Teach And Learn With Technology

Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday February 7, 2008

By Joan-Maree Hargreaves

Independent schools are ensuring that students have the latest computers to help them learn effectively.

The provision of state-of-the-art technology is becoming one of the differentiating factors in the government and independent school systems.

Some independent schools provide students with laptop computers and wireless internet. At Knox Grammar School, each child from years 5 to 8 is provided with a notebook computer and the entire school has wireless internet access.

This has become an integral part of the whole teaching process, according to Mike Israel, Knox Grammar's IT manager. "It has enabled kids to do research on the spot and they have the freedom to access information readily," he says.

It also allows teachers to use a broader range of resources in their teaching. Each classroom has a digital projector, sound system and DVD player/VCR, which means students are taught in a truly multimedia environment. "For example, a teacher can show kids something interesting that they found on YouTube in the classroom. It really is a much richer education environment," Israel says.

In 2006, Oxford Falls Grammar School launched new IT classrooms, which deliver a high ratio of computers to students across the whole junior school. For instance, year 6 students enjoy a 2:1 ratio in their regular classroom setting.

MLC School has a similar program to Knox Grammar, with laptops provided for children from year 5 onwards. "Research indicates that the use of technology in schools is closely related to positive learning outcomes," says Westley Field, director of online learning at the school.

"The more access to meaningful use of technology, the more learning outcomes. For this reason we wanted to get computers in the hands of students as soon as possible."

Field says the school is preparing students for both their working lives and their personal lives.

"Many current vocations include the integrated use of technology and it could be argued that technology has become integral to everyday communication," he says.

Both Israel and Field agree that providing technology, such as laptops, helps students acquire the skills required for living in today's society.

"Restricting access to technology would be creating a false environment limiting the development of those skills required for 21st-century living and learning," Field says. "[But] the technology is not as significant as the skills of communication, collaboration, research, independent learning, networking, etc."

Israel believes it is important to weigh up the cost and benefits when investing in new technologies. There can even be such a thing as "too much technology".

"I'm a great believer in having technology that delivers something important to whatever environment you are working in," Israel says.

"If it is not going to make a teacher's job easier or improve the education of the boys, then what is the point of getting it?"

Field agrees that if technology is used to improve learning outcomes it is valuable but if it is used for the sake of adding bling then it isn't.

Technology plays a significant part in communicating with parents at MLC School and Knox Grammar. At MLC, parents can keep up with what is happening if students are away on excursions by logging into the intranet and reading student blogs and viewing pictures of what they are doing.

"We have just implemented a reporting system that allows parents to check on students' progress from anywhere at any time," Field says.

"When completed, it will allow students, teachers and their parents to share their thoughts and information about their progress throughout their entire school life."

Field believes the real differentiation in technology provisions is between progressive and non-progressive schools rather than independent and government schools.

"There are samples of innovative and progressive-thinking schools across all sectors," he says.

"One area where non-progressive schools or systems lag is in imposing limitations and restrictions that are so restrictive they prevent students from using technology in a way that enhances their learning and understanding of how to live in society as global citizens."

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home