Baverstock Oaks: Integrating Learning and Technology
A new school full of opportunity, the latest Apple hardware and software and a leading attitude are key components in Baverstock Oaks School’s bid to become a tower of strength in the education of East Auckland families.
Baverstock Oaks is an ultra modern new primary school located in Auckland’s rapidly growing Botany Downs area. Principal Mary Grant is determined to ensure that the community’s population is not the only thing taking off! “Our focus is giving every child a quality education…to be a family-friendly centre of the community”.
Growing the ‘whole child’ while promoting creativity and innovation is a mantra repeated by many of the Baverstock Oaks teachers. They strive to be sympathetic to the individual needs of each child and have found that the Apple Inc platform is a perfect fit with the character of the school.
By integrating the technology into all aspects of the curriculum and having computers available in every classroom, Baverstock Oaks is encouraging students to participate in information and communication technologies (ICT) in new and creative ways.
Year seven and eight teacher, Melanie Kindley, explains that children are naturally really enthusiastic about ICT and just need to be shown the right tools. Her students were so enthusiastic in fact that they were questioning when play time was going to end so that they would be allowed to get back on the classroom Mac!
Within the first school week Ms Kindley’s students had already created their first movie using iMovie and iPhoto which come standard as part of the iLife suite on all new Macs,
“It was amazingly professional…these intermediate aged children had already created one iMovie about Pukekos featuring a slideshow presentation and video footage of themselves. It was all put together in just two days!”
The students at Baverstock Oaks are not the only ones who are advantaged by having access to new technologies. The teaching staff are provided with iBook’s, which they are encouraged to use as much as possible,
“Teachers are given professional development to begin with and are then encouraged to go and use the technology themselves before teaching with it. As teachers we know the best way to learn is by doing it”, says Ms Grant.
The school has been furnished with the latest technology; Apple iMacs and iBooks are in every classroom, and digital video and stills cameras are available when necessary, “We wanted to put as much Apple technology as possible and affordable into the school” says Principal Ms Grant, who comes from a strong multi-media background.
ICT in the classroom. Building blocks for the next level.
Even year one and two pupils are using digital technologies in numerous ways. Teacher, Michele Terell, says that although there is a huge variance in the skill level of her class, due to exposure to computers at home, all pupils will learn the basics.
This age group are familiarised with computing within a range of subjects; ICT is integrated into Language, Art and Social Studies programs. Year one and two pupils create storybooks, ‘paint’ pictures and learn to word process their stories on the iMac G5 in their classroom. They are also introduced to basic photography; they are learning to shoot photographs with a digital camera and import them into iPhoto.
Ms Terell, hopes that her young students will even go as far as being introduced to iMovie with the help of some older children who are already experienced in making movies and the editing process. “Children are not scared or intimidated by the technology; they just want to be let at it!” says Ms Terell.
Year three students will also be developing their photography skills using a digital cameras and iPhoto. They also utilise Apple software as a presentation tool and the Internet as a research tool. Year three teacher Kate McHugh explains that her focus is on up skilling her students’ knowledge of digital technologies,
“Year three [students] come to school with a basic [ICT] skill level. Most have a knowledge of the internet and many can already use a digital camera so it is a matter of sharing that knowledge and up-skilling them. The children’s word processing abilities range from very basic right up to touch-typing. Many students have computers at home but these are used more for entertainment.”
Ms McHugh also hopes that her students will be using iMovie this year and intends to get them involved with creating their own website.
Older Baverstock Oaks students are already using iMovie and iDVD to present information. Year seven and eight teacher, Melanie Kindley, says that while she is blown away with the students progress on these applications so far she is eager to solidify those skills already present and introduce more software applications.
The iLife suite offers further tools that are appropriate for use in the classroom and the Baverstock Oaks teaching staff have every intention of capitalising on these opportunities. Ms Kindley wishes to expose her students to GarageBand and start taking advantage of the integration between iLife applications. She hopes that her students will create one DVD (using iDVD) every quarter that will incorporate their works from GarageBand, iPhoto and iMovie. This will allow children to share with their families what they have recently accomplished at school, again reinforcing the involvement of family and community, which is one of the schools core values.
Other areas of interest and future exploration for this age group include the manipulation of graphics and ‘blue-screening’. “ I really want to up-skill the children so that they have a whole host of options to choose from when looking at putting together a presentation”, say Ms Kindley.
Baverstock Oaks School opened its door for the first time in February 2005. The Apple Division of Renaissance wishes them every success. Check back here in a few months time for an update on the students’ development!
