New Cyber Activity - Hack the Bank

Turn your classroom into a cyber-safe escape room!

Hack the Bank is an engaging digital forensics challenge where students become Junior Cyber Agents on a mission to crack the code and unlock a virtual vault. Packed with puzzles based on a social media profile, this activity builds critical thinking and digital awareness in a fun, student-led way.

💡 No student logins, no installs, no cost.

🖥️ Can be run unplugged or online — solo or in teams.

🕒 Approx 45 minutes

🧒 Primary Edition (Years 3–6)

Tailored for younger learners, the Primary edition builds critical thinking through playful logic puzzles like counting paws 🐾, decoding simple ciphers, and pizza-themed maths 🍕. Perfect for introducing cyber safety in a fun and age-appropriate way.

👩‍🎓 Secondary Edition (Years 7–10)

This challenge starts with a dramatic, cinematic 1-minute video. Designed for older students ready to dive deeper into digital citizenship, the Secondary edition explores password strength, 2FA codes, and social engineering risks. Students sharpen their cybersecurity smarts while solving more complex logic puzzles and encryption challenges.

Both versions include a digital profile, multiple challenges, and an interactive virtual vault!

🎯 Aligned with Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies

🧩 Promotes digital literacy and responsible online behaviour

🏫 Great for classroom or incursion-style sessions

💻 No student accounts needed

🚫 Zero cost

Teachers with a MyComputerBrain Teacher account can access the activity's Teacher Overview page, which contains links to the solutions, activity sheets, and tips & tricks.

👉 Choose your version and challenge your students to Hack the Bank!

Go to the activity

Digital Technologies Institute October Newsletter

Whether you’re gearing up for Term 4, planning for 2026, or just looking for fresh inspiration, we’ve got something for you this month. From hands-on kits like the B4 Spark to a ready-to-run Python course, plus smart planning tools and AI and coding PD — everything is designed to make Digital Technologies more engaging, accessible, and classroom-ready.

🔔 In This Issue

🧰 B4 Spark is landing in classrooms

🐍 Plan your Term 4 Python unit

🚀 Scope 2026 with the Curriculum Search Engine

🎓 AI+Python PD sessions Live + self-paced options

🎬 AI Videos your students will enjoy

Hello, B4 Spark

🧰 B4 Spark Is Landing in Classrooms

Educators are unpacking their B4 Spark kits — and bringing binary, data flow, and computing fundamentals to life.

The Spark offers:

• Hands-on tasks aligned to Digital Technologies V9

• Two kit versions: Core for foundational learning, Master Programmer for cybersecurity

• A scaffolded journey into how computers work — from circuits to code

👉 Check it out

🐍 Planning Python for Term 4?

We’ve got your next unit sorted.

The Python Intro Course on MyComputerBrain is:

• 🆓 Free

• 💻 Browser-based, no install required

• 🎯 Curriculum-aligned for Years 7–10

• 📖 Driven by a mysterious sci-fi narrative that hooks students

• 🕒 Between 4-6 hours of classroom time.

Students write code to decode and repair a system, awaken a dormant AI, and solve real Python problems — all while learning print(), input(), variables, decisions and loops.

👉 Watch the promo video.

🚀 Scope 2026 with the Curriculum Search Engine

Planning a whole-school approach or building your 2026 sequence?

Use the CSE to:

• Search concepts, capabilities, or priorities

• Map ideas across learning areas

• Quickly find key curriculum terms

• Save time with AI-generated lesson ideas

Try searching “ethical systems” or “sustainability” and see the links unfold.

👉 Check it out

Teacher PD: Learn, Grow, Inspire

Here are our live Professional Development sessions for the remainder of October and November. The sessions are independent of each other. You can combine them to suit your needs and interests. The sessions start at 3:30 pm (Brisbane), 4 pm (Adelaide), 4:30 pm (Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart), 1:30 pm (Perth), 3pm (Darwin). Participants will receive a certificate, and all registered teachers will get access to the recording and slides within 24h. The AI webinars include free perpetual access to the DTI Classroom AI course, valued at $30.

📅 Register early to secure your spot!

When	Topic	Domain
October 14, November 4	Artificial Intelligence Primer Express	Artificial Intelligence
October 15, November 20	Python Primer Express	Coding
October 16, November 6	Coding with Artificial Intelligence	Artificial Intelligence, Coding
October 22, November 13	AI: Ethics, Privacy and Society	Artificial Intelligence
November 12	Understanding Generative AI	Artificial Intelligence

If you prefer to do AI-related PD at times that suit you best:

• The DTI Classroom offers an interactive, self-paced AI workshop. It includes everything teachers need to get started with AI teaching. 👉 Check it out

• You can subscribe to our AI video channel to watch AI webinars at your convenience. 👉 Check it out and scroll to the bottom of the page.

🎬 Plug & Play: Video Explainers for Your Class

Eager to add a bit of fun to your next AI lesson? We’ve got quick, classroom-ready AI videos, courtesy of the DT Hub:

• Introduction to AI and machine learning

• AI in everyday lives

• AI Systems

• Innovative AI Applications

Scroll to the bottom of MyComputerBrain for the full playlist.

Thanks for Reading

From code-cracking challenges to AI-powered planning, we’re continually building resources that empower both teachers and students.

Thank you for letting us be part of your classroom journey — let’s keep creating, coding, and sparking curiosity together.

Warm Regards,

Dr. Karsten Schulz

Digital Technologies Institute September Newsletter

🔔 In This Issue

📣 Introducing the B4 Spark – A hands-on journey into digital systems

🐍 Online Now: Python Intro Course – A coding adventure

🚀 Curriculum Search Engine – Smarter, faster lesson planning

🎓 Teach AI with Confidence – Register now

🧠 Explore student learning on MyComputerBrain

📝 Fresh off the Blogsphere – New ideas and insights

🎬 Video Explainers – Ready to use in your classroom

📣 Meet us at QSITE Conference – Sept 22–23 in Townsville

Hello, B4 Spark

📣 Hello, B4 Spark

Introducing the B4 Spark – A Hands-On Journey into Digital Systems

We’re excited to launch the B4 Spark — a brand-new kit, designed and manufactured in Australia, that takes students on a step-by-step journey inside the computer.

Aligned with the Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies, the B4 Spark helps students explore data representation, digital systems, and algorithmic thinking through practical, classroom-ready activities.

Available in two versions:

• B4 Spark Core – introduces the foundations of computing

• B4 Spark Master Programmer – extends learning into cybersecurity

Together, they offer schools a flexible, scalable way to bring Digital Systems to life.

👉 Check it out

🐍 Online Now: Python Intro Course

We're seeing fantastic adoption of our free MyComputerBrain: Python Intro course, a free, browser-based adventure designed to teach students in Years 7–10 the fundamentals of Python coding through an intriguing, story-driven mission. In this engaging course, students don’t begin with a simple “Hello World.” Instead, they uncover a strange program on the school server. With each discovery, they awaken a dormant system.

👉 Watch the promo video.

The activities are crafted to challenge students to:

• Use Python to interact with and repair the mysterious system.

• Apply coding concepts like `print()`, `input()`, variables, decisions and loops through immersive problems.

• Encode information in a binary matrix.

• Hack an Artificial Intelligence

Curriculum Search Engine

Looking to build a lesson around climate change or data analysis in Science? The Curriculum Search Engine helps you find exactly where these topics align with the Australian Curriculum V9 — in seconds.

For example, a quick search for “climate change” instantly shows links to learning areas, subjects, content descriptors, etc. You’ll also see cross-curriculum priorities such as Sustainability, and suggested activities generated by our AI Advisor— perfect for turning a search into a lesson. Click on any output to explore the curriculum in more detail.

This tool is designed specifically for Australian educators and includes:

• Smart visual filters across learning areas

• Direct curriculum code references

• AI-generated lesson idea starters

This tool turns inspiration into actionable teaching resources within minutes. Try it now and revolutionise your curriculum planning. The first month is free, and there are no annoying auto-renewing subscriptions.

👉 Check it out

Teacher PD: Learn, Grow, Inspire

Our live Professional Development series continues in September. 📅 Register early to secure your spot!

When	What	Domain
September 2	Artificial Intelligence Primer Express	Artificial Intelligence
September 3	Coding with Artificial Intelligence	Artificial Intelligence
September 10	AI: Ethics, Privacy and Society	Artificial Intelligence
September 16	Understanding Generative AI	Artificial Intelligence

If you prefer to do AI-related PD at times that suit you best:

• The DTI Classroom offers an interactive, self-paced AI workshop. It includes everything teachers need to get started with AI teaching. 👉 Check it out

• You can subscribe to our AI video channel to watch three webinars at your convenience. 👉 Check it out and scroll to the bottom of the page.

  
  

📝 Fresh on the Blog

We’ve published exciting reads that dive into the heart of digital learning and AI education. Check them out!

📣 Teach Digital Technologies with a Spark

The B4 Spark is a hands-on computing kit designed to let students see and build the inner workings of a computer.

🚀 Our new Python Intro Course has landed! And it's free!

What if your next Python unit was not just about syntax — but about saving, or perhaps unleashing, a powerful system?

💡 Curriculum Planning Just Got Easier—Here’s How

Every teacher dreams of crafting lessons that spark curiosity, build deep understanding, and connect learning across subjects.

Student Learning through MyComputerBrain

MyComputerBrain is our online learning system that lets students explore the exciting world of Digital Technologies. The newest releases are the Python Intro and Generative AI Course. Visit MyComputerBrain and check the Getting Started guide.

🎬 Video Explainers

Scroll to the bottom of MyComputerBrain to find our course promos and AI explainer videos, perfectly crafted for your students. Our main website also features an entire section of additional AI and digital technologies videos to support your teaching of Digital Technology.

📣 Meet Us at the QSITE Conference!

We’re proud to be exhibiting at the QSITE “CreativITy 2025” Conference in Townsville – Sept 22–23. 👉 Learn more about the event

Visit our table to see the Curriculum Search Engine, explore MyComputerBrain, and get hands-on with the B4 Computing Kit.

I will also be holding sessions/workshops on:

• Decoding Generative AI – How it works and what it teaches us about learning

• Code That Captivates – Teaching Python through story and suspense

• Search. Map. Teach. – Exploring the Curriculum Search Engine

If you’re attending, be sure to drop by and say hello!

Warm Regards,

Dr. Karsten Schulz