At Birkdale State School, our Technologies program plays a vital role in preparing students for the future. Aligned with the Australian Curriculum, both Design and Digital Technologies are essential learning areas that develop creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills—key capabilities for success in today's fast-paced and evolving world.
With the increasing role of technology in everyday life, understanding digital tools and processes is crucial for future careers, especially in fields such as engineering, computer science, and media. Additionally, it helps students develop skills such as coding, graphic design, and digital communication, which are in high demand in the job market. By integrating these subjects, students become more adaptable and prepared for a rapidly changing technological landscape.
Design and Digital Technologies in the Classroom
At Birkdale, we are committed to delivering high-quality learning experiences. Each week, all students from Prep to Year 6 participate in dedicated Design and Digital Technologies lessons. These sessions include a variety of learning experiences, from creative problem-solving tasks to coding activities using platforms such as Hopscotch and Scratch. Students are encouraged to think critically, design solutions, and develop new ways of approaching challenges.
Design Technologies
During the Prep year, students are introduced to Design Technologies and are provided with multiple opportunities to produce designed solutions within the Technologies context. STEM activities offer engaging challenges such as Teddy Bear Bridge Building, where students must design a method of transport for a teddy bear to cross a river without getting wet. These tasks help students develop persistence and collaboration skills as they work together to complete the challenge.
Students in Years 1 to 6 undertake two terms each year focused on Design Technologies. They engage in meaningful design challenges that span a range of contexts, including:
- Technologies and society
- Engineering principles and systems
- Materials and technologies specialisations
- Food and fibre production
- Food specialisations
Our unique "Design Team" process guides students through each step of the design journey, building their skills in:
- Investigating and defining
- Generating and designing
- Producing and implementing
- Evaluating
- Collaborating and managing
Hands-on projects include activities such as Marble Runs, Arcade Arenas, and Egg Drop Challenges, where students learn essential design skills including cardboard attachment techniques and structural engineering concepts.
Digital Technologies
Digital Technologies at Birkdale provide students with real-world challenges that foster curiosity, confidence, creativity, and resilience. Students develop their understanding of how digital systems work, how to collect and interpret data, and how to use digital tools responsibly and safely.
Our curriculum focuses on building knowledge and skills in the following areas:
- Acquiring, managing, and analysing data
- Investigating and defining
- Generating and designing
- Producing and implementing
- Evaluating
- Collaborating and managing
- Privacy and security
As a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) iPad school, our students regularly access a range of technologies, including laptops and tablets, to learn programming, digital design, and data analysis. Recognising the importance of digital safety, we have embedded a comprehensive Cyber Safety Program into our Technologies curriculum to ensure students become safe, respectful, and ethical digital citizens.
Extra-Curricular Opportunities: Code Club
Birkdale State School offers a range of extra-curricular clubs that students can join free of charge. These clubs provide exciting opportunities to explore both Design and Digital Technologies through innovative and hands-on projects. From building Sumo Bots using LEGO EV3 Mindstorms to coding with Scratch Junior and Hopscotch, the enthusiasm students bring to Code Club is a testament to their love of learning and discovery.
Code Club Schedule:
- Term 1: LEGO EV3 Mindstorms – Sumo Bot Building (Years 5–6)
- Term 2: Scratch Digital Coding Skills (Years 3–6)
- Term 3: Premier's Coding Club Challenge (Years 3–6)
- Term 4: STEM Activities and Challenges (Years 1–6)
The excitement and enthusiasm students bring to Code Club reflect their passion for digital technologies and their desire to explore the endless possibilities of the digital world.
At Birkdale State School, we are proud to offer a dynamic Technologies program that prepares students to thrive in a digital world, empowering them to be confident creators, innovators, and problem-solvers of the future.