NSW schools get $23m for robots, VR

The NSW government will plough $23 million in a new program that provides every public school with access to emerging technology.

The STEMShare Community program intends help students develop science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills, including coding, virtual and augmented reality, and 3D printing.

It aligns with the state’s syllabus and the ICT general capability for the Australian curriculum.

Many of the state-based technology syllabus' across the K-10 and 11-12 learning areas are currently being reviewed.

A new "technology mandatory" 7-8 syllabus and science and technology K-6 syllabus will also be introduced from next year.

The new digital package will provide both primary and secondary schools with 660 kits containing programmable robots, 360 degree cameras and virtual reality viewers, as well as iPads and laptops, from October this year.

It will also provide training to teachers to ensure they are empowered to teach critical thinking and problems solving skills using emerging technologies.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the funding at the launch of education week at Parramatta Public School today.

“We live in a digital age. Our students need new knowledge and skills to succeed in their studies, both today and throughout their lives,” Berejiklian said.

“Mathematical and scientific literacy is a passport to the future and these school kits will unlock student creativity and show them how these disciplines can be applied to real-world learning.”

A similar program was introduced by the Victorian government last year, though is only funded to the tune of $1.6 million and is focused solely at secondary schools.