Technology

Students in Grades 2 to 4 participate in a 1:1 iPad programme throughout the year, while Grade 5 students use a 1:1 laptop programme. These devices offer opportunities for interactive communication and information exchange through global collaboration, authentic learning experiences, the expansion of the learning community, and empowerment for all learners. Our use of technology supports the broader school vision of enhancing and personalising learning, while developing the digital literacy and citizenship of our students.

Technology is seamlessly integrated into student lessons in support of curriculum objectives. Our teachers collaborate closely with our Learning Technology Integrationist to ensure that students not only learn key concepts but also harness the power of advanced technologies. In classes, students engage with artificial intelligence, virtual reality, robotics, podcasting, 3D printing, block-based coding, and more. This approach fosters creativity, computational thinking, and design skills, while also teaching  students to engage with technology in appropriate, safe, and responsible ways. We want every student to finish the PYP with the confidence to be a creator of technology, and not simply a consumer.

We recognise the many advantages of using technology to support learning, but we also acknowledge potential dangers if used inappropriately. Teachers work with students and parents to ensure they understand these risks and have strategies to manage them. When considering the use of technology in the classroom, Mulgrave School employs the SAMR model (Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, Redefinition) for technology integration. This framework helps teachers thoughtfully incorporate technology in ways that enhance learning outcomes. By using the SAMR model, we ensure that technology use is purposeful and impactful, moving beyond mere substitution of traditional methods to create transformative learning experiences. Through regular monitoring and feedback, we strive to maintain a balanced and effective approach to screen time, ensuring that technology serves as a tool for deep, meaningful learning rather than a distraction and substitution.

Using AI has become a necessary skill for both students and teachers. It’s developing rapidly, and while some may find it daunting or even a little unsettling, there are many opportunities to use AI to our advantage in support of learning and preparation for the world after Mulgrave.

AI integration varies across divisions. In Junior School, AI use is primarily teacher-driven, and often integrated into PYP Units of Inquiry. With the dedicated support of our Junior School Technology Integrationist, personalised experiences are carefully crafted to support specific learning outcomes. For instance, in Grades 1 and 2, teachers might develop an AI chatbot that animates a planet, allowing students to collaboratively ask questions, this offers a unique opportunity for interaction using natural language. In Grades 4-5, students engage more independently with designed experiences under teacher oversight. For example, teacher-designed and monitored chatbots provide writing feedback or assist in brainstorming topics for projects such as the PYP Exhibition.

While AI can support students in knowledge acquisition, meaning making, and task optimisation, we continue to focus on durable skills like creativity, empathy, and social interaction. Students have many opportunities to do so through both curricular and co-curricular offerings at Mulgrave, which challenge students to problem solve and engage with others in a variety of ways.