Technology

To support and extend learning in Grades 6 to 12, students are required to have a personal device as an always-available choice. As they transition to the MYP, they are supported by teachers to make increasingly smart choices as to when it is appropriate to use technology, and about the opportunities available to them to enhance learning with digital tools. Teachers incorporate technology into lessons only when it adds considerable value to the learning experience.
The first week of classes in Grade 10 is devoted to the Digital Literacy and Citizenship (DLC) Bootcamp. During this week, course teachers focus on developing students’ digital skills to set them up for success in their specific courses. Communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking skills are taught within the context of a subject: online research skills through Social Studies, analysing and interpreting data in Science, computational thinking skills for problem solving in Mathematics, and writing for online audiences in English. Students build from this foundation, developing a digital toolkit that enhances and extends learning throughout their MYP years. 
Throughout the year, our Learning Technology Integrationist works closely with teachers to integrate technology into lessons to make learning more engaging, authentic, and personalised. Examples of this include bringing a novel to life using Virtual Reality, interacting with AI chatbots, or designing a class project using CAD software and 3D printing it. 
Technology is a gateway for students to research, plan, analyse and make connections, putting Digital Literacy and Citizenship (DLC) skills, in addition to approaches to learning (AtL) skills into a global, real-world context.    

In Grades 11 and 12, Mulgrave students consolidate their technology literacy skills, routinely making strategic use of digital tools to enhance understanding, reasoning, and to find evidence from a broad cross-section of sources that add interest to curriculum content. Supported by teachers who encourage choice in how students access information and demonstrate knowledge, students use technology to learn from and with each other, and from experts. By this stage of their Mulgrave learning journey, students are encouraged to evaluate the best technology tools for the task at hand and for their preferred learning style. 

In science, math and other courses, students use annotation and note-taking software of their choice to personalise their learning for assessment and exam preparation. Students may also choose to record audio or video, or access teacher-recorded lessons and curated digital resources to consolidate their understanding. Videoconferencing enables students to connect with teachers, peers and outside experts from within and beyond the classroom setting. 

Technology in Grades 11 and 12 supports creativity, collaboration and communication, such as the variety of apps that languages students use to communicate in the target language. In visual arts courses students have opportunities to demonstrate their creativity with digital media, using virtual reality, 3D printing, laser cutting, CAD and digital design tools, often combined with traditional mediums. 

Students learn about and have hands-on experience with technology used in professional environments, such as a 'Technology in Music' unit in music, data loggers in science courses, data analysis tools in economics, and graphing visualisers in math.   

Students develop not only practical skills but also strategies to research, critically analyse, make decisions, and compile information to solve problems. Along the way, they are learning and practising digital literacy and citizenship concepts and developing a professional digital profile that will serve them well in their futures beyond Mulgrave.

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 Middle and Senior School, AI is introduced through the digital citizenship programme, with emphasis on appropriate uses, risks, and ethics. Students learn about AI's inherent duality, recognising its many positive applications alongside potential negative impacts and harms. For academic work, teacher-led experiences are blended with student-driven usage related to specific learning engagements. Transparency and clear guidelines are essential in the use of AI. The goal is to ensure AI is used appropriately, mirroring expectations at the university or professional level.

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.