, teachers, and principals just want simple platforms across schools that work.” – Craig Snudden, Principal at Bangor Public School.

7. Working with schools for better student outcomes

The Schools Digital Strategy is built on the principles of co-design.

Extensive interviews have been conducted with principals, teachers and school administrative staff across NSW to understand how they see technology contributing to their roles in improving student outcomes.

The human-centred design process helps us develop a deep understanding of our audience and their needs. It brings us closer to the people and environments we are here to support, and ensure we solve the right problem for the right people.

“It's great that we have input now and can make sure that whatever is rolled out, works in schools.” – Clint White, Principal at Sylvania Heights Public School.

8. Clicking this hotspot directs the viewer to the Schools Digital Strategy homepage: https://education.nsw.gov.au/campaigns/schools-digital-strategy

[End of transcript]

Learn more about the Schools Digital Strategy.