Assumption Convent Schools
Bangkok, Thailand
Preserving tradition and preparing for the future.
Founded at the start of the 20th century, Assumption Convent Schools in Bangkok, Thailand, recently celebrated their 120th anniversary. Though tradition is an integral part of their ethos, their approach to academics is decidedly modern. Assumption’s 1:1 iPad program has enabled the teaching staff to build upon — and go beyond — the Ministry of Education’s required curriculum, creating assignments that are deeply engaging. In turn, the students are excited to learn, leaving the schools prepared to tackle any challenges the future might bring.
Assumption is divided between two campuses — middle and high school students attend Assumption Convent School while elementary students attend Assumption Convent Silom a few blocks away. Starting in first grade, students use iPad for their classes, supplementing or supplanting conventional textbooks or reference materials. As one parent noted, “Children can choose which apps to use, and parents can keep an eye on what they’re doing — that’s a great advantage. With so many educational apps on the iPad and constant updates, information is much more up-to-date than in traditional textbooks.”
We still follow the curriculum structure based on the legal framework set by the Ministry of Education. We’ve only changed the approach, both in assessment and in how students present their knowledge.
The schools use a parent-funded 1:1 iPad approach, and teachers integrate the technology into their lessons. Features like AirDrop are used to share materials with students, and apps like Apple’s Classroom help keep students focused on the task at hand. Students use a variety of apps to demonstrate their learning — from Freeform in economics, to iMovie in Chinese, Pages in science, and Keynote in computer science. Educators display materials on the classroom’s Apple TV, sharing examples they’ve created and showcasing their students’ work to help inspire others in the class. “Before, we were traditional lecturers, standing in front of the board. Now, we‘re creating experiences for students, helping them create their own projects and gain experiences in many ways,” says Khunnaphat Sangklom, Assumption Convent School’s Head of Student Affairs.
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Assumption Convent Schools encourage active learning through leadership, collaboration, and creativity. -
In an elementary science class, students use iPad to explore the mass of different fruits. -
Sister Françoise Jiranonda, Headmistress at Assumption Convent School, says iPad has helped students learn more, faster — while preserving culture and tradition.
Educators were able to start teaching with iPad quickly — even those who were apprehensive at first — because the intuitive interface made it easy to pick up, and free professional learning resources like Apple Teacher helped teachers build skills quickly. “At first, I honestly had doubts, wondering if I could really manage it,” shared Phun-orn Meesawong, a Thai language teacher at Assumption Convent Silom. “I was amazed to see that even young students could use iPad effectively. They were not difficult to use, and when I got my first iPad, I truly felt like, ‘This is my tool.’” She found that students showed greater interest and had more fun when she integrated iPad into her lessons, allowing her to progress through materials faster and to take learning further as well.
Students can create, innovate, and think critically. They can share, collaborate, and participate in groups. iPad helps them understand the lessons more easily — and they can take it anywhere.
iPad has helped deepen learning for students, Assumption Convent Silom’s English teacher, Marilou Manalili, explains. “We are bringing out the best from our students with creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking. And in the future, all of these activities will help them solve the problems that they might face.” Assumption Convent School’s Headmistress, Sister Françoise, agrees, “Introducing this technology to our schools has helped students learn more, and faster. We have seen drastic positive changes that benefit both teachers and students. There’s no change to our traditions or our culture — but we bring iPad to enhance it, making it better, faster, and more beautiful.”
