Hallett Cove School has a strong focus on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) literacy that will enable students to be successful global citizens in the 21st century.
WHAT IS A CHROMEBOOK?
A Chromebook is a slim, light, all day computing laptop that runs everything in a web browser. It is very secure but relies on being connected to the web at all times over Wi-Fi. Chromebooks are immersed in the Google Apps for Education ecosystem of Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, Calendars and more. It comes with unlimited storage on Google Drive if used within the HCS Google domain.
THE DIGITAL LEARNER
Digital learners think and process information differently to previous generations and use different parts of the brain; as a result, they have different preferences for learning. As educators of our students at Hallett Cove School, we acknowledge that since the world has changed, our students and how they learn has changed. Therefore, our instructional model needs to change to something that parallels the real world.
Today’s students have a richer and more engaging curriculum that meets the demands of an increasingly globalised and interconnected world. Access to Wikis, blogs, webcasting, distant experts, mentors, to communities of collaborative practice and shared virtual environments can help to break down classroom walls, opening up exciting possibilities and creating a powerful educational journey. Teachers can harness Web applications and new technologies to create learning opportunities that develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours students require to live, learn and work in the 21st century. ICT-rich learning and teaching can increase student participation, engagement and achievement.
The students in our school today are 21st Century learners. They:
- need the ability to solve complex problems in real-time.
- need to be able to think divergently and creatively in both digital and non-digital environments to create novel and useful solutions.
- need the ability to think analytically by comparing, contrasting, evaluating, synthesizing, and applying without instruction or supervision— being able to use the higher order thinking skills.
- must have the ability to collaborate seamlessly in both physical and virtual spaces, and with both real and virtual partners.
- must be able to communicate not just with text or speech, but in multiple multimedia formats.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The focus of providing Chromebooks at Hallett Cove School is to connect our 21st Century Learner to current tools and resources. Excellence in education requires that technology be seamlessly integrated throughout the educational program. Access to technology is essential. The individual use of these devices will empower students to maximise their full potential. Learning results from the continuous dynamic interaction among students, educators, parents/caregivers and the community. Technology immersion does not diminish the vital role of the teacher but transforms the teacher from director of learning to a facilitator of learning. Effective teaching and learning with Chromebooks integrates technology into the curriculum anytime, anyplace.