Technology Influences Learning

It is critical that schools research changes in technology to ensure its influence is positive to the teaching and learning experiences of our students. Making the best use of new technologies requires us to reshape our pedagogies and how we teach in the classroom.

The technology we choose provides our students with new ways to learn and to discover and build information. More importantly, it allows for creativity in the construction, manipulation and communication of that information. The focus of our research is not the device per se, but what the technology brings to the table in terms of enriching the teaching and learning experience. The literature on critical skills for future employment all concern topics like communication, collaboration, analytical skills, problem-solving, resilience and self-management. There is no mention of touch-typing or skills specific to a device or operating system. Those skills will change over time and in the modern workforce adaptability is paramount.

We have found that the technology afforded by a mobile tablet device is better suited to the learning of our younger students. The interaction and creativity using a digital pen, a finger, your voice; the ability to take images, record video and build solutions through augmented reality are some of the things that provide our students with the opportunity to be differentiated and innovative. This year we have expanded our trials of mobile tablet devices with the Senior School teaching staff. The staff have more opportunity to be differentiated and innovative.

What does the future hold? Apple has announced they are transitioning their laptop models to the same chipset as their mobile tablet devices. This means they will have a common architecture, common OS, a common development cycle and a unified applications ecosystem. The devices will converge, and their perceived advantages will complement each other. Already cameras using LIDAR technology create 3D images that can be used as augmented reality components. Others are developing desktop LIDAR technology to scan a user's position in 3D, track their hand movements and enable remote touch and gesture controls of a device. Digital models will be investigated, manipulated, stretched and reshaped with your hands as you view them on your device screen, which in the future may be digital eyeglasses.

Our Year 1 students will graduate in 2031 and the device they will hold in their hands in Year 12 is yet to be developed. We may not have the specific words to describe the future devices and technologies that we will need to consider for our students, but technology integration at Scotch College is well-placed to research what is stable, what is applicable and what can be utilised in the education domain, and  onl y  apply those technologies that will most benefit teaching and learning.

Dr Nick Spadaccini
ILT Curriculum Integration Manager