Contemporary Learning

CONTEMPORARY LEARNING

At St Mary’s we strive to ignite a passion for learning in all students. We believe that we need to equip our students to take their passion combined with knowledge and skills, learning dispositions and moral and ethical frameworks based on the teachings of Jesus, to enter a world beyond school and create their own fulfilling futures.

St Mary’s focuses on engaging students in learning experiences that develop their essential skills, encourages inquiring minds and teaches them how to Make Jesus Real in all that they say and do. At St Mary’s, Learning and Teaching begins with the needs of the individual child and works towards developing their potential as lifelong learners and responsible citizens.

The Australian Curriculum is used to frame learning that is responsive to the children’s needs, the context of our school and the wider community. The main focus is on developing essential skills in Literacy and Numeracy to enable students to succeed in and enjoy the rest of their learning throughout school and life. Teachers are constantly gauging student individual needs and responding to these in the classroom.

Contemporary learning tools such as iPad, laptop computers, interactive whiteboards and internet resources are used to extend students’ thinking and extend their learning beyond the walls of the classroom.

Information and Communication Technologies

Information and communication technologies provide students with unprecedented opportunities to obtain information, network, engage in discussion and liaise with individuals, organisations and groups world-wide so as to increase skills, knowledge and abilities. Our curriculum and learning opportunities are all based on the aim to ensure our students are highly skilled to communicate, think critically, collaborate, create and learn within and beyond the classroom walls. We aim to equip students with the skills and learning dispositions that will enable them to create their futures within an ever-changing workforce and world.
Therefore we integrate the use of digital Technologies across the curriculum, ensuring that purpose is matched with use and tools are used to enhance learning.

Online Learning Environments
St Mary’s makes extensive use of a variety of online learning environments for accessing information and creation and storage of student and staff work. The nature of these environments, although protected and closed, demands that students have strong skills in online etiquette and usage. As a result, St Mary’s actively creates learning experiences that allow for these to be taught, practised and continually revisited. This is then also reinforced in partnership with parents in the home environment.

Devices

Devices provided for student learning include IPad, laptops, digital cameras, IPod, chrome books and smart TVs. Devices are constantly upgraded to keep up with developments in technologies.

BYODD (Bring Your Own Designated Device)

St Mary’s Catholic school has implemented a BYODD (Bring Your Own Designated Device) Program for students in Years 4 to 6 in line with our goal to enrich and enhance learning through the integration of Information Communication and Technology. St Mary’s BYODD Policy, Student Agreement and Device specification information is available upon request. The device chosen by the school aligns with St Mary’s learning needs, NAPLAN online requirements, school wireless and NT Schools Network requirements.

The transition to BYODD at St Mary’s has proven to be extremely successful and popular -providing opportunities for teachers to integrate technology meaningfully into the learning and teaching program and for students to extend their learning beyond the classroom.

Children moving into Year 4 are eligible to join the BYODD program. They are required to work towards earning a license to allow them to bring their device to school. This involves but is not limited to; cyber safety, internet searching, saving and storage of work and safe handling and storage of devices. Once completed, students receive a certificate and letter to inform their parents that they are now licensed to bring their own device to school.

Parents of children in Year 4 to 6 are required to attend a parent information session and Cyber safety session to ensure that they are familiar with the expectations and requirements for BYODD.