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September 28, 2021

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EdTech’s impact in Wellington

 THE technological revo­lution is booming and changing everything — from how we com­municate with others, consume news and watch movies to how we purchase goods. It has also become a major tool shaping the future of education.

Engaging pupils is often quite challenging for teachers. Stud­ies have shown that engaged pupils are 2.5 times more likely to get higher grades in their aca­demic performance than pupils who are not engaged. The use of educational technology (EdTech) in schools is currently the top pupil-engagement strategy used in the classroom. EdTech pro­motes active learning, and when pupils are actively engaged in class, they are more positive, encouraged and motivated.

Interactive whiteboards are probably the most well-known form of EdTech. They provide a touchscreen display for teach­ers to share presentations, play videos and annotate documents. Wellington classrooms are equipped with Maxhub boards, chosen specifically for their quality, ease of use and excellent immersive learning experience. These boards enable teachers to screen share devices, screen re­cord, annotate and much more. Pupils can also share their own device screens by scanning the board QR code or using the Max­Hub Screenshare app.

In 2017, Microsoft introduced their educational platform Microsoft 365 to help schools improve the educational experi­ence for their staff and pupils. One personalized email address and password allows access to all the Microsoft applications and the school network. Microsoft Teams is our online platform for communication and collabo­ration, especially in our upper prep and senior schools. Pupils use Teams to communicate and collaborate, empowering them to take responsibility for their own learning while supporting and encouraging their peers. Cloud storage has revolutionized the way digital work is stored. Wel­lington uses OneDrive to store work, which can be accessed on any device and shared for col­laboration. OneNote is our go-to digital notebook for teachers and pupils, and the computing department uses it for a digital record of pupil’s work.

Apple has revolutionized how EdTech is used in the classroom, especially for younger pupils. From creating GarageBand music to learning how to code in Swift, there are multiple ap­plications that help pupils learn. In Wellington, all pupils in the prep school have access to an iPad, with a 1:1 iPad program implemented in Grades 4-8. Pu­pils use a wide variety of iPad apps, specifically tailored to their age, to present their work in unique and interesting ways. They create presentations and a range of multimedia content, in­cluding videos, comic strips and animations. They take notes, plan and record ideas, problem solve, collaborate and create their own content to reflect and expand on their learning and passions. Teachers use a variety of classroom management apps, such as Apple Classroom, and interactive assessment apps to constantly create meaningful learning opportunities for their pupils. Kahoot and Quizzizz are particular favorites for all ages in Wellington, with EduCake, GCSE Pod and Complete Maths being used in upper prep and senior school to revise core con­cepts in preparation for exams.

We use a number of other interactive devices as well. The science department in

 Wellington has a large-scale Starlab planetarium. This uses a high-quality digital projector and inflatable dome to provide a full 180-degree video expe­rience. Our own 360 cameras provide opportunities for pupils to make their own planetarium movies. Our virtual reality headsets immerse our pupils in famous art galleries and other cultural destinations.

In Wellington, we are confi­dent in our use of EdTech as a major tool in advancing the education of all our pupils.




 

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