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ICT head programs fun into lessons
By Kerry McBride |
December 26, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
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WALKING into David Crosby's classroom is like a breath of fresh air. His students are eager to learn, laughing and happily getting on with their work.
But before they do, Crosby cracks a few jokes, teases a few in a friendly way and easily proves why he is such a hit with the kids at Yew Chung International School of Shanghai.
He moved to YCIS from a school in England eight years ago, after deciding he needed a change of scenery.
Now the head of Information Communication Technology (ICT) at the school's Gubei campus, Crosby has transformed the way the school teaches.
By setting up online learning and teaching resources - such as Moodle and Powerschool - for the students, YCIS can now get results and marks to classes as soon as they are marked. But more than that, Crosby has opened up the program to parents as well, giving them 24-hour access to their child's learning.
"When we opened up the system to parents, we didn't know what their reaction would be. But we were inundated with them logging on, and we're heading toward 100 percent of parents using it," Crosby says. "The feedback has been fantastic; there hasn't been a single negative comment. I'm excited about where it can go from here."
While his technological innovations at the school have been a great success, it is really his fun and energetic teaching style that makes Crosby a star teacher.
With a background in computer design, Crosby has created a curriculum bound to get most kids excited, with students being able to develop their own computer games and join a robotics club. In addition to having a classroom full of Apple computers, the students are free to work on their own laptops.
"The responsiveness of these students is great. It pushes my curriculum development skills because I've got to keep reinventing the wheel to make the wheel more exciting."
Teaching kids aged between 11-18, Crosby works hard to make sure YCIS stays on the cutting edge of the technology world. "One thing I will not stand for at all is teaching last year's technology. It is always developing, always advancing."
"As a teacher, you've got to be able to present the most up-to-date advances in technology that you can," he adds.
By running online class plans and teaching resources, every teacher in the school can adapt lessons each day in response to change, Crosby says.
"It means the students have always got up-to-the-minute information from me for their lessons, and I've got their work immediately when it's finished. We've got this instantaneous communication, and I like that a lot."
It may be his three-piece suits, his Scottish accent, or his sense of humor, but Crosby also seems to have a bit of an "X Factor" about him that his students just love.
Jenny, one of his Year 11 students, says there is no teacher quite like Crosby. "He's very interesting and unique. You won't find another Mr Crosby anywhere else in the whole world."
"Compared with other classes, it's like we're good friends. He'll tell us jokes and we'll make jokes about him as well. It's very energetic, we laugh a lot," says Jenny.
For all his flair, Crosby really lights up when talking about how students have engaged with his mode of teaching.
"I love seeing them all on the Macbooks and iPads. That's the coolest thing. ICT should be about being able to do your work from anywhere, off anything, so it's brilliant when the kids jump right on board with that."
And it is easy to see why the kids do, when their teacher makes it so easy and fun too.
"The best comment I've ever got from a student was that my classes were more like a club," Crosby says. "That's great. You want kids to want to be here, and to want to be learning."
But before they do, Crosby cracks a few jokes, teases a few in a friendly way and easily proves why he is such a hit with the kids at Yew Chung International School of Shanghai.
He moved to YCIS from a school in England eight years ago, after deciding he needed a change of scenery.
Now the head of Information Communication Technology (ICT) at the school's Gubei campus, Crosby has transformed the way the school teaches.
By setting up online learning and teaching resources - such as Moodle and Powerschool - for the students, YCIS can now get results and marks to classes as soon as they are marked. But more than that, Crosby has opened up the program to parents as well, giving them 24-hour access to their child's learning.
"When we opened up the system to parents, we didn't know what their reaction would be. But we were inundated with them logging on, and we're heading toward 100 percent of parents using it," Crosby says. "The feedback has been fantastic; there hasn't been a single negative comment. I'm excited about where it can go from here."
While his technological innovations at the school have been a great success, it is really his fun and energetic teaching style that makes Crosby a star teacher.
With a background in computer design, Crosby has created a curriculum bound to get most kids excited, with students being able to develop their own computer games and join a robotics club. In addition to having a classroom full of Apple computers, the students are free to work on their own laptops.
"The responsiveness of these students is great. It pushes my curriculum development skills because I've got to keep reinventing the wheel to make the wheel more exciting."
Teaching kids aged between 11-18, Crosby works hard to make sure YCIS stays on the cutting edge of the technology world. "One thing I will not stand for at all is teaching last year's technology. It is always developing, always advancing."
"As a teacher, you've got to be able to present the most up-to-date advances in technology that you can," he adds.
By running online class plans and teaching resources, every teacher in the school can adapt lessons each day in response to change, Crosby says.
"It means the students have always got up-to-the-minute information from me for their lessons, and I've got their work immediately when it's finished. We've got this instantaneous communication, and I like that a lot."
It may be his three-piece suits, his Scottish accent, or his sense of humor, but Crosby also seems to have a bit of an "X Factor" about him that his students just love.
Jenny, one of his Year 11 students, says there is no teacher quite like Crosby. "He's very interesting and unique. You won't find another Mr Crosby anywhere else in the whole world."
"Compared with other classes, it's like we're good friends. He'll tell us jokes and we'll make jokes about him as well. It's very energetic, we laugh a lot," says Jenny.
For all his flair, Crosby really lights up when talking about how students have engaged with his mode of teaching.
"I love seeing them all on the Macbooks and iPads. That's the coolest thing. ICT should be about being able to do your work from anywhere, off anything, so it's brilliant when the kids jump right on board with that."
And it is easy to see why the kids do, when their teacher makes it so easy and fun too.
"The best comment I've ever got from a student was that my classes were more like a club," Crosby says. "That's great. You want kids to want to be here, and to want to be learning."
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