Digital Office is Helping Local Schools

The Digital Office Donate a Tablet scheme is quickly gaining momentum.

As the educational curriculum becomes more dependent upon the Internet and consequently technology, there are a growing number of schools who are struggling to keep pace with technology changes.  The scheme provides schools with emerging technologies such as tablets.  This enables the school to provide their children (and in many cases their families) to an educational experience of interaction with technology through touch and movement.

To date the scheme has been initiated in four Dunedin schools and one preschool.  Schools are provided with tablets, educational apps and a Digital Ambassador to help them make the most of the technology.

If you are interested in considering the scheme for your school, or have a tablet you no longer need, please contact the Digital Office for more information.

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Otago Digital Strategy released

We have had the privilege of leading the consultation process to develop an Otago Digital Strategy.  This included engaging with over 650 businesses, surveying over 2,000 members of our community, visiting schools and talking to visitors to our region.  During this process we heard digital success stories and the issues, frustrations and barriers preventing our community from connecting and participating in digital services.

A sample of the issues we heard include:   

• Our SMEs have a low level of digital maturity and need help to fully embrace the digital opportunity
• A growing number of our community have limited digital skills and therefore little opportunity to benefit from technology
• Many don’t understand the benefits of being digitally connected  or how digital services can  impact their organisations in a positive way
• There is an increasing expectation that people should have access to cheaper Internet and free Internet in public spaces

To address these particular issues and the other issues we uncovered, a plan of 25 actions has been developed.  These actions together with the results of the consultation process form the Otago Digital Strategy.

The Otago Digital Strategy was presented to the Otago Mayoral Forum on 15th March and a final copy of the Strategy has now been presented to each of the Mayors and CEOs from participating councils.   Each council is currently completing their final ratification of the strategy. 

We believe the Strategy makes for compelling reading and further emphasises the importance of implementing digital projects and leading digital initiatives in our community.   

[Note: A copy of the strategy may be viewed by clicking the above links in this news article, or downloaded from the Digital Office resource centre].

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Create IT Dunedin event

This event is designed to bring together the talented IT professionals in the Dunedin City to agree on a couple of IT development projects that will benefit our community, offer a service to visitors or support economic development.  The event is hosted by the Digital Office and the Dunedin City Council and will be held on the 7th of May. 

If you are interested in attending, have an idea to share, or would like more information, please click here.

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