Digital Technology is a newly announced curriculum area, that all schools will need to implement...

I personally am VERY excited about the newly announced curriculum area ‘Digital Technology’. In my opinion this is a fantastic and necessary addition to the NZ Curriculum. It will certainly add to the already intense amount of subject areas that teachers in New Zealand Primary schools are expected to be competent in, and makes me wonder about subject specialisation that is seen internationally and in private schools here in New Zealand. I visited an international school in Singapore whilst on an overseas teaching practicum in 2016, and the teacher who toured me around was dedicated to ICT and Innovation. His school was amazing and had a fully functional stock market for the students, rooms with glass walls where the students could write on full of whiteboard tables etc. I was amazed by this school and impressed with the subject specialty especially in ICT which I believe is highly beneficial for the students.

For anyone who has concerns about their ability in ICT continue to have an open mind about ICT and its place in New Zealand primary education. Remember we are not experts in everything. We learn alongside our students and I have been surprised at what the students have been able to teach me also. Let’s be open to collaborative learning between teacher and student!