Young Victorian children will have better access to technology to support their education and build important skills and knowledge thanks to an investment by the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos today launched the Small Bytes card deck, which helps early childhood educators use technology to enhance children’s learning opportunities.
Small Bytes – comprised of 100 cards – features 370 tips for educators about how technology can be used as part of a play-based learning program.
Ideas include how to get kids exploring with a digital microscope, going on a virtual tour to the other side of the world, and how to connect with a favourite author.
The cards build children’s literacy and numeracy, and support the development of important broader skills such as curiosity, critical thinking, communication and collaboration.
Today’s launch was part of the Labor Government’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Plan, launched at ScienceWorks with Minister for Education James Merlino.
Small Bytes align with the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework, which underpins the work of Victoria’s early years sector, outlining the knowledge and skills that lead children to become confident, engaged life-long learners.
Used in the right way, digital technologies enable learning by providing access to quality online resources and experts, connecting families with their children’s learning, improving assessment, feedback and reporting and bridging the educational divide for kids with additional needs.
All government-funded kindergarten programs will be receiving hard copy sets of the cards. The cards will also be available to all Victorian early childhood education and care services and parents as an electronic book at:
Today’s STEM Plan launch, which outlines programs to boost science, technology, engineering and maths education in Victorian schools, includes training of 500 educators by the Smith Family which will benefit more than 14,000 pre-schoolers (aged three to five years old) and 5,500 families through their Let’s Count Program.
For a copy of the new STEM in the Education State plan, visit
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos
“Building STEM skills and knowledge is central to the ongoing work by the Andrews Labor Government to make Victoria the Education State, and help all Victorian children reach their potential.”
“Small Bytes will not only stoke kids’ imaginations and be a stimulating part of play and learning, they will also help children grow up to be safe and responsible technology users.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020