DIGITAL STRATEGY

According to NSW Department of Education a schools digital strategy is a seven-year roadmap empowering schools to determine their own digital future and support them with the skills and tools they need to succeed. 

https://education.nsw.gov.au/about-us/strategies-and-reports/schools-digital-strategy

The three sections listed below are explored in further detail on the pages attached to the digital strategy.

1. Digital Literacy and Capacity

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Digital-Literacy-Concept-JISC-Digital-Capacity-Framework-2015_fig1_342436269

 

Digital literacy means having the skills you need to live, learn, and work in a society where communication and access to information is increasingly through digital technologies like internet platforms, social media, and mobile devices.

https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/studysmart/home/study_skills_guides/digital_literacy/what_is_digital_literacy#:~:text=Digital%20literacy%20means%20having%20the,Developing%20your%20critical%20thinking%20skills

Digital capability is the term we use to describe the skills and attitudes that individuals and organisations need if they are to thrive in today's world. At an individual level we define digital capabilities as those which equip someone to live, learn and work in a digital society.

https://digitalcapability.jisc.ac.uk/what-is-digital-capability/#:~:text=Digital%20capability%20is%20the%20term,work%20in%20a%20digital%20society.

2. Digital Infrastructure and Procurement

https://dp.com.au/sites/default/files/solutions/categories/infrastructure-001.png

Digital infrastructure refers to the digital technologies that provide the foundation for an organization’s information technology and operations. Examples of digital infrastructure include:

• Internet backbone, broadband

• Mobile telecom and digital communication suites, including applications

• Data centers and networks

• Enterprise portals, platforms, systems, and software

• Cloud services and software

• Operational security, user identity and data encryption

• APIs and integrations

https://base22.com/the-importance-of-digital-infrastructure-and-integration-planning/

Digital procurement helps schools identify over-payment, review contracts, and avoid errors. But getting ready for your next audit takes more than just applying some technology to your strategy and hoping for the best.

https://www.procurementexpress.com/best-practices/school-audit/#:~:text=Digital%20procurement%20helps%20schools%20identify,and%20

hoping%20for%20the%20best.

At present there are five (5) labs used mainly for Information Technology classes, but throughout the entire school the resources available to all the departments are:

 

Location	Amount of desktops
Lab1	17
Lab2	16
Lab3	18
ICT room	15
POB room	16
Sci labs	3
Library	10
TD room1	19
TD room2	14
TD room 3	11
Staff room	3
Total (working)	144

 

Desktops not working:  8

Total laptops:  240 (distributed to staff and students). Every teacher is issued with a device

Total tablets:  363 (note that 235 of these tablets were donated by the Republic of China, but are unable to run Google classroom and various other educational apps needed for secondary school).

Total: Chromebooks:  192

Total Robotics kits: 31

 

Operating System on Desktops and Laptops:  Windows 10

Office suite:  Office 2016

All devices are equipped with Anti-virus software to safeguard against threats, viruses, trojans and other malware and spyware.

3. Evaluating and Monitoring

https://www.toladata.com/

The digital evaluation process of characterizing and appraising some aspect/s of an educational process. There are two common purposes in educational evaluation which are, at times, in conflict with one another.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educational_evaluation

Monitoring is the ability to observe students' online behavior in real-time to pinpoint potential risks and ensure student safety. This type of monitoring helps protect students' personal information, protect them from vulnerabilities on social media, and educate them about internet safety.

https://www.linewize.com/complete-guide-to-online-monitoring-systems#:~:text=Monitoring%20is%20the%20ability%20to,educate%20them%20about%20internet%20safety.

Evaluating and monitoring is done via the school's ITC (Information Technology Coordinator) and personnel in the Ministry of Education.

A needs analysis was carried out and it shows that:

• Additional WIFI points are needed where there isn’t any or the signal is too weak.
• Desktop computers in classrooms that can accommodate them.
• Training of staff in the use of technology to produce teaching/learning media/games
• A resource centre equipped with the necessary equipment/supplies to produce teaching/learning resources
• A stable user friendly MIS (Management Information System) to capture student performance and produce reports
  

 

3. Digital Leadership

https://leadered.com/pillars-of-digital-leadership/

 

The school currently uses OPENEMIS which was provided by the Ministry of education to track student attendance and progress, aid in the management of data, evaluation and monitoring and to generate reports.

As it relates to emerging technologies, awareness of such is shared with staff and advice and training is provided where necessary. Teachers are usually proactive and become proficient in the technology and then then seek to provide staff with the information.

CPD (Continuing Professional Development) is usually done in-house among staff or via scheduled online workshops at times identified by the ITC or another trained member of staff. During these workshops the use of Blooms Digital Taxonomy are employed where possible as well as modified versions of ISTE standards within context.

Communicating with parents and other stakeholders is done via email of which specific addresses are provided to students and teachers. This is also done using the Google Class online platform. Some teachers provide WhatsApp group chats and other online forums to reach students and parents.  The school is also up to date with other social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, where pertinent school related information and promotions are given.