Technology used to create a ‘rich learning experience’

AT THE heart of Kingsmead College is St Brigid’s Chapel, built in commemoration of the fifth century Irish nun, St Brigid, one of Ireland’s patron saints. But while Kingsmead’s heritage may be more than 1,500 years old, the school is deeply vested in the 21st century.

Lora Foot, director of technology at Kingsmead, says technology plays a vital role in streamlining most aspects of modern day living and the need for an adequate understanding and use of technology has become obvious from the early stages of our children’s development. At Kingsmead, that starts at Junior School, which is followed up with the appropriate level of IT training at each stage, during which “the responsible and creative use of technology will be nurtured”.

The Senior School has two dedicated ICT labs, as well as the versatile Learning Centre which allows work to be done anywhere throughout the building via a wireless network. All teachers have personal computers in their classrooms and there are many computers available throughout the campus for the pupils to use.

Pupils are expected to become more adept with the creation of podcasts, movies, music and even the creation of blogs and wikis.

The Microsoft Office package is used throughout the Senior School and more specialised packages are used for subjects such as art, where girls are taught how to use PhotoShop to manipulate and create graphic art. The mathematics department uses visually stimulating programmes to help provide the girls with a better understanding of mathematics. From Afrikaans to French, geography to biology and science, ICT is integrated into almost every aspect of teaching.

Each girl is provided with her own e-mail address and server side storage to increase the efficiency of learning and communication.

“Technology is a tool for life and for learning and digital media provides invaluable opportunities for creating rich learning experiences for students.

“Children today are born into and raised in the digital world and remote controls, SMSs, blogs and smartphones are a natural feature of their world and they adapt to the ever increasingly pace of technological change with ease,” says Foot.

“They will reshape and transform the future in their image.”