New computers, Smart boards and iPads have been introduced to the students at John Paul II Collegiate in Okotoks in order to enhance learning.
The media lab at John Paul II Collegiate (JPII) recently received a new set of computers with software to will help engage the students and advance their media skills.
Kaitlin Dunnigan, the media and art teacher at JPII, said she is pleased about the new technology they have because it allows the school to remain up-to-date in the media field.
“All animation and graphic design is computer based now; even T-shirts are completely designed on computers,” she said. “With the new technology we received the entire class can be on the computers at once instead of only half.”
Dunnigan said the students start out with simple media such as learning how to create optical illusions and how to use a program like Photoshop to manipulate images.
The older students construct more in-depth projects through designing posters and learning about typography. They also design T-shirts with a program to create high definition images and learn how to create animations.
“It’s great because now students can start building their portfolio at a younger age. They can build on ideas from junior high instead of starting in high school,” Dunnigan said. “If the kids don’t have access to the proper technology or don’t know how to work them, then they don’t get the full extent of what they could learn.”
This year JPII received new desktop computers, 10 new Smart boards and 10 iPads, allowing the majority of teachers to use this new equipment in the classroom.
Smart boards are interactive whiteboards which operate like a computer so teachers can project the display on their own computer screen. This allows lessons to be more engaging and helps students who are visual learners.
“We are thrilled to receive all of this new technology for our teachers and students. It helps keep the students engaged because the lessons become more interactive,” said vice-principal Mariette Moss.
The iPads are shared between the JPII administration, teachers and students.
Andrea McGeachie, head of the learning centre at JPII, said they are lucky to have been given this technology because it is desperately needed.
“It’s much more engaging to learn about numbers and words with an iPad. Technology is so important and it’s a tool that’s really easy for the students to use. It makes something like learning multiplication tables a lot more fun,” McGeachie said.
The teachers download applications or ‘apps’ to will help students with basic math and language arts skills.
She added it takes time to look through the thousands of apps available but there are outstanding ones for the students to use.
McGeachie said since most of the students already know how to work an iPad. In fact, the roles are often reversed with the students instructing the teachers on how to use the technology.
JP II student Brenden Stewart uses the iPads in the learning centre to play word games to teach him the basics of language arts.
“I play a hangman game where I have to guess and fill in the missing letters and words. It’s a lot more fun than just reading, which usually puts me to sleep,” Stewart said.
McGeachie added, “Not all of the kids have the opportunity to access this kind of technology and it’s really exciting for them. Even if they are playing a game that involves language arts or math, they view it as just playing.”
Vince Van Hyfte, assistant superintendent at Christ the Redeemer Catholic School Division, said that the new computers and iPads were factored into the technology budget for the year. In addition to JP II, the division handed out iPads to their schools in Brooks and Canmore. The division also received grants from the government to provide schools with Smart boards.
"We budget annually for these ongoing things to upgrade and replace technology in our schools. There's not one piece of technology that enhances learning; you need a lot of tools from the toolbox to support education."
Van Hyfte added that the division plans to expand the use of technology, especially iPads, in the next school year.
