When: Thursday 30th April, 9:30am - 3pm

Where: Diamond Valley College, Diamond Creek

Presenter: Anthony Gasson

Cost:

• $229 for members
• $329 for non-members 
• $109 for university students/CRT Members/Pre-service teachers

Morning tea and lunch provided.

This hands-on professional learning experience immerses participants in a Year 9 classroom approach to teaching physical computing and systems engineering through choice, comparison, and design thinking.

The day begins with a practical introduction to both the micro:bit and Arduino platforms. Participants will explore core functions, complete simple tasks, and build confidence using each system. A structured comparison activity will support teachers to evaluate the strengths, limitations, and classroom applications of both technologies.

In the afternoon, participants will step into the role of learners, engaging in an open-ended design challenge: developing a prototype automatic headlight system for a car. Using either micro:bit or Arduino, participants will design, build, and test their solution, experiencing firsthand the flexibility and differentiation this approach offers in the classroom.

This session is grounded in classroom practice, reflecting a Year 9 program where students are asked to choose their platform and justify their decisions. It provides practical strategies for implementation, supports diverse learners, and encourages deeper engagement through authentic problem-solving.

Participants will leave with:

• A clear understanding of micro:bit and Arduino capabilities
• A comparison framework to support teaching decisions
• A ready-to-run classroom project
• Confidence to implement choice-based learning in physical computing

Disclaimer

The approaches outlined in this workshop are those of the presenters and do not necessarily reflect the views of DATTA Vic. While all attempts have been made to align the advice and suggestions with VCAA expectations, the material has not been verified by VCAA. Presenters have acted with all available information from VCAA at the time of publication.

Responsibility for any loss resulting from action or refraining from action in response to the material must be accepted by participants. Teachers must refer to the mandatory documents in relation to the study from VCAA, available online and updated every year.