Australian Computing Academy

What is the Digital Technologies Curriculum?

The Digital Technologies curriculum is part of the Australian Curriculum. Digital Technologies will be taught to every student from first year of school to year 8 (with electives for students in 9-10) across Australia!

Key Concepts

Abstraction

Digital systems

Data representation

Data collection

Data interpretation

Specification

Algorithms

Implementation

Impact

Interactions

Hiding details of an idea, problem or solution that are not relevant, to focus on a manageable number of aspects.

Unpack Abstraction

A system that processes data in binary, made up of hardware, controlled by software, and connected to form networks.

Unpack Digital systems

Systems

Systems explores the composition of systems and their use in all aspects of our lives.

Networks

Networks describes how we connect devices together and use them to transmit data.

Security

Security is concerned with how we protect the data stored in and transmitted by systems.

How data is represented and structured symbolically for storage and communication, by people and in digital systems.

Unpack Data representation

Representation

Representation explores how we model, construct and describe data.

Types of data

Types of data are concerned with how and why we select different forms of representation for different purposes.

Compression

Compression examines the methods we use to alter our representations to reduce their size for optimised communication and storage.

Numerical, categorical, or structured values collected or calculated to create information, e.g. the Census.

Unpack Data collection

Acquire data

Acquire data examines how we collect and access data from a variety of sources.

Manage data

Manage data is concerned with the processes we use to facilitate how we use data.

The process of extracting meaning from data. Methods include modelling, statistical analysis, and visualisation.

Unpack Data interpretation

Organise data

Organise data explores the ways we order, sort and arrange data to assist us with interpretation in different contexts.

Visualise data

Visualise data describes the many ways we present data in its raw and summarised form for communication and further analysis.

Defining a problem precisely and clearly, identifying the requirements, and breaking it down into manageable pieces.

Unpack Specification

Problem definition

Problem definition is the process we follow and considerations we make to determine and describe the problems we intend to solve.

Constraints

Constraints describe the restricting factors we face when solving problems, and how we factor these into our planned solutions.

The precise sequence of steps and decisions needed to solve a problem. They often involve iterative (repeated) processes.

Unpack Algorithms

Follow algorithms

Follow algorithms is the process of performing the steps required to solve a problem.

Design algorithms

Design algorithms captures the solution design we undertake to develop an automated solution to a problem.

Algorithm constructs

Algorithm constructs are the building blocks we use to define our algorithms in a form digital systems can execute.

The automation of an algorithm, typically by writing a computer program (coding) or using appropriate software.

Unpack Implementation

Complexity

Complexity is an indication of the scope and difficulty of the solution being implemented as a digital solution.

Programming constructs

Programming constructs are the fundamental principles of program control flow we use in programming languages.

Programming

Programming describes the process of constructing a digital solution using a form of computer-understandable instructions.

Analysing and predicting how existing and created systems meet needs, affect people, and change society and the world.

Unpack Impact

Information systems

Information systems describe the solutions developed by people that make use of data and systems.

Users

Users are the people who benefit from or control information systems.

Evaluation considerations

Evaluation considerations is concerned with how we factor the intended and unintended impacts of our solutions into our designs and implementation strategies.

How users experience and interface with digital systems, and how we use them to communicate and collaborate.

Unpack Interactions

Create and communicate

Create and communicate involves using digital systems to present and communicate ideas and information.

Collaborate and manage

Collaborate and manage involves organising and controlling processes, people and resources in the development of solutions.

Human-computer interaction

Human-computer interaction describes the considerations and design decisions we make when building interfaces to digital systems.

Unpack the curriculum

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