An innovative educational community
Profiles in Success: Helena College
Perth, Western Australia: With a stated purpose of being “an innovative educational community”, Helena College has long been a strong advocate of integrating technology within the learning environment. At the beginning of 2006, this advocacy was taken to a new level with the introduction of a one-to-one notebook program for the college’s senior school students.
One of the driving forces behind the program is Director of Curriculum, John Caldwell. “Rather than introduce the program across the entire school at the one time,” he says, “we decided to adopt a phased approach, with years seven and eight students being the first ones involved.”
According to Caldwell, the phased introduction of the program is an important factor, giving teachers, students and support staff the opportunity to adapt gradually to what is a substantial change. The overriding focus, though, is the desire to increase technology in the hands of the students on a ‘where needed – when needed’ basis, rather than in the computer labs - a distinct difference.
Giving students their own MacBook means they have almost total freedom to access the tools that are becoming an increasingly important part of the curriculum. For several years we have had the wireless infrastructure in place, to enable network access for notebooks on loan from the library. This ensures that the freedom of movement that goes hand-in-hand with MacBook computers is fully realised.
— John Caldwell, Director of Curriculum
The school’s Mac preference is far from recent. In fact, Caldwell traces this back to 1988, when the first computer lab was established at Helena College. “It was initially going to be a small lab with several computers, with the idea of training students to use both the Mac and PC platforms – so the college installed six of each” he says.
“In the end economic necessity forced a decision to choose one or the other platform. The students and a foundation teacher of Society and Environment swayed the college toward Macs because of their graphics ability and other educational benefits.
The Macs were – and still are – very reliable; and have provided the college with greater resource mobility and consistency of use across the applications. Important, the students find them very user friendly.
— John Caldwell, Director of Curriculum
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