Technology
Murray Gell-Mann, Nobel Prize winning physicist, begins a description of how he is indebted to his family, for what he learnt - to see his city with different eyes and learn:
"I owe most of my early education to my brother Ben, who is nine years older. It was he who taught me to read when I was three (from a Sunshine cracker box) and who introduced me to bird and mammal watching, botanizing and insect collecting. We lived in New York City, principally in Manhattan, but nature study was possible even there. I thought of New York as a hemlock forest that had been logged too heavily..."
From: Gell-Mann, 1995, p. 12
Gell-Mann suggests that perhaps the way we perceive our environment may influence with the way react to it and others around us. His brother, his early teacher, brought to Murray a creative and innovative view of New York that ignited a flame for learning and scientific inquiry. Similarly the perceptions educationists may hold about education, schools and their job also shape their perceptions about learning and learners. Tensions between the old and the new are traditionally founded in traditional structures, organisations and cultural viewpoints. To move forward one needs to alter one’s perceptions of the world about them. We all need an ‘older brother’ to show us the way and help us on the journey. This is the challenge teachers face in an ever changing and unpredictable world. Unless teachers can look at the present with different eyes, then their perceptions about the future will not change significantly. Nor will their philosophies about teaching and learning or learning opportunities and learning tools.
At Beaumaris, the initial step to cultural change provides opportunity to look beyond what is, to be creative in helping students find their passion for learning in a globalised world that readily links the local classroom and community to hubs of learning beyond schools, borders and oceans via highly networked knowledge highways. We at Beaumaris offer opportunities for linking students and collaborative projects across the globe, logging into space, accessing unlimited information with a click of the mouse, film production, technical arts, delving into historical archives, manipulating virtual reality, direct classroom – home linkages, sharing on line programs, mass communication, learning through leisure and much more.
How teachers, as ‘big brother,’ provide opportunity for our students largely depends on how we view the world and learning today. Whether we like it or not, we are in the midst of questionably the greatest revolution ever – Information Technology. As stakeholders in the business of ‘learning’ we have two simple choices: firstly we either look to recognise the change and learn to maximise these opportunities to the advantage of our students, as knowledge navigators; or secondly, we encapsulate ourselves in the safety of the past and ultimate dissatisfaction and obsolescence as knowledge keepers, let alone student frustration and dysfunctional learning. At Beaumaris we have committed to the former.
In essence, we as teachers are the ‘big brother’ to open our students’ eyes, minds and learning so that we provide the most appropriate teaching – learning relationships and opportunities for them to thrive and succeed in an unknown future. This is our immediate challenge and our Vision to the Future.
Current Opportunities
- Modern well equipped ICT Laboratory
- Computers throughout the school
- Rapid Broadband across the school
- Multi Media equipment for digital recording and movie making
- SmartBoard Technology in classrooms
- Transitional skills and Microsoft Office suite development from Kindergarten to Year 7
- Integrated learning pathways utilising IT as learning tool
- On Line Learning
- Great web sites for students
- Web development
- Research, Projects and Presentations
- Professional Development
- Electronic Reporting
Our supportive P&C and School Council are also committed to delivering our vision together. Download the P&C Display PowerPoint presentation to share our thoughts and directions.
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