Technologies Seen Out on Prac

I have completed my first practicum; it took a bit longer, as I got sick in the last week. I was lucky enough to be placed at Orange Grove PS, which was only ten mins for home. This school has a 1:1 ratio for Apple Mac laptops (year 4 and up). I believe this has only been introduce recently and that the school is part of a pilot, for the education dept.

I have included a link to Apple, in which you can see some of my students at work( this was taken last year) .The teacher you see talking in the video is not my prac teach. Paul was teaching next door, though my class and his, did work on some join projects while I was there. He is the teacher in charge of IT - http://www.apple.com/au/education/profiles/ and simply click on OGPS profile.

I was placed in the grade 5,6,7 class ,with Miss Anderton (Miss A to the student). A great teacher and class of students!!!

I found most of the student were very knowledgeable about the laptops, they thought nothing about whipping up a PowerPoint or searching the web or creating a movie( most of the work was just fabulous). This was great, because I could plan lesson that could utilise the laptop, not having to book a computer lab or mobile lab (COW- computers on wheels). The laptop treated as a treat, like at most schools, they had moved to a everyday tool equal to a pen or blackboard.

My class also had a electronic white board. It was a Polyvision board, which use the Webster operating system. This wasn't compatible with the smart board, so I could use it with the lessons we had done. This was a shame, but I did utilise it as a projector and a sound system. This was also how it was use in the class the majority of the time. When you did use it, as it was intended, the write function usability was no way as good as Smart Board and was very limited. It also had a tendency to move out of alignment, when the student slammed a door or even sat done to boisterously. I would recommend this type of board to a school looking a purchasing an electronic whiteboard.

The school also had a website, this was used to present news, student work, P&C news/info and much more- http://www.ogps.wa.edu.au/ .Each class has its own page, on which they can enter what they wish.

I had a great time and would like to thank both the students, teachers and other staff for making my time so enjoyable. Thanks OGPS