This year, as part of the Australian Curriculum, it became compulsory for all Year 7s to study at least one semester of Digital Technologies. It is a wonderful opportunity to ensure our girls are better informed about technology. It is also an excellent chance for them to explore new creative avenues.

Santa Maria College has devised two subjects that each meet national requirements, but cater to varying interests. The girls can choose one or both subjects.

The two subjects are:

1. Games and Animation
2. Creative Media (With a focus on photography and Photoshop)

Both subjects examine how the internet works, binary code and ask the fundamental question, “How can we use technology to solve problems?”

James Rees teaches the Games and Animation course. He says, “The importance of the course is that it provides an opportunity for every Year 7 to learn about the role technology plays in their lives. Lots of time is spent using technology as a way to communicate through various social media platforms at the moment, instead of learning about new technology and developing important skills for the future. It is exciting to have all Year 7 students now complete a semester of Creative Media or Games & Animation as they are exposed to technology that they might not have seen before, opening doors for the future in a world being driven by innovation in technology.”

Year 7 student Abigail Marra shows real talent in this subject area.”She told us, “What I love about Games and Animations is that we are able to convey what we have done imaginatively. It is a creative way of expressing our thoughts through devices, which is a vital skill for the future as our world changes and grows. By having knowledge about coding, networks and binary, it will help us to always know how to figure out how something is to be done through technology as it is becoming a bigger part of our lives. My favourite reason for doing Games and Animations is that you can learn so much more about the benefits of the digital world and how to use it effectively in such a small time. This will continuously be useful for me.”

In 2020 the courses will continue to evolve. Games and Animation will be renamed Robotics and Coding to better reflect the interests of our girls.