Moulding the next Harvie Krumpet
Christ Church uses advanced Apple education solutions throughout its learning infrastructure. Several classrooms have console-controlled facilities that would be the envy of NASA. These ‘boy tech’ classrooms incorporate wireless networks, DVD players, amplified audio and ceiling projectors. Interactive whiteboards allow teachers to import data such as maps, timelines, graphics and video clips to create compelling, media-rich lessons that draw students into the learning process. Teachers simply write on the smart board with their finger and optical character recognition converts their scrawl into typed letters.

“These smart boards help teachers communicate in a way that keeps students interested,” Murray says. We’ve also developed software that allows teachers to capture a lesson on a particular subject like a mathematical equation or chemical reaction. They can save the lesson as a Web page or QuickTime movie and post it on the school intranet. Students can access these files to revise at night and discuss what they are learning with their parents.”

The school also has some 160 iBook and 120 PowerBook laptops connected to a wireless network. The Apple laptops are distributed to classrooms on special trolleys developed by West Australian company PC Locs. The Mobile Lab trolleys charge the laptop batteries on the fly and allow the computers to be locked in place for security. This portable approach allows Christ Church to provide hardware wherever Macs are needed to support teaching and learning in subjects as diverse as maths, science, art, sport and music.