Increasingly the role of educational institutions is not to provide information but to teach students how to select, interpret and work with it, in its various forms. Mobile technologies provide easy access to a wealth of information and are indispensable tools for handling it.
At Bishops, students operate in technology-rich classrooms which are equipped with wireless networking and some high speed network points. Mobile devices are used to connect to the Bishops network and the academic Intranet. This provides students with access to course resources, learning programmes and collaborative tools as well as educational software. Material to be covered, the way it must be investigated and the manner in which it will be evaluated is clearly displayed on the Intranet for each subject.
Teachers from all departments at Bishops add value by using technology. They develop Internet integrated learning programmes in web format to harness the technology to enable teaching and learning in ways that were simply not possible before. Our teachers still lead the classes and control the students so that learning and teaching takes place. When appropriate, students work on learning programmes. Teachers have found that using technology in useful ways is motivational and productive.
Bishops believes that learning can be enhanced, deepened, and made more meaningful if our students are active participants in their own learning. Laptops, using Office 365, are the tools we use to facilitate ICT integration and provide opportunities for interactivity, multiple role playing (such as listener, critic, mentor, presenter), and social engagement (such as group work). Most importantly, the organisation of the learning programmes and the method of delivery allows for a different classroom experience which can enhance the interaction between student and teacher.
In this way, Bishops students are afforded the opportunity of developing technical, social and personal skills which are vitally essential for success and adaptation in the technology-rich world of the 21st century.
FAQ's
When are laptops introduced?
Laptops are purchased by Grade 7 parents before the beginning of their son's Grade 8 year. Details of this are communicated each year and parents are encouraged to involve themselves in the procurement process. Parents are asked not to buy their sons laptops until advised. Each student must buy one of the prescribed laptops, from a prescribed supplier. Parents are asked to respect the school's decision on this.
What do students need to have?
Each student is required to bring a fully functioning laptop (with requisite warranties, purchased from a prescribed supplier) to every class so that technology is immediately available to be used when appropriate. All students and staff have a Microsoft 365 E5 license and use single sign on to access the variety of applications / services.
All laptops are configured in a special way so that students can access all relevant material and Cloud software. This configuration is coordinated by the school and each machine comes pre-installed, as part of what the prescribed supplier offers.
In specific situations where specialist software is required for a particular subject, students will be billed through the normal billing process (as is the situation with textbooks).
Does the school or any staff member make money out of this deal?
No. Each year the laptop parent committee ensures that there is total transparency in decisions made regarding suppliers and pricing. Any benefits of the bulk deal are passed on to the parents in terms of pricing and service arrangements.