Grounded in our school's mission and guided by our school's vision to nurture confident, capable and compassionate learners, we use digital technologies to empower students to thrive as engaged, creative and critical thinkers in a rapidly changing world. Through purposeful and an innovative use of technology, students connect with real-time information, collaborate with peers locally and globally, explore new ways of thinking, and express their understanding in rich, creative ways. Technology at Mater Dei is not an add-on-it is an integrated tool that enhances learning across all Subject areas and supports each child to reach their full potential.
What is one-to-one learning?
A one-to-one (1:1) digital program provides every learner with their own dedicated (school) device used to create a personalised, flexible and responsive learning environment within Brisbane Catholic Education's (BCE) secure wireless network. In this educational setting, students can work at their own pace, revisit concepts, and access tools that support their individual learning needs.
Worldwide, 1:1 programs are recognised as a key driver in transforming learning. By developing digital fluency, problem-solving abilities and collaborative skills, students are better prepared for success in secondary schooling and beyond, as active contributors in a global and interconnected world.
How can 1-to-1 devices enhance learning?
Digital devices enrich students' learning experiences in many ways. These include:
1. Greater Engagement and Motivation: Access to interactive tools, digital resources, and real-time information creates energising learning experiences that spark curiosity and deepen understanding.
2. Improved Core Skills: Students quickly strengthen-
- organisational habits
- technological proficiency
- revision and editing skills
- clarity in writing
- confidence in producing multi-media presentations.
These skills build strong foundations for future learning.
3. Collaboration and Communication: Virtual workspaces and shared platforms foster meaningful collaboration. Students connect with peers, teachers, contribute ideas, and jointly develop solutions to real-world challenges-mirroring the environments they will encounter in future education and workplaces.
4. Higher-Order Thinking: Technology encourages students to analyse, evaluate and create. As they explore authentic problems and design innovative solutions, their thinking moves beyond surface knowledge to deep understanding and creative expression. As global education leader Diana Oblinger reflects:
"Learning will not take place only inside schools and colleges, but in communities, workplaces and families....The shift to thinking about learning beyond the classroom requires a shift in our thinking about the fundamental organizational unit of education...from the school... to the learner".
At Mater Dei, this philosophy underpins how we design learning for every child.
Digital Technologies at Mater Dei
At Mater Dei, all students benefit from access to high-quality digital tools and technologies that enrich their learning journey:
Devices used:
- 1:1 Gen 10 iPads with external keyboards for students in Years 2 to 6
- 1:1 Gen 9 iPads for students in Prep and Year 1
- Apple is our dominant platform, offering consistency, reliability and intuitive learning tools for students and staff alike
- Microsoft 365 is the dominant software platform used and endorsed by BCE at our school.
Infrastructure:
All classrooms and learning spaces are connected to the BCE wireless network, providing fast, reliable Internet and secure access to learning platforms and digital resources.
Specialist Led-Digital Technologies Teacher
During Terms 2 and 3, each class engages weekly with a qualified Technology Specialist teacher, who uses Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies to develop engaging units of work using the digital resources available in our school's Innovation Hub (iHub).
Each year level is exposed to a variety of digital activities including pre-coding and block-coding tasks; computational thinking processes; and design challenges using robotics and electronics.
Students showcase their learning each term during Open Days, Principal tours and school events where parents, carers and members of our local community are also invited to attend.
Students in Years 5 and 6 engage in external competitions which challenge their STEM skills such as Brisbane Catholic Education's STEM MAD showcase, the Premiers Coding Challenge, and the Australian STEM Video Game challenge.
Our Innovation Hub (iHub)
Our vibrant iHub is a much-loved space where students explore emerging technologies and develop skills in using:
- Lego WeDo's
- Lego NXT's
- Lego Mindstorms EV3's
- Makey Makey's
- BBC Microbits
- Bee-Bots
- Coding (Scratch and BBC MakeCode)
- TinkerCAD to produce items using our 3D printers
- Video production using our Green Screen
- Two interactive Lego walls
This creative environment invites learners to experiment, design, problem-solve and innovate-skills essential for active participation in the future world.
A Future-Focused Learning Community
Technology at Mater Dei is used not for technology's sake, but to:
- enhance curriculum delivery
- deepen student engagement
- support diverse learning needs
- prepare confident, capable digital citizens
- nurture creativity, collaboration and critical thinking
In partnership with families, we are committed to creating a learning community where every child is empowered to flourish-spiritually, academically and personally- today and into the future.