Schools log on to engage kids
‘‘TORTURING teachers’’ is one of many incentives schools are offering kids so they complete online challenges, as paper homework becomes a thing of the past.
More than 25 per cent of Gold Coast schools have signed up to one local literacy online company, Literacy Planet, while others design intranets where students can log on t o assessments and complete homework.
But the online process, which is simpler and ‘‘more fun’’ according to students, is still not enough to get all students finishing their homework.
Guardian Angels Primary School curriculum co-ordinator Jo Makin said the Southport school introduced the online rewards system last year and about half of its students used it.
Ms Makin said she expected more students to take part this year but they would not punish students for not completing their work. ‘‘There are no repercussions but we encourage them hugely (to participate).’’
Guardian Angels students collect points for completing online work, with rewards such as internet time, ‘‘torturing teachers’’ and chocolate.
‘‘One of our male teachers had to dress up in a dress because we get to torture our teachers and we’ve been given chocolate before,’’ Year 5 student Trinity Kent said.
‘‘It’s a lot better than book work and taking papers home – and the rewards are cool.’’
Robina-based Literacy Planet founder Shane Davis said the program marked homework for the teachers, which allowed them to better allocate their time.
He said in three years 25 per cent of Gold Coast schools had signed up and he expected that figure to increase as other schools noticed the efficiency of online homework.
Guardian Angels is the most active school in Australia on the Literacy Planet website, with Labrador, Coomera, Coomera Springs and Broadbeach state schools trailing behind. Broadbeach students even use the program on weekends.
Coolangatta State School completes maths, English, science and social studies on an at-home computerised component.
Somerset College and The Southport School use intranets where students have access to learning resources.
Southport High School plans to have a tablet for years 7 and 8 students next year with homework apps for each subject.