Barossa school to boost digital literacy skills

Good Shepherd Lutheran School in Angaston is set to see an increase the school’s focussed learning about digital technologies through coding and robotics as part of a nation-wide digital literacy program run by the Coalition Government.

Member for Barker Tony Pasin today announced Good Shepherd Lutheran School would receive $50,000 through the Digital Literacy School Grants Program.

“This is about making sure our students get the support and skills they need for the future,” Mr Pasin said.

“Congratulations to Good Shepherd Lutheran which has been selected from almost 1800 applications for this funding which goes to show the potential of their project.”

Good Shepherd Lutheran School is leveraging its investment in a mobile computing environment with some wireless access. Its project will increase the school’s ICT resource base to help it fully achieve Australian Curriculum outcomes that relate to the use of digital technologies more broadly and to the focussed learning about digital technologies through coding and robotics. Good Shepherd will share staff training and curriculum development with two other Lutheran schools.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how this project helps Good Shepherd Lutheran build the digital skills of their students and sparks an interest in broader important fields like science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” said Mr Pasin.

Mr Pasin said $4 million had been allocated to the program as part of the Coalition Government’s $50.6 million commitment to help Australian teachers and students embrace the digital age.

“It is great to see local schools engaging with cutting edge technology and ensuring our students are well-equipped for the future,” Mr Pasin said.

“I encourage all schools in Barker who missed out on this round of funding to apply for the next round which opens in the middle of this year.

“We’re committed to ensuring that each student, no matter where they live in Australia, has a strong knowledge of STEM.

“I am delighted that schools right here in the Barossa are being empowered to teach technology in a truly modern way, often applying what they are learning in the classroom to overcome challenges in the community,” concluded Mr Pasin.

Principal of Good Shepherd Lutheran School Anne Marschall welcomed the announcement.

“We are very grateful to the Commonwealth Government as this funding will enable us to upgrade the quality of the wi-fi throughout the school, update the computers in the library, and purchase additional iPads for the Junior Primary,” said Mrs Marschall.

“We want to be able to offer our students exciting opportunities to digitally experiment and create and to that end we will investigate the purchase of programmable robotic devices such as beebots and spheros, a 3D printer, alternative energy kits, data sensing equipment and wacom boards for digital art creation. We will also establish a ‘maker space’ or ‘Fab-Lab’ within the library.

“These are just a few of the exciting ways in which we will be able to enrich our curriculum for students at Good Shepherd.

“This year we also began a collaborative partnership with our sister Lutheran Schools, St. John’s at Eudunda and Vineyard at Clare where we have been working together in professional learning around STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) with the intention of sharing our resources across the three schools to offer students in small schools a broader range of educational experiences.

“This grant will not only benefit Good Shepherd but it will provide for wonderful learning experiences for students in small schools across all three sites. It’s fantastic news,” Mrs Marschall said.

For more information visit: www.education.gov.au/digital-literacy-school-grants-dlsg.

Contact: Charlotte Edmunds – 8531 2466