Mandurah primary school teachers are championing digital technologies in the classroom.
Mandurah primary school teachers are championing digital technologies in the classroom, thanks to a unique year-long professional development program.
Seven teachers from Mandurah Catholic College, Mandurah Baptist College, Carcoola Primary School and Singleton Primary School graduated from the Alcoa Champions of Digital Technologies program at a special celebration with students and families on Monday 2 December.
Delivered by Scitech, in partnership with Alcoa, the innovative program supports teachers to develop their skills and confidence to introduce digital technologies learning across all subject areas, leading to enhanced student understanding and engagement.
Scitech Professional Learning Consultant Lucas Black said the Alcoa Champions of Digital Technologies program was seeing exciting results because it focused on making digital technologies easy to integrate into all aspects of everyday learning.
“Through coaching and professional learning sessions, teachers develop their skills and confidence in a teaching style that promotes an integrated curriculum and helps students become more independent learners,” Mr Black said.
“Students are engaging with curriculum, while also developing 21st century skills, such as critical thinking, technology literacy, initiative and collaboration.
“The year-long coaching model is really effective in creating long-term change and impact in schools.
“Teachers who have completed the program can then become champions for digital technologies in their own schools.”
Lynn Braithwaite, Year 3 Teacher at Singleton Primary School said it was the best thing she’d done in years.
“It was so good for the kids to learn in a new way,” Ms Braithwaite said.
Mandurah Baptist College teacher Phillipa Hunt also participated in the 2024 program and said it was “probably the best experience of my teaching career.”
The Alcoa Foundation has partnered with Scitech to deliver Alcoa Foundation Champions of Digital Technologies for another three years from 2025 to 2027.
Alcoa Foundation President Caroline Rossignol said the program’s success to date highlighted the impact of collaboration and innovation in education.
“Alcoa’s work with Scitech has empowered teachers to bring digital technology into their classrooms, helping to create a new generation of tech-savvy students – we are elated to continue our support of this impactful work.” Ms Rossignol said.
Together with Scitech and Alcoa’s second professional development program, Alcoa Real World Digital Technologies, the partnership has the potential to reach as many as 144 teachers.
Alcoa Champions of Digital Technologies launched in 2023 with teachers who had participated in Alcoa Real World Digital Technologies and wanted to continue to develop their skills.
Scitech measured teachers’ self-reported confidence and understanding of integrating digital technologies through a pre-survey, mid-year survey and post-survey, and results showed a clear increase by the completion of the program.
Teachers also reported an increase in student outcomes, with 100% of respondents agreeing their students were more engaged with digital technology and were more confident applying digital technology skills.
More information about the program and how to take part is available on the Scitech website or by emailing plbookings@scitech.org.au
Scitech is a not-for-profit organisation proudly supported by the Western Australian Government through the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation
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