And if the Sci-Force team from Thirroul Public School is right, “books and libraries will be a thing of the past, with augmented reality taking over”.

The students, better known as Captain Cognito, Crazy Creator, the Forward Thinker, the Quirky Coordinator, the Supreme Strategist and Reggie The Risk Taker, also believe virtual and augmented reality will allow students to read, write, research and experience excursions using all five senses.

Fellow team members, teachers Mitchell Fagerstrom and Shay O’Day, will join the students in Sydney this week to undertake the first ever Game Changer Challenge as part of Education Week.

Sci-Force is among 16 finalists participating in the challenge – eight teams each from NSW primary and secondary schools – and was selected from 100 video entries that outlined each school’s idea for the school of the future.

“With the rapidly changing world that we live in these days, we thought it [Challenge] would be a great opportunity for our kids to picture what life might be like when they are adults,” Mr Fagerstrom said.

“We have been impressed with their vision for the school of tomorrow and they have done a great job .

“We have a great team. Hopefully we can go up to Sydney and do really well at the Game Changer Challenge.

“Everyone is really looking forward to it.”

Read more: Kiama Public involved in innovative Education Week launch

Department of Education secretary Mark Scott said the Game Changer Challenge will showcase the theme of Education Week, ‘Today’s schools – creating tomorrow’s world’, and aims to highlight the importance of developing students who can adapt in a changing world.

“We must be preparing today’s students to be citizens in tomorrow’s societies; workers in dramatically reshaped industries; using tools and technology that may still be embryonic or in their infancy,” Mr Scott said.

The three-day event starts on Tuesday, August 7 at the Education Department’s new office in Parramatta.