A true innovator
Profiles in Success: Hinchinbroook Christian School
A small Christian school of 23 students, 7 of whom conduct their studies via correspondence, Hinchinbrook Christian School has the potential to be a true innovator in exploiting computing technology in education. When the school received a Federal Government grant under the Investing in our Schools Program, Principal Becky Jaworski and husband - the school's administrator - Wally moved quickly to replace ageing second-hand Apple computers with seven new Apple iMac computers and an Apple MacBook Pro, all powered by the new Intel Core Duo technology.
According to Mr Jaworski, the introduction of the new computers will, aside from providing a rich multimedia platform to enhance the students' learning environment, play a key role in improving the school's distance education program. "We have seven distance education students ranging in ages from 7 to 17 who attend the school only twice a term," he explains. "The challenge has always been to provide those students with a sense of belonging - a sense of being part of the school and its community, regardless of the tyranny of distance."
With the new iMac computers in place - three of which are located in regional learning centres readily accessible by the distance education students - video conferencing has now become a standard part of learning for teachers and students. By taking full advantage of the in-built iSight camera and iChat AV software, the school has provided its external students with the ability to step into the classroom, even though they may be over 200 kilometres away.
"For the first time, our distance education students are able to participate in classroom activities, such as show-and-tell, and benefit from ‘attending' class when special guests provide lectures. We have broadband Internet connections and this, combined with the Apple technology, has made the quality of video conferencing absolutely remarkable. The clarity of video and audio is so high that it's almost comparable to some of the professional systems I've seen over the years."
— Wally Jaworski, School Administrator, Hinchinbrook Christian School
Next Page: A virtual playground