Programming the Future: Harnessing the Transformative Potential of New and Emerging Technologies with Children and Young People in Regional NSW

Programming the Future (PtF) was launched by Save the Children Australia in late 2017 with the aim to offer children and young people in socio-economically disadvantaged rural and regional areas of NSW, opportunities to develop skills in the use of a wide range of New and Emerging Technologies. PtF used a Hub and Spokes Model to maximise the reach of the training and support services provided by the 'Champions'. Champions, typically professionals who worked with children and young people in education, welfare or youth services, were recruited and upskilled in the use of New Technologies by in two fully resourced Digital Excellence Hubs (DigiEHubs) located in Bathurst and Dubbo. In turn, the Champions provided a series of training workshops in Coding, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), 3D Printing and Modelling, Wearables and Digital Music) to children and young people in smaller satellite nodes, or spokes. This research project sought to investigate the potential utility of New and Emerging Technologies to achieve positive personal and social development goals with children and young people in informal education settings. Semi-structured interviews were used to elicit individual insights and experiences of PtF Advisory Group members, Save the Children staff and the Champions, who were actively involved in the work of the two DigiEHubs in Bathurst and Dubbo. The findings of this report shed light on the challenges faced by PtF in its attempt to use a Hub and Spokes Model to maximise the reach of its programme of training in high-tech skills in rural and regional NSW. The report also highlights positive outcomes of PtF in the work of the Macquarie Regional Library DigiEHub in Dubbo and the engagement with Aboriginal youth in local schools through the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group. The report draws on two case studies from the Learning Space, Canada Bay Library and Community Services, to illustrate characteristics of engaging pedagogies for teaching New and Emerging Technologies. The report concludes with recommendations for improvement, refinement and scalability to extend the work of PtF to other areas of NSW.