Ringwood North PS was a hive of activity last week.
We have had a number of visitors calling in to see how our iPads are being utilised, and how Challenge Based Learning program is being implemented. Our guests ranged from Apple and a team of educators from Singapore, the Regional Director of the Eastern Metropolitan Region, and the ‘Victorian iPad Trial’ team.

 

It was great to have the opportunity to visit Ringwood SC and the Victorian College of the Arts SC to see how iPads are being utilised in different settings. The tour once again highlighted to me the amazing work and engagement the students have with the device.
Having the opportunity to sit and discuss the trial schools’ experiences and have time with Stephen Heppell was inspiring and invaluable. From our discussions, several key points became clear to me that truly utilise the iPads to their maximum potential;

- the curriculum with which our students are presented. Is there the chance for students to collaborate, support one another, justify their opinions, demonstrate what they are capable of all within a challenge that connects with them and is real? iPads and other forms of technology really take a place in the background when our students are engaged in a topic or concept. The technology truly becomes a tool which supports and extends the learning. This is how it really should be. This is why our Challenge Based Learning project has been so rewarding.

- the workspace. Allowing our students to work in and with the working areas when and where they need to complete their challenge is so important. Allowing the students to ‘interact’ with their environment is so important. Whether it be simply being able to reorganise furniture to suit their learning needs - bringing seats together to collaborate, or finding a space to sit and work quietly, workspaces need to be flexible.

Attached are some reflections by the iPad Trial Team after their visit to our Years 5/6 area and having had the opportunity to chat with our students about the work they are doing with Challenge Based Learning. It’s always great to hear honest feedback from visitors to our school.

I encourage you to spend a few moments listening to their feedback on how our students are learning.

RNPS iPad Trial Visit Reflections