Grammar Gazette- Issue 2, 2015

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SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE

AUTHOR Mr Brendon Thomas Director, Technology Studies

FOR ALL THE CONJECTURE THAT TODAY’S CHILDREN ARE A TECH-SAVVY GENERATION, rarely found without a device in hand, there is a danger that these social skills are not being harnessed into the knowledge required for employment in the digital economy. Earlier this year, Business Council of Australia President Catherine Livingstone raised concerns that ‘the gap between the digital literacy of our young people and that of our competitor nations is increasing’. She also called for coding to be embedded in the national curriculum, naming it as ‘something that Governments could do to ensure that Australia had a prosperous and productive future’ (2015). At Girls Grammar, our Technologies curriculum balances using logic and being creative. Our Year 10 cohort has just completed an assessment task where they were required to build a digital shopfront, which involved creating a brand identity and user experience and commercial photography techniques while also learning the coding skills to build a website. Building real products for real businesses provides our students with the relevance and ownership their young creative minds want and this is the important link in their learning and engagement, ultimately enhancing their prospects for tertiary study and career outcomes. Projects like this recognise the strengths inherent in girls of this age in their ability to work effectively in teams. For the second year running, a Girls Grammar student has been awarded the Senior Prize in the Young ICT Explorers competition. Imogen Low (12O) received the award for her 3D Maps for Industry project. For her efforts she has been awarded an internship with international software corporation SAP and has been invited to compete at the national finals. Imogen and fellow students Natalia Gulbransen-Diaz (12W), Brianna Kerr (12H), Claire Benders (12R), Annabel Bailey (12H) and Emily Chatterton (12H), were the only girls to enter the senior competition. Currently twenty-two per cent of our Year 12 cohort study IT, well above the state average of eight per cent for authority subjects, or ten per cent if authority-registered, non-OP eligible subjects are included. This cohort saw ten new students take on Technologies as a subject in Year 12 even though they had not studied it in Year 11.

Young ICT Explorers winner Imogen Low (12O) with old girl and Westpac Young Technologists Ambassador Alex Hahn (2008). Photo courtesy of Nigel Swinn.

With the introduction of Year 7 to the School this year we have introduced the National Curriculum for Technologies. The new course of study entitles all students to study specialised Design and Digital Technologies through to the end of Year 8. Our students will be designing and manufacturing physical products using laser cutters, 3D printing and vacuum forming, and integrating various materials for product design. Our old girls are moving on to interesting and varied careers. Ashley Holloway (2009) is working as a Digital Project Manager for Burberry in London and was recently profiled in The Australian after visiting the School to share her story with technologies students. Alex Hahn (2008) has been chosen as Westpac’s Young Technologist Ambassador and is CEO of start-up technologies company Gazellik. The combination of highly qualified technologies staff, engaging curriculum and real-world applications will ensure Grammar girls continue to thrive in the digital age.

REFERENCES Livingstone, C. (2015, April 29). National Press Club Address by Catherine Livingstone [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.bca.com. au/newsroom/national-press-club -address-by-catherine-livingstone

SPRING ISSUE / 2015