ICT: Supporting Learning in a Digital Age
We’d like to introduce you to our amazing ICT team, who support staff and students, and give you an insight into what they do.
Technology
Professional Learning: Stimulating Thinking & Generating Ideas
Before the return of students, our staff engaged in a day of professional learning, in which they further developed their expertise.
Year 8s Conquer Code in National Competition
Year 8 Coding & Robotics students competed in the National Computer Science Schools Challenge, tackling 40 coding-based problems.
Is TikTok Impacting Your Child’s Development?
TikTok came of age during the original COVID-19 restrictions. Kids love it, but is it having an impact on their development?
It’s Time To Heed The Golden Rule Of CyberSafety
What is the golden rule of cybersafety that all parents need to ensure their children are following?
Teachers Hone Remote Learning Technology Skills
For the last few weeks Santa Maria College teachers have been ensuring they are experts in the use of the technology needed to present remote learning.
Looking at the History of the World Wide Web
50 years ago today, the first webpage went live on the internet! In Year 12 Applied Information Technology, we are learning about the history of the internet, something we use every day.
Why Celebrate Technology?
Technology Day is a fantastic opportunity to recognise the role technology plays in our lives, how technology has developed over time, and what our responsibilities are as digital citizens in the wider world.
Students Create Anti Theft Device
A group of Senior students are participating in a project in the Techno Lounge to help create an anti-theft device for chargers.
Oh The Places You Will Go: VR in the Classroom
Want to swim with sharks, or visit the Louvre in Paris, spend an hour in Venice? What about a visit to the jungle to see wild animals up close? Well, these are all things our girls can do without leaving the College.
Skype A Scientist
Our Year 5 students were very excited to Skype with Julianna Kadar, a shark biologist at the Macquarie University, from their classroom this week. Julianna’s work focuses on Port Jackson shark movement and migration, which ties in with the topic of adaptation
Keeping Up With Changing Technology in Schools
We enjoy state of the art technology at SMC, but can we keep up with changes happening all the time? How do we ensure best practice?
The Upside of Social Media
Social media receives a lot of criticism. It is often a forum for bullying, fake news and is a poor influence on our mental health and self-esteem. Are there any positives for our children in using these platforms?
The Upside of Social Media
Social media receives a lot of criticism. It is often a forum for bullying, fake news, and is a poor influence on our mental health and self-esteem. Are there any positives for our children in using these platforms?
8 New Insights Into Our Teen Girls’ Phone Use
The way our tweens and teens are using their phones is evolving. What has changed and what might surprise you?
8 Insights Into Teen Girls’ Phone Use
The way our tweens and teens are using their phones is evolving. What has changed and what might surprise you?
How Computer Science Can Encourage Girls to Persevere
Confidence and competence are not the same thing. How do we teach our girls to trust their abilities and persevere in the male-dominated technology sector.
Computer Science Encourages Girls to Persevere
Confidence and competence are not the same thing. How do we teach our girls to trust their abilities and persevere in the male-dominated technology sector.
Connecting Old Girls’ with Current Students
Old Girls’ connecting with the College.
Students Learn Animation with Amazing Results
The Year 11 ATAR Applied Information Technology students have been creating animated children’s TV show advertisements using Adobe Illustrator and Adobe After Effects. These videos are the result of hours of trial, error, backward steps, learning and effort.
Photography Competition Winners Announced
Pubbles is our media publishing co-curricular group at Santa Maria College. The group consists of students in Years 7-12 and they produce graphics, posters and digital art and also take photos at College events.Â
The Social Media Contract That Will Get You And Your Kids Talking
Managing your child’s social media use can be daunting. A good place to start is with a social media contract. Here’s one that will open up great discussion
Techno Lounge
Did you know we have a Techno Lounge at the College?
Learning About Technology
Technology Day was celebrated this week. Students had the opportunity to learn about different forms of technology through a range of activities.
Budding Photographers
As part of our celebration of technology this week students involved in the Pubbles crew co-curricular group were invited to enter into the annual Technology Day photography competition. The competition was open to students from Years 7 – 12. Students submitted photos to three categories, Black and White, Landscape and Portrait.
Two New Worrying App Developments for Teens and Tweens
This week the social media app Snapchat launched Snap Map. It is a location tracking feature. A map shows where users are and sometimes what they are doing, as pictured above.
There has been a lot of media around the release of this update and it has been described as ‘a paedophile’s dream’. Many apps have this geolocation service, however, the upset around this one is that Snapchat is used predominantly by tweens and young teens.
Digital Saturation Linked to Falling Reading Levels
Today the average Australian household has 12 Internet enabled devices. We have invited this technology into our homes, our workplaces and our schools and as yet it is unregulated. It hasn’t been possible to study long term effects because…there has been no long term yet!
Why a Mobile Phone Ban is a Gift to Students
When we make decisions about limiting phone use at school, it certainly isn’t a punishment.
This Week in Technology & Commerce
There are many exciting things happening in the Technology & Commerce Department at the moment, with a significant coding program being introduced across the Year 8 and 9 curricula.
Social Media: What Every Parent Should Know
Social media is where kids connect and conduct a large part of their social life. It’s important that parents know what it’s all about and how to guide kids.