Digital technologies program ready to be delivered

The CME Digital Technologies Program is now ready to be delivered to students in the Pilbara ranging from pre-primary to Year 6.

In 2020 more than 700 Pilbara students participated in a pilot digital technologies challenge, where they learned how automation is used in the minerals and energy sector. Content was co-designed with educators, academics and sector experts, providing engaging, real-world examples for student learning.

Students programmed robots to manoeuvre around sites by way of drone, underwater sea vessel, drill blasting, and truck haulage. Students were able to code and program robots to move across colourful site maps, hear from various subject matter experts about how they use technology and automation in their daily work. Feedback following the program indicated that students were highly engaged and the teachers themselves thoroughly enjoyed delivering the challenge.

Following success in 2020, pilot funding partners (BHP, Chevron, Citic Pacific Mining, FMG, Rio Tinto, Roy Hill, Woodside and Yara Pilbara) agreed to expand development of the challenge to include activities for students from pre-primary to Year 10. These challenges will remain aligned with the WA Digital Technologies curriculum, compulsory learning for all WA students in pre-primary to year 8, and elective choice in Years 9 and 10. Content includes aligned curriculum for other teaching areas, making the kits a valuable teaching resource.

Development of the Primary School (pre-primary to year 6) Challenges are now complete and ready for Pilbara teachers to undertake professional development workshop training. In late March, teachers across the Pilbara will be part of the training workshops, in which they will get to learn about the challenges, engage with CME members who can provide greater context to how automation is used in industry, and the importance for these skills to be developed early. Teachers will then have the tools and knowledge to deliver the challenges in the Pilbara from term two.

Development of automation challenges for Years 7 to 10 will occur in 2023 and 2024, with data science-focused challenges for Years 5 to 10 to also be developed over this time.

Expansion of the challenges beyond the Pilbara Education Region will also happen in 2022. Support is currently being sought from members to assist schools across WA, particularly for schools located in regional areas. Automation skills are not only beneficial for our sector and supply chain, but continue to strongly influence a vast range of industries including agriculture, health, manufacturing and even education.