Technology, Teaching & Learning for Students

This post was originally published here in September 2015

Let me start by saying that I’m thrilled to be the new Technology Integration Coordinator at The International School of Macao (TIS). Students (and staff!) are fortunate to have significant resources available to them at TIS. We have computer labs, iPad & laptop carts, Chromebooks, SmartBoards, Smartphones, robots, microscopes, cameras and even a 3-D printer.

To further emphasize the importance of technology, TIS implemented the “Think Digital” laptop program in September 2015. The first students to join this program were our grade seven and ten students. Parents and students were given a choice regarding which device they would use - a Macbook or a Chromebook. At TIS we use Google Apps for Education, Edmodo and Moodle, thus the device a student uses is irrelevant as the vast majority of apps used by teachers and students are found on the web.

To support this initiative, the grade seven students were asked to choose the design of a new school backpack for use by secondary students. Students viewed various designs and materials and voted for their favourite combination. This backpack is now on sale in the school store.

Our laptop initiative was further supported by the installation of new lockers for our secondary students. Not only do they look great but each locker is wired for easy and secure charging of laptops and other personal devices.

The increased availability and use of devices makes the topic of “digital citizenship” an important one at TIS. Digital citizenship lessons are provided for all grade 4-12 students as well. Those students in the laptop program attended a presentation on laptop care and safety and they were encouraged to share this information with their parents. All students from grade 4-12 complete a “Responsible Use Agreement” that outlines the expectations for students when they utilize technology (personal and school-owned).

For our students, it is important that they remember these useful tips when incorporating technology into their learning:

1. Have a clear understanding of the guidelines in each of your classes - Each teacher is an individual and will probably have slightly different expectations.
2. Take full advantage of the technology you have - Seek out teachers, classmates and/or technology support staff so you can discover the potential of your device.

3. Be patience and persistent – Learning any new skill can be challenging and may take some time. Expect failures along the way – this is how most people learn.

Overall, It’s an exciting time to be a member of the TIS community. I look forward to working with all students to ensure that technology is accessible, beneficial and engaging!