Commissioner’s Digital Challenge
What is it?
The Commissioner’s Digital Challenge is a free year-round recurring Challenge for every child in South Australia – to increase the uptake of digital skills in this generation.
The Challenge can be completed by children at home with their families, or at registered schools, or in community groups such as Girl Guides and Scouts or at the local library.
(Above) The Digital Learning Journey
Each year the Commissioner’s Digital Challenge grows with a different area of the digital learning journey added to the mix. The Challenge website also contains an extensive library of resources for extended learning for children, families and teachers across all 5 core areas of the digital learning journey.
‘Learn to Speak Robot’ Digital Thinking (Coding and Computational Thinking) Challenge
In early 2019, the Commissioner introduced her first challenge – Learn to Speak Robot. This is a digital thinking challenge that will run each year. It teaches computational thinking and practical coding using a range of carefully curated activities from reputable providers including the Digital Technologies Hub, CS Unplugged, Code.org’s Hour of Code, Grok Learning’s Hour of Code, Microsoft’s MakeCode and projects from Code Club Australia. Scouts and Guides completing Learn to Speak Robot earn a badge that counts towards other awards and Learn to Speak Robot is an approved Children’s University Adelaide online learning destination. Access Learn to Speak Robot here
In mid-2019 the Commissioner introduced Early Learning Unplugged. This is a 100% unplugged version of the Challenge specially designed for children aged 3-5. Younger children can learn the fundamentals of computational thinking without using a device – by simply playing a game of hide and seek or creating their own robot dance routine with Cody Buttons cut-outs. Access Early Learning Unplugged here
Space to Dream Design Thinking Challenge
In January 2020 the Commissioner released Space to Dream, her design thinking challenge. Children are challenged to use design thinking to create a toy or gadget for someone their age who is moving to Mars. Children can use free 3D design tools from Makers Empire to make their design or can hand-draw their invention onto a ‘MAKE IT!’ Student Design Record (in school) or ‘MAKE IT! Design Sheet (outside school). Scouts and Guides completing Space to Dream earn a badge that counts towards other awards. Access Space to Dream here.
Background
Aims
The Challenge has been introduced to better equip children, young people and their families in South Australia to understand the digital world and feel empowered to access its benefits through their digital skills and capabilities.
It’s also about providing educators who lack experience or confidence in this area a really simple way to get started with digital learning in their classrooms – and a way for educators who are across these areas to share this learning with their colleagues.
As we move forward in this technological age, digital inclusion largely equates to social inclusion. Digital empowerment also provides accessible tools and ways to bridge impossible gaps in equality that exist in society. So this Challenge is all about increasing digital inclusion to promote digital empowerment across the board.
It’s also about providing educators who lack experience or confidence in this area, with a really simple way to get started on digital learning in their classrooms. It’s also a way for educators who are already across many of these areas to share this learning with their colleagues.
As we move forward in this technological age, digital inclusion largely equates to social inclusion. Digital empowerment also provides accessible tools and ways to bridge impossible gaps in equality that exist in society. The Commissioner’s Challenge is all about increasing digital inclusion to promote digital empowerment across the board.