Page 3373 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 18 September 2013
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Technology is not a substitute for quality teachers, the essential human element that makes our schools such great places for learning. Rather, technology is a key tool in increasing access to education, in enriching the system, in making learning both more challenging and exciting and in complementing and enhancing what the dedicated teacher does in the classroom.
ACT public schools will continue to develop the necessary skills and confidence in our students’ use of technology to enable them to thrive in a knowledge-based economy. The performance of our ACT students is a testament to our strong investment history in ICT in education. Since 2006 we have invested $35 million in ICT in schools. A large proportion of this funding has been dedicated to our infrastructure and connectivity and introducing high speed internet and a reliable network for all students and teachers. The system is delivered across high speed fibre, the fastest, most effective way for schools to access online content. High speed connectivity, much of it wireless, allows our students and teachers to take part in video conferences, watch podcasts, movies and documentaries and access embedded documents, sound files and flash games to enhance teaching and learning.
At Harrison School students use iPads to access learning resources, online learning, video conferencing, novels and subject information. Students can use their iPads before school and during classes. Three ACT public schools have been selected for the Microsoft innovative schools program which each year identifies 20 schools across Australia which demonstrate exceptional practice in ICT in education. Gungahlin College and the Namadgi and Neville Bonner schools exemplify best practice in learning space design combined with high availability of ICT. ICT underpins teaching and learning at these new schools and gives students access to anywhere, anytime learning.
Schools have embraced social media and have created Facebook pages as communication tools, along with traditional newsletters for parents and carers providing updates and opportunities for comment and feedback. I note that just this week many schools have used this to remind parents they can provide their feedback on the school as part of the annual school satisfaction survey. Duffy Primary School also told parents about how they used Skype this week to have Dr Karl talk to the year 2 students, and their school site carried great photos of Dr Karl projected onto the electronic whiteboard taking questions from students.
I am reminded of David Reeson, a teacher at Alfred Deakin High School, who developed an iPad app to help with assessing students. His Assessmate is now popular with teachers as well as students, who now have a better understanding of the criteria teachers use for assessment. Alfred Deakin is trialling a program where students bring their own devices such as iPads, laptops and Google Chromebooks and connect to the school’s wireless networks. Student engagement has increased as they are able to use the device of their choice.
Malkara School has been recognised nationally as an early adopter in the use of iPads to assist students with disabilities in their learning. Using iPads, the students have a far greater capacity to demonstrate their learning through voice recording, video and
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