iCTLT '10 Pre-Conference Learning Journey Day 2

Hi all,
Today's learning journey was to Beacon Primary. Having been to Canberra Pri before, I went with great anticipation because unlike Canberra Pri, Beacon was build from the ground up as a Future School. Which meant that they had the freedom and authority to do almost anything they wanted.

Here are somethings that just blew my mind.

School has three main channels. I'll talk on each in detail.

Media & Arts Channel

This channel integrates Language, Social Studies, Art and Music. Essentially they develop the skills to use digital media to express their ideas and feelings and share their creative vision.

These are some things pupils do in this channel:

• Record their voices
• Dramatize a story
• Write a story, add pictures and their voices to make a Digital Story
• Learn comprehension skills using smart boards
• Draw using Ink Art on a tablet PC
• Learn how to appreciate different types of text

Their library has many Apple Macs and it is used not only to expose pupils to the Mac platform but also for them to create music using Garage Band to be included in their Digital Stories. Guess what, the training of the software was done by the teachers themselves!! (Gasp!)

Investigative Channel

This channel integrates Maths and Science. Here they use digital tools, such as digital models and relevant games to explore and understand abstract concepts.

Some things they do:

• Maths Investigation (Guided by teacher)
• Problem Solving Heuristics
• Maths and Science Integration (not sure how they do it though)

Note: This channel is not just for P3 and above. It is actually for P1 & 2 as well.

Wellness Channel

This channel caters to the holistic well-being of the pupil, so as you might be able to guess, it integrates PE, HE, CME and Pastoral Care lessons.

Some things they do:

• Daily PE lessons (30 min EVERYDAY!!!) - extended lesson on Tuesday (1h instead of 30 min)
• Weekly Pastoral Care Programme

Here are some other things about Beacon

1:1 Computing

Each child is able to have a tablet laptop to use during lessons. They do not actually own the laptop but they can use it in class for lessons. To house the tablets, they have big cabinets with chargers to allow for charging of the units. Their tech support consists of 2 IT Executives and 2 TAs. They have about 6 classes per level, P1 to P3 and every pupil have 1 laptop each. Now that's massive maintenance and accounting.

With tablets, it allows for digital art as pupils are able to draw using the stylus. What they did was to draw a picture on paper first, then put the paper over the tablet screen and then like tracing, they traced the picture onto the tablet (how innovative!!)

Dramatization

Beacon has a recording room where pupils, after writing their own script and drawing their own background for the drama, act out their story in front of a recording camera. Beacon teachers comment that knowing their work will be recorded and shown to other people, makes the pupils be more serious about learning their lines and saying it correctly. This allows them to try their best to speak and pronounce their words properly. It also brings out the best in pupils who are able to act. Hidden talents may also be spotting during these lessons.

Butterfly Garden / Learning about Cycles

Beacon has a Butterfly Garden (just like BLGPS!!!!) and they integrate it with their Investigative Channel. This is how they made use of the garden.

First pupils are told they are going to adopt a butterfly, but before they are able to do so, they must explain, in writing, why should they be able to adopt a butterfly.

They will then get to adopt a caterpillar and watch it grow till it becomes an adult. They will be given leaves that are plucked from the Butterfly Garden as they only adopt butterflies that will be able to find food in the garden.

Once it becomes a butterfly, they will release it in the Butterfly Garden and hopefully it will mate and lay eggs in the garden to ensure butterflies can be seen in the garden.

All this is done for P1 and P2 pupils to expose them to Science and spark their own curiosity. Beacon teachers mentioned that pupils get very excited and begin reading books on insects and butterflies on their own.

Beacon Ambassador

The last part of my tour took me to the Beacon Ambassador. These selected pupils prepared their own powerpoint slide used to explain to visitors what the pupils learn at Beacon Primary. I was with this P3 boy called Alan and he was so proud to explain what where some of the things he did in Beacon. He showed me photos of himself with his teacher, a poem that he wrote, a photostory video that he created. He used his voice recordings during his presentation. How innovative!

Thoughts and Ramblings

I really loved the 3 key programmes that enriched the pupils learning. These key programmes really helped make learning at Beacon something fun and exciting. All these key programmes were done during curriculum as they were integrated with the core curriculum. However, it required pupils to be trained in using the tools and tablet PCs. Pupils started using the tablet PC as young as P1, so that when they reach P3, they are well-versed in using the stylus to draw and write. Thoughts ran through my mind as to whether we can adopt this model in BLGPS, of course it would be these 3 key programmes BLGPS style!! Ah, the possibilities...

Indeed, all these are possible only with the help of the teacher. Teachers are the magic behind everything, as quoted by the HOD Research & IT. It was therefore important to create a Beacon culture to get the buy-in from every teacher. Another way of getting the buy-in is to, in a way, force teachers to use the technology. One way was in the use of Interactive White Boards. In order to ensure teachers use it, they made the bold move to only install Interactive White Boards in class. So that teachers are not able to go back to the traditional whiteboard.

So much to ponder, so little time to implement..