KOLBE AS A LEADING DIGITAL SCHOOL
Ms Robyn Miller
July 23 2010
We know that all schools are now digital schools, however, at Kolbe we continue to strive to be at the forefront of the digital learning journey. What this means for our community, is that teaching resources and the administrative and communication systems are predominantly digital; it also means a digital toolkit is at the fingertips of both our staff and students.
Kolbe Catholic College is considered by many to be a leading digital school and is committed to affording our students the best possible learning opportunities to prepare them for the world of the future. We are most aware that student engagement in learning is ever so critical for academic success. We also know that our students live in a world where technology plays a significant part, with the expectation that this will become ever more evident as technologies and their applications continue to evolve. It is our brief as an educational institution to ensure our students are immersed in a variety of technical media, hence, the implementation of a 1 to 1 laptop program for our current Year 7 and 8 students.
The success of our current 1 to 1 laptop initiative has led our community to make the decision to implement a parent funded 1 to 1 laptop program for all Year 7 students upon entry into the College. For those parents who have had contact or any involvement with our ICT Team, I am sure you would agree that a considered, systematic and carefully planned approach has been adopted to ensure our families and their children have access to the best possible laptop program. Our community is most fortunate to have an ICT Team that affords students access to a well-serviced ‘helpdesk’ and round-the-clock support.
Our ICT Team is regularly called upon to make presentations relating to the many initiatives that have been implemented in our College. Most recently members from the ICT Team – Mr Trevor Galbraith, Mr Brad Tyrrell, Mr Noburo Hagiwara and Mr Andrew Cox – were invited to address a conference held for leaders of Catholic secondary schools. The presentation from our staff was exceptional with a most professional and dynamic approach. There was no doubt that our College was the envy of all other schools.
In addition, over the holidays Mr Hagiwara travelled to Penang, Malaysia to present at an International eLearning Conference about the use of mobile learning devices and in particular, the iPod touch. The work of Mr Hagiwara has received outstanding reviews and has been used as the guiding model for the development of future eLearning practices.
Many would be aware that Nathan Wood, Year 12 student, has produced Kolbe’s very own ‘App’. Last week it was featured on the Apple website in the ‘What’s Hot’ section. Just another indicator as to the wonderful work that continues to be done to make our school a ‘leading digital school’!
The College is convinced that learning with the use of laptop computers will open up new ways of collaborating and sharing experiences with fellow students, as well as developing skills and knowledge that will be useful in the wider world. For Kolbe’s teachers, who are committed to developing challenging curriculum programs, the laptops and other ICT resources are educational tools that are used to capture a student’s interest and stretch their learning.
The goals of Kolbe’s laptop program are to:
- Promote understanding, analysis, application, synthesis, debate and discussion
- Teach discernment and ethical use of technology
- Expand the methods of learning
- Increase intellectual attainment
- Enhance access to educational opportunities and differentiated instruction
- Encourage the disposition and capacity to be lifelong learners
- Improve communication, widening our sense of community through alternative means of interaction between teachers, students and parents.