The Federal Government has released the latest chapter of the Australian Curriculum draft paper for public consultation.

Federal School Education Minister, Peter Garrett, said the Australian Curriculum: Technologies will ensure all Australian students are equipped with the skill sets that will them up for a life of working with new and emerging technologies.

“It is essential our young people understand technology in all its forms in order to fully participate in the global economy and get the high skilled, highly paid jobs of the future,” Mr Garrett said.

“The curriculum includes information and communication technologies (ICT) as well as digital technologies. ICT teaches students to become effective users of technologies while digital technologies teaches students how to develop technologies. This will be the first time both subjects are taught from Foundation to year 10.

“The classrooms of today are changing at a rapid pace. We haven’t just gone from blackboards to interactive whiteboards, students are now increasingly using hand held devices and complex computer systems on a daily basis.”

The draft paper has been developed in consultation with education authorities, curriculum experts, teachers, professional associations, universities, business and industry. Feedback from the public consultation will be used by the Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority (ACARA) to revise the curriculum with a final paper due by the end of 2013.

The draft curriculum will be open for public consultation until May 10, 2013 at: www.australiancurriculum.edu.au.