Dubbo Proof of Concept
The Rural Access Gap proof of concept (POC) covers 29 schools in the Dubbo, Narrabri, and Northern Border Region. Its aim has been to accelerate the RAG's key goals, and validate ideas developed within the SDS.
The POC is currently being extended to 110 schools by the end of June 2021. The program will then be rolled out to the remaining schools over the subsequent two years.
Building a digital roadmap
A Digital Support Team (DST) has been formed to engage with each school and establish their current digital context, pain points, and digital development priorities.
These are assessed and a roadmap is developed for each school to lift their digital capability to an equitable level. These roadmaps are called Digital Action Plans.
The DST coordinates with the department and each school to roll out the identified actions and test their effectiveness. Key areas addressed are:
- School operations and administration
- School communications
- Teaching and learning
- Devices and tools
- Learning spaces
- Connectivity
The map shows the 29 schools in the Dubbo, Narrabri and Northern Border Region which are included in the POC. It will showcase “What good looks like” in terms of digital maturity for rural and regional schools.
Testing additional POC initiatives
A number of additional concepts and tools are being tested in the POC including:
Digitisation of forms
More than 80 manual processes and forms that affect parents and caregivers are currently being used in schools. The POC will help streamline the number needed and to digitise them to reduce the administrative workload.
Digital Learning Resource Hub
A prototype DLRH has been developed to help teachers get easier access to digital learning resources used in lesson planning and delivery.
Mobile Parent App
A mobile app is in development that integrates with the Schools Website Service (SWS) to help improve and streamline the two-way communication between schools and parents.
Digital Maturity Planner
A digital planner is being developed to assist schools assess their current level of digital maturity, access department resources to help lift their digital capabilities, and build a digital rollout plan.
Analysis and validation
The POC analyses, tests, validates and refines the tools and processes required to uplift initially the RAG schools and subsequently the entire school community across these key outcomes:
Improved student performance.
Productivity benefits for teachers and administration staff.
Time saving for parents and caregivers.
Improved access to quality teaching.
Increased resilience.
Reduced device ratio.
Efficient use of services.
Improved digital skills in students.
These refined processes will be incorporated into each subsequent phase of the rollout of the Rural Access Gap program.
