Technology

Mulgrave School is dedicated to remaining at the forefront of IT development. 

As our students live in a digital environment, we seek to give them the skills to direct and control the continual change that occurs in technology.  The immediate requirements of each student are met through different programmes in the Junior, Middle and Senior Schools.

Technology in the Junior School supports the depth of learning provided by the PYP of the IB.  By integrating authentic classroom inquiry with the creative and purposeful use of new technologies, our students’ learning is enhanced. 

Grade 6 Laptops
Grade 6 students are assigned a laptop pc for their full time use as directed by their classroom teacher.  These laptops are provided by the school and come loaded with software specific to the Grade 6 curriculum. The laptops are returned at the end of year for use by next year’s students.

Grade 3 iPads
Starting in September, 2011, Grade 3 students will be introduced to an iPad programme. Students are requested to purchase an iPad prior to the start of the school year to bring to class. The iPad programme is designed to help younger students learn how to implement technologies to enhance their learning, plus help teachers educate them from an early age the basics of web literacy skills, including critical thinking and community building.

 

The emphasis at this level is on familiarising students with standard applications that they can then use in their class work. To this end, faculty in all departments make regular use of computers to engage and instruct their classes. 

Students have access to a wide range of information-rich, age-appropriate resources, hardware, and software to explore their academic inquiries in the broadest possible ways. 

Grade 7 students will be transferring their skills learned in Grade 6 to laptops configured specifically for the Grade 7 curriculum.  The school arranges the supply of laptop computers. Each year a decision is made on the model and specifications to be supplied that are most suitable for the Middle School curriculum.  We do not permit the use of third-party machines because of the significant extra cost involved for the school in non-standard configurations.

Included in the price is an extended three-year, parts, labour and insurance coverage warranty. Our Support Staff attend to system configuration and minor repairs.  Factory authorised service technicians come on-site for the majority of more detailed service or repair.

The emphasis in the Senior School shifts to preparing students for success in their post-secondary studies.  School servers and the library Internet are available to students for research. The university or workplace skills which we expect each student to use at this level are:

  • Word processing
  • Excel spreadsheets
  • Access database
  • Advanced Word i.e. appendix, automatic indexing, macros
  • Internet and information search skills i.e. Boolean logic
  • Email and Internet familiarity
  • Library catalogue search skills
  • General skills in network logons and administration

Mulgrave Technology Mission

Mulgrave School will provide students and teachers with the technology to develop the confidence and lifelong learning skills necessary to be productive citizens in an information-driven, global society.

Students will leverage technology to construct knowledge and meaning by engaging in personally relevant and meaningful learning experiences. Teachers and administrators, leveraging technology, will become more efficient and effective in facilitating and managing the learning environment.

Technology contributes to this educational vision by creating learning environments and providing opportunities that:

  • involve collaboration, communication and problem-solving - connecting students to the outside world;
  • allow students to explore areas of interest, make decisions about paths of inquiry, and become responsible, independent learners;
  • promote higher level thinking and understanding: seeing connections, interpreting data, and applying learning to new situations;
  • vary content processes and products to meet the needs of each student.