Funding boost for tech learning equips students for the future

Student using the CSER Kai Clan sustainability-themed kit

This funding will enable CSER to increase the number of technology kits sent to schools, which are in high demand, and to continue offering support to teachers on effectively integrating these resources into their classrooms.

Since its inception in 2016, the CSER National Lending Library has provided schools across Australia with free access to state-of-the-art digital technology equipment and curriculum-aligned lesson plans. The Lending Library has delivered over 2,700 loans to schools, empowering educators and engaging students in technology-rich learning experiences.

Over 45,000 teachers have been supported through CSER professional learning, with a mix of online courses, workshops and the Lending Library where currently a total of 130 kits covering Foundation to Year 10 content have been developed.

The University of Adelaide's Dr Rebecca Vivian from CSER says the Lending Library program has a major impact in schools and provides incredible opportunities.

"Teachers frequently mention that the CSER Lending Library provides access to equipment they would otherwise not have the opportunity to use," Dr Vivian says. "The kits offer schools a chance to trial technology with students, build teacher confidence, and identify curriculum opportunities before making their own investments."

The Lending Library prioritises schools in remote or regional locations, those with high First Nations Australian student enrolments, and schools with lower Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) scores.

The kits include a wide range of digital technologies, such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and robotics - including Bee-Bots, Blue-Bots, Spheros, Dash, and Ozobots - which can be used across primary and secondary year levels.

Susie Barber from CSER adds that they also incorporate First Nations Australian histories, cultures and knowledges into their programming.

"Since 2020, we've been fortunate to work with First Nations education experts and organisations, such as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mathematics Alliance (ATSIMA) and Jesse King from Aurora Education, to develop culturally responsive learning resources," Barber explains.

"We will continue to collaborate with experts to create content that benefits all educators and students."

In addition to the Lending Library, CSER offers professional learning programs funded by government and industry partners like Google. These programs provide teachers with free online courses, webinars, and practical activities that enhance their understanding of the Digital Technologies Curriculum and cross-curricular opportunities.

Elizabeth Grove Primary School student using the CSER Ozobot sustainability-themed kit

Empowering teachers and students across Australia

Noan Mangubat, a science and technologies specialist teacher at Elizabeth Grove Primary School in South Australia, borrowed an Ozobot sustainability-themed kit to use in her classes from Foundation to Year 6. Her school, which has an ICSEA score of 892 and a higher enrolment of Aboriginal students, has found the kit invaluable.

"Students have been more excited to come to technologies," Mangubat says.

"I've noticed a decrease in behaviour issues as students are engaged in learning about the Ozobots and motivated to complete their tasks. The kits are helping our children become independent learners and critical thinkers."

Sharni Silvestri, a STEM teacher at St Joseph's School a small regional town in Western Australia, borrowed the Sphero robots class resource kit as part of their Year 4 to Year 6 STEM curriculum.

"As a small country school with budget constraints, opportunities to use technology from the Lending Library helps us to offer quality STEM education," Silvestri says.

"The excitement around using the robots fostered teamwork and collaboration, as students worked together to solve challenges and complete tasks."

'Kimberley McPhillips is a Digital Classroom Officer and a Classroom Teacher at Grafton Public School in New South Wales with an ICSEA score of 927 and 24 per cent of students with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background.

McPhillips is a longtime user of the Lending Library and advocate for digital technologies in schools, recently borrowing the Merge Cube/Augmented Reality kit.

"Free access to these kits means that students can be exposed to technology they wouldn't normally have access to," McPhillips says.

"In the short-term, students engage in learning in new ways, build adaptable skills, and open up their thinking. In the long-term, they see the possibilities for their future, finding paths for their learning and life after school that may not have been obvious before."

The future of digital education in Australia

CSER's work addresses the significant challenges faced by Australian educators in implementing the Digital Technologies Curriculum, which was introduced in 2014 to prepare students for an increasingly digital world. According to the 2024 'Tech skills for the next generation'report by the Australian Computing Society (ACS) and the Australian National University, two-thirds of teachers face challenges delivering the curriculum, and 72 per cent feel they lack adequate support.

"There is a significant diversity gap in the tech industry," Dr Vivian explains.

"Through an inclusive school curriculum, all students will be exposed to learning about Digital Technologies and the exciting possibilities of technology careers."

An additional 445,000 technology skilled workersare needed by 2030 in Australia, to reach the 1.3 million workers projected as required to keep pace with international economies. As the nation prepares for the tech workforce of the future, CSER's National Lending Library and professional learning programs are equipping teachers and inspiring students to become creators and innovators in the digital age.

Find out moreabout CSER at the University of Adelaide.