Information Communications Technology (ICT)
Some of the aspects relating to ICT at St. Simons are outlined below:
- 70 portable digital learning devices such as Chrome Books are now in use and will serve the students well during this year's online NAPLAN testing.
- 120 student iPads. These iPad Air devices are divided into 3 groups of 40. Each group is housed in a lockable trolley that also serves as a charging station. Classes can borrow baskets of 5 iPads at a time.
- Our Mac server manages the school iPads. Selected software is pushed out to the student iPads.
- Rollout of the smartphone school App - 'Skoolbag'. Our mobile application now boasts 886 users who are availing themselves to our increasing services : newsletters, alerts, canteen lists, uniform order forms, absence notification.
- CareMonkey App used for all student forms and updated medical needs of our students.
- Classroom all-in-one touch screen machines have been placed in the Library, Art room and Japanese room. These machines are running Windows 10 as their operating system to make best use of their touch screen capabilities.
- Year P-6 utilising a range of cyber safety resources at the commencement of the year to reinforce the online safety message. A range of resources have been used sequentially from P-6 to ensure engaged learning takes place around the area of responsible cyber citizenship.
- All Year 3-6 children have individual user names and passwords. This allows access to the school network as well as the internet. Attached to their login is an individual folder that follows them each year allowing for the collation of their digital resources. Login details and activity are tracked by the school administrator ensuring a high level of security is maintained.
- nRoll feature from the nForma suite which allows classroom teachers to record the attendance roll electronically. This attendance data is sent to the office daily and collated automatically for inclusion in the June and December reports. This program also allows for the collation of CEOM required data in a very simple manner. There is an App on staff iPads to help make this process even simpler.
- This year CareMonkey Parent/Teacher interview booking will run for the first time allowing easier access for parent community to make bookings with class teachers.
- The wifi capability of the school has been expanded to include all Buildings
- Google Apps for Education will soon be connected with the CEV ICON Project at our school. Currently this looks to be in place next year 2020.
- Critical evaluation of educational applications by teaching staff continues, ensuring quality software purchases for student learning and engagement.
- Technology is used in an Applied Science setting as demonstrated in our Senior Grade 5 Soccer project during Term 3 of 2018 and again this year with Nazareth College.