EdTechSA Digital Technologies Teacher of the Year
2022/23: Fiona Clayton
Fiona is Head of eLearning at Torrens Valley Christian School. With nine years of dedicated service, Fiona has revolutionized the school’s digital curriculum, ensuring seamless integration of the Australian Curriculum Digital Technologies from Foundation to Year 12.
Her leadership has elevated teaching standards, notably through the introduction of programming theory at year 10, resulting in improved outcomes for SACE students. Fiona facilitates teacher upskilling, both within her own school and locally and offers mentorship to a Sri Lankan school new to the SACE and Digital Technologies.
Fiona actively fosters partnerships with industry stakeholders, implementing initiatives like CS in Schools pilot program. She coached winning teams for the FIRST Lego League competitions to enhance student engagement in STEM. She represents EdTechSA in professional forums, sharing expertise through workshops, presentations, and publications.
Fiona shares her expertise through mentorship and professional development and is a highly sought-after speaker and curriculum designer with the SACE Board. She has been regularly invited as a speaker and team leader in various projects across the state (metro and country) in Digital Technologies.
2021: Kate Tyrwhitt
Kate is the R-6 Visual Arts Teacher at St Michael’s College. She has been integrating ICT’s into the Visual Arts and Primary Teaching roles she has had in the curriculum since she started teaching over 12 years ago in the Catholic Education sector.
As a specialist teacher in Visual Arts, she uses a wide array of digital technologies to enhance and engage students in learning. She has presented workshops in Adelaide and Melbourne and showcased student digital works in Canberra (National Gallery Visual Arts Educators Conference 2016) and Sydney at the ACCE conference and in various states in Australia. Using Showbie, Kate has put the Art student learning online as a visual portfolio and a place for feedback and assignment links. She uses a variety of iPad apps for teaching Art, Design thinking and supporting Information Technologies in the classroom.
Kate has been a part of the school’s Digital Technologies Program and has embraced the use of Augmented Reality, Blue Bots, Coding, Spheros, 21CLD, Flipgrid, 3D Design and Printing using Makers Empire. Kate connected 4 classes this year with a school in America via Makers Empire and Flipgrid in a Global Design Project. She has also arranged VR fieldtrips in the school and Livestream Virtual Excursions with the National Portrait Gallery in 2017 and 2018. Kate is also a Makers Empire Ambassador, Certified Flipgrid Educator and a Showbie Champion.
Kate collaborates with the Specialist team at St Michael’s College and has conducted in-house workshops on Showbie and conducted parent/student workshops on 3D printing. Kate has shared her learning at EdTechSA conferences since 2007. She has presented a showcase video nationally and has contributed to Mail Art Projects and MoMA learning forums with an international Arts and Inquiry group.