Snapshot:

Pigeon Mountain Primary School, located in East Auckland, serves 600 students from Years 0-6. Guided by the vision to "provide education with a heart," the school fosters a culture of respect and kindness, evident in the warm interactions between students and teachers. Eager to further their digital skills, the school partnered with Code Avengers for a Professional Development (PLD) program to enhance their digital toolkit, ensuring teachers were not only users but creators of technology in the classroom.

Client Introduction:

Linda Lowden, Deputy Principal of Pigeon Mountain Primary, is passionate about integrating Digital Technologies into the curriculum. She believes that developing students' digital skills is crucial to their overall education and future success. Her leadership led the school to engage with Code Avengers to improve teachers’ digital fluency and classroom technology integration.

Problem:

Like many schools, Pigeon Mountain Primary faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in technology use. While teachers became more familiar with using technology during the pandemic, their ability to use it effectively did not keep pace. Linda observed that many teachers had become proficient at using digital tools, but primarily as passive consumers rather than innovative creators. This gap became more pressing with the implementation of New Zealand’s Digital Technologies curriculum, which prompted Linda to seek professional development for her staff.

Additionally, the school faced challenges with Digital Citizenship. Several incidents involving inappropriate device use by students highlighted the need for more structured education on responsible digital behavior. Linda and her senior leadership team recognised the importance of embedding Digital Citizenship into the school’s culture and curriculum.

Solution:

To address these challenges, Linda collaborated with Anita, a facilitator from Code Avengers, to launch a targeted Professional Learning and Development (PLD) program.

The program aimed to:

• Enhance teachers’ digital proficiency.
• Shift teachers from being technology consumers to technology creators.
• Incorporate Digital Citizenship into the school’s curriculum.

Key Initiatives:

Initial Full-Staff Workshop: Anita facilitated a full staff meeting centered on digital fluency and curriculum progressions. This engaging session highlighted the successful digital practices already in place in classrooms and guided teachers to recognise the difference between merely using technology and leveraging it for creation. Teachers were shown how to incorporate digital tools more effectively into their teaching, aligning with the new Digital Technologies curriculum. The workshop emphasised the distinction between digital literacy and digital fluency, encouraging teachers to envision the skills they wanted their students to develop and break down how to teach these skills using digital technology.

Tailored 1:1 Support:

Anita provided personalised coaching by working directly with individual teachers in their classrooms, allowing them to choose specific digital tools or areas where they needed support. This customised approach enabled teachers to confidently incorporate technology into their unique teaching environments. Anita also demonstrated computational thinking principles and showcased how offline activities could enhance digital fluency. Through these sessions, she gained insight into the specific challenges each teacher faced, offering tailored suggestions on how integrating digital technologies could support struggling students or accelerate learning for those who were excelling.

Digital Citizenship Focus:

Recognising the need for a stronger focus on responsible technology use, Anita worked with Linda and the staff to create a Digital Citizenship framework tailored to the students’ needs. A second staff workshop addressed Digital Citizenship explicitly, encouraging open discussion and staff contribution to curriculum planning. This collaborative effort ensured that Digital Citizenship became an integral part of the school’s values and teaching approach.

Curriculum Integration:

Linda and Anita formalised specific digital progressions for students, outlining what they should achieve by the end of each academic year. These progressions were incorporated into the school's living curriculum document, ensuring that digital learning remains a priority and is continually referenced by teachers.

Results:

The personalised, hands-on PLD approach resulted in a marked improvement in teachers' confidence and capability with digital tools. Teachers now integrate Digital Technologies into their curriculum planning more seamlessly, ensuring that students’ digital learning is authentic and relevant. Professional development has empowered teachers to become creators, using technology to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.

Moreover, the Digital Citizenship initiative has continued to be a part of the school’s curriculum. Linda plans to extend the conversation beyond the classroom by organising parent information evenings to discuss Digital Citizenship and well-being at home, fostering a supportive partnership between the school and families.

Conclusion:

Pigeon Mountain Primary School's partnership with Code Avengers has successfully enhanced teachers' digital fluency and Digital Citizenship awareness. Through workshops, individualised support, and ongoing curriculum integration, the school is well-equipped to navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape. As Digital Technologies continue to evolve, Linda and her team are committed to staying ahead of the curve, ensuring that students are prepared for the digital future. The school looks forward to further collaboration with Anita and Code Avengers as they continue to prioritise digital learning amidst broader curriculum changes.