St Stephen’s bringing digital innovation to Yiyili Community School in the Kimberley

THOUGH Yiyili Community School is located 600km inland from Broome in the Kimberley region, its remote location is no barrier to innovation.

Staff and students in the K-10 cohort recently had a visit from members of the St Stephen’s School digital learning team who spent five days passing on skills in the areas of robotics, coding, augmented reality and circuitry.

The visit was the fourth in 18 months as part of a partnership between the two schools.

“Our goal has been to provide high-level age- and ability-appropriate digital learning that would enhance teaching and learning and provide latest resources and techniques the staff and students would otherwise not have the opportunity to see and engage in,” St Stephen’s digital learing specialist Jenny Mallis said.

The team also worked with staff in professional development, providing training resources and technical support and updating Yiyili’s devices and programs.

Yiyili Community School principal Alex Mountford said the relationship with St Stephen’s was a great support to implementing the new digital technologies curriculum.

“This allows the teachers to experience how the curriculum can be implemented effectively, despite our remote location, and to see technology in action with the students,” she said.

“The school and community recognise the fundamental importance of encouraging digital literacy for all of its students so they are as well-equipped with the skills needed for the jobs of tomorrow as students in metropolitan, higher-socio economic areas.”