School recognised for iPad scheme
ACS Hillingdon Lower School has been recognised as an Apple Distinguished School, for its one-to-one iPad student scheme.
The Apple Distinguished Schools programme is reserved for schools that meet criteria for innovation, leadership and educational excellence and demonstrate Apple’s vision of exemplary learning environments.
Apple Distinguished Schools use Apple hardware, apps and content to promote creativity, collaboration, innovation and critical thinking to transform learning and teaching.
Over the next two years, ACS Hillingdon Lower School will play an active role in helping other local and international schools implement tablet technology, through a series of educator visits.
Lower school principal Michelle Eriksen said: “Receiving recognition as an Apple Distinguished School is a testament to the staff, students and the ACS community’s collective hard work, collaboration and the journey we have been on since we launched our iPad programme over five years ago.”
As part of the school’s award submission, the team created an online book which showcased how ACS students and staff utilise Apple technology the classroom.
Sue Wakefield, the school’s IT integrationist, said: “The school’s ‘ 100 iPad Wall’ project is a great example of how technology can enhance student learning.
“High school students built and coded the wall, made up of 100 iPads whilst younger students created a piece of art using iPad ProScopes to take microscopic images that were displayed on the iPad Wall.
“Through this project, in students developed the ‘four Cs’ – communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity.
“We have consistently found that iPad technology allows students to engage with the curriculum on a much deeper level and this is recognised by our new status as an Apple Distinguished School.”
ACS Hillingdon’s new multi-million pound Science Centre, due to be completed in 2017, will also include state-of-theart laboratories, incorporating the latest iPad technology.
Dr Neelu Sharma, head of science at ACS Hillingdon, said: “Embedding mobile technology across the new science facilities will enable and inspire curious minds to delve deeper and provide students with a solid preparation for university and highly successful careers in science.”