Technology changing face of modern education

• Published date: 30 September 2021
• Publication title: Shanghai Daily

Technology is transforming education. From distance-learning classrooms to virtual reality history lessons in ancient Pompeii, tech has turned the educational paradigm on its head. But are there drawbacks? An international team of educators offers their insights.

EdTech's impact in Wellington

The technological revolution is booming and changing everything - from how we communicate with others, consume news and watch movies to how we purchase goods. It has also become a major tool shaping the future of education.

Engaging pupils is often quite challenging for teachers. Studies have shown that engaged pupils are 2.5 times more likely to get higher grades in their academic performance than pupils who are not engaged. The use of educational technology (EdTech) in schools is currently the top pupil-engagement strategy used in the classroom. EdTech promotes active learning, and when pupils are actively engaged in class, they are more positive, encouraged and motivated.

Interactive whiteboards are probably the most well-known form of EdTech. They provide a touchscreen display for teachers to share presentations, play videos and annotate documents. Wellington classrooms are equipped with Maxhub boards, chosen specifically for their quality, ease of use and excellent immersive learning experience. These boards enable teachers to screen share devices, screen record, annotate and much more. Pupils can also share their own device screens by scanning the board QR code or using the MaxHub Screenshare app.

In 2017, Microsoft introduced their educational platform Microsoft 365 to help schools improve the educational experience for their staff and pupils. One personalized email address and password allows access to all the Microsoft applications and the school network. Microsoft Teams is our online platform for communication and collaboration, especially in our upper prep and senior schools. Pupils use Teams to communicate and collaborate, empowering them to take responsibility for their own learning while supporting and encouraging their peers. Cloud storage has revolutionized the way digital work is stored. Wellington uses OneDrive to store work, which can be accessed on any device and shared for collaboration. OneNote is our go-to digital notebook for teachers and pupils, and the computing department uses it for a digital record of pupil's work.

Apple has revolutionized how EdTech is used in the classroom, especially for younger pupils. From creating GarageBand music to learning how to code in Swift, there are multiple applications that help pupils learn. In Wellington, all pupils in the prep school have access to an iPad, with a 1:1 iPad program implemented in Grades 4-8. Pupils use a wide variety of iPad apps, specifically tailored to their age, to present their work in unique and interesting ways. They create presentations and a range of multimedia content, including videos, comic strips and animations. They take notes, plan and record ideas, problem solve, collaborate and create their own content to reflect and expand on their learning and passions. Teachers use a variety of classroom management apps, such as Apple Classroom, and interactive assessment apps to constantly create meaningful learning opportunities for their pupils. Kahoot and Quizzizz are particular favorites for all ages in Wellington, with EduCake, GCSE Pod and Complete Maths being used in upper prep and senior school to revise core concepts in preparation for exams.

We use a number of other interactive devices as well. The science department in Wellington has a large-scale Starlab planetarium. This uses a high-quality digital projector and inflatable dome to provide a full 180-degree video experience. Our own 360 cameras provide opportunities for pupils to make their own planetarium movies. Our virtual reality...