Premier’s Macquarie Capital Science Scholarship
How the introduction of student laptops has changed the way we teach and learn science
Catherine Munro
Nowra High School
Sponsored by:
Introduction
In August 2008, twenty two and a half million dollars was allocated over four years as part of the DER[1], to develop ICT infrastructure, resources, and teacher training to prepare Australian students for a digital world. I undertook a Premier’s Macquarie Capital Science Scholarship study tour in 2010 to visit schools and districts that are recognised internationally for their successful ICT programs and in particular, their use of 1:1 laptop programs in teaching Science.
Study focus
I identified four components that may affect the overall success of 1:1 laptop programs in the schools.
1. The effectiveness of teacher support and training in the form of professional development, and willingness of teachers to utilise these resources.
2. ICT provisions in Science laboratories supporting efficient and effective use of laptops during class.
3. School provision of laptops versus students’ own laptops.
4. Provision of a customised model for online learning.
Significant learning
A. USA districts, overview of ICT and laptop programs
A great emphasis is placed on professional development and ICT support for teachers at District level. Early retirement packages offered to teachers close to 30 years of service (to cut staffing budgets), have resulted in younger staff who adapt to using laptops, ICT and relevant software easily. Funding for schools and resources, including textbooks, all ICT resources and professional Development is provided at District level and supported by State Initiatives. Only staffing costs and consumables are budgeted for by the Schools.
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) has led to close monitoring of student performances through National Testing Programs, identifying areas of weakness in student learning, including an increase in the use of online tutorial programs for student self-directed improvement. Results of the NCLB tests are published on the District websites. From these, schools and Districts are graded. If a school is graded D or F, students in that District have government support to go to another school of their choice. National standards are in place for Mathematics and are currently being developed for Science.
New York District of Education (NYDOC), District 5.
I visited two schools in the Bronx area, The Renaissance Leadership Academy(Grades 5-8), and Washington High Expeditionary Learning School(Grades 5-12) accompanied by ePAL founder, Tim Discipio. ePAL is an online learning space, with project sharing capabilities, like a modern pen-pal. The NYDOC has recently adopted ePAL for its online learning space, which has Microsoft programs and ‘Web apps’ incorporated.
All classrooms have a Smartboard, an elmo(document camera) and access to a cart of Dell laptops. A range of software is incorporated for curriculum support and national testing preparation. Both schools also have a high percentage of students with Hispanic background, and thus a well established ESL (English as a second language) unit.
The District subscribes to curricula programs using online tools to prepare students for the New York State Test Proficiency (NYSTP). These include the ‘Maths Ready’ and ‘Super Scholar’ Program. Students work independently on improving areas of weakness identified through pre-testing, moving towards a satisfactory level of achievement. Both schools have an extended day program, and there are also a weekend (Sat 9-1) and Summer program at The Renaissance Academy. Student collaborative project work is fulfilled through these avenues, with students being given the resources they need, that they may not have at home.
The Washington High Expeditionary Learning School is partnered with the Expeditionary Learning Schools Network[2](LSN), which develops the school learning model. The Principal, Brett Kimmel, and faculty members participate in at least 10-15 days of professional development every year to develop the ELS program. School “coaches” visit to promote growth and improvement in planning curriculum, professional practice and follow up debriefing.
This is similar to the Peer Coaching[3] program currently being initiated in NSW DEC[4] whereby senior students are encouraged to bring their own laptops, whilst computer laboratories and portable Interactive Whiteboards are used to assist learning.
Pennsylvania State Department of Education (PSDOE)
As part of the Classrooms for the Future Initiative by the PSDOE, each class had an Interactive Whiteboard, with teachers using Smart notebook or Promethean software. Carts of laptops were issued to all secondary schools classes, and teachers are required to complete 30 hours of online professional development per year.
West Chester District of Education
Dr June Garwin, Director of Information Technology is the supervisor of K-12 Information Technology for the West Chester Area School District, a suburban school region about 30 miles west of Philadelphia, consisting of three High Schools (9-12), three Middle Schools (6-8)and ten Elementary Schools (K-5), that service about 12,000 students.
Netbooks are made available to all 10th grade students in the region through a contract system now in its second year. Computers are used in the Middle Schools in STEM[5] courses, in various ways, depending on the teacher and can be shut down by the teachers. The Science program in the Elementary Schools is new this year, but teachers are very enthusiastic about the hands-on approach. Students in the Elementary schools have carts of Macbooks, along with 2-3 stand alone Mac Computers in each classroom. Computer Science courses for all Middle School students are compulsory for students in Grades 9-12.
a) East High School
During my visit I met Laura Mendell, a Science teacher with a class comprising students from Grades 10-12. One of Laura’s favourite sites for resources is Kahn Academy.
When I talked to students about how they were using laptops in class, they said their teachers mainly focussed on Microsoft applications. Students who did not have their laptops, resorted to using those in the room. It took some time for students to get started due to time spent booting up the laptops.
The students are used to working in groups and had no problems in moving desks to sit four in a group facing each other. They were given a handout, and asked to research a topic of interest in relation to data analysis that could be graphed. The students worked happily, developing their data and presenting it effectively.
b)Fern Hill Elementary School
Pamela DiBartolomeo, an Instructional Coach, escorted me around Fern Hill Elementary School where classes are equipped with an Interactive Whiteboard, Document and Flip cameras.
Sharon Deans, whom I observed using a range of ICT with Year 5, had only used an overhead projector until this year. Her room was set up with a tripod and flip camera, for filming at any time.
Assessments
PSSA: Pennsylvania State Standard Assessment: provides state wide testing to monitor students using benchmarks (can/cannot do). Study Island is a Pennsylvania State Initiative that supports students once areas of weakness have been identified providing an online revision program.
Philadelphia district
The Science Leadership Academy(SLA)
Inquiry driven, project-based curricula, school based core values and ‘backward design’
The Science Leadership Academy (SLA) is a magnet[6] selective school that catering for high achieving students. It is an inquiry-driven, project-based 21st Century school with a 1:1 laptop program.
“we are special” I am saying we are unique in that not many other schools are combining 1:1 laptop programs with project based learning.
Marcie T. Hull[7]
The Science Leadership Academy was created in partnership with The Franklin Institute, providing financial and educational support. One of the keys to SLA success lies in the curriculum plan, lead by founding Principal, Chris Lehmann, who planned the curriculum using a “backward design process”.
The key to backward design is that the teacher asks, “What are the enduring understandings students should have when they leave this class?” Teachers then create projects that can only be completed by showing both the skills and knowledge deemed to be critical to master the subject and demonstrate deep understanding.
At SLA, there may be multiple assessments, but the primary assessment of student learning is through their projects. The final component of what makes SLA classes different is the 1:1 laptop environment. Textbooks are sometimes used, but teachers usually want students to search for answers outside the confinement of a single source. Classes at SLA often take the form of students working with one another in small groups with their laptops open.
I observed a science project in progress, in which students were collaborating with the graphics art department, on a Periodic Table Printmaking Project.
The core values of inquiry, research, collaboration, presentation and reflection are emphasized in all classes. The timetable at SLA allows 70 minute lessons to allow for more science laboratory work and performance-based learning.
When students arrive in Grade 9 they are issued with a Macbook computer, and trained for six months in computing skills such as blogging, excel, imovie and Finalcut Pro creating the capacity for students to incorporate a world of knowledge into their projects.
Professional development
Teachers are provided with ongoing training one afternoon a week, whilst students are working on their internship.
On my wiki,[8] you can see footage of a typical Mathematics class, where students are researching the correlation between SEAT scores and the level of academic achievement in families. Students in the upper grades have more flexible schedules to allow opportunities for dual-enrolment at local Universities and career development internships in laboratory and business settings.
Orlando district, Florida
There are over 12000 students in the Orlando District, the biggest District in Florida There are 125 Elementary Schools, 37 Middle Schools and 19 High Schools, (not including Charter Schools.)[9] with State driven testing in English, Science and Mathematics. Currently state wide standards in Science are adhered to via Curriculum Essential Labs on the Orlando District website.
Technology for the district
All School Leaders are given an itouch, an ipad and access to the App-Teachscape, for reviewing progress. Standard fittings for all classrooms include a document camera, 15 new Macbook computers in addition to the 15 touch HP laptops that are already provided, an interactive whiteboard, data projector, Pasco Sparks Probeware(for virtual manipulations), a microphone and surround speaker systems, to ensure everyone hears equally, and teachers voices are not strained. In Middle School, 10 ipads have also recently been supplied and students are given free WiFi access, although internet privileges can be revoked if students do not adhere to the technology policy.
Teachers complete 120 hours of online training over five years. Initially, there is a three year accreditation process that involved approximately 50 hours per year with follow up review several weeks later. There is no You Tube access for teachers. The Leading Education Committee, LEC[10] provides guidelines and links to resources for all units at the Orlando District website.
Miss Mariel Milano, STEM Engineering Science Consultant, escorted me as I participated in:
· Day 1: Leadership Expo for LEC and leaders (Principals/Deputy Principals) of all schools the District. The three day expo focused on teaching literacy in the 21Century
· Day 2: A workshop with Biology teachers in the District to develop resources for project styled learning. Participants were given an ipad2, a recording headset, and Inspiration software.
a) Oocee Middle School
During my visit I was able to observe a Year 6 Middle School Biology class with their teacher, Mr Milton Mariana, a specialist Biologist teacher, who only teaches that course throughout the year within the Middle School. Year 6 study Biology, Year 7, Earth Science and Year 8, Chemistry. Common Board Configurations are used at the front of each class, outlining the lesson standard being addressed that day. The need for these came from high student mobility in the district.
The students were using Brain Pop software to research Animal Kingdoms and classification levels using laptops. Milton used his microphone that could be equally heard by all students. Lessons are 45 minutes in most schools, although many schools allocate double lessons for Science.
b) Apopka High School
Mrs Harris’ Biology class was studying Genetics and Inheritance and the same lesson will be delivered to three other Senior Biology classes. One textbook is chosen by the District for all Biology classes and it comes with an e-version, online lessons, worksheets, and formative testing materials. Mrs Harris uses the Curriculum Essential Labs to meet the Standards for the Biology course in the State of Florida.[11]These are similar layout to the knowledge and skills outcomes in the NSW Board of Studies Syllabuses.
Mrs Harris teaching Biology
Mariel Milano signs in at Apopka High School
Hawaiian district
Hawaiian Technology Academy (HTA)
HTA is a Public Charter School, with 250 students in Grades K-10. All students have the internet access, and are given a MacBook. A customised learning model, K-12.com curriculum company(used in 17 countries), has been adopted. Each student has a monthly plan. Discovery education supplemental, are also used as a back up to make sure all standards in all curricula areas are met. Hank Rogers, creator of Tetra games, has assisted HTA in developing virtual world models for student project based learning.
Due to online delivery, teachers have up to 100 students enrolled in a class, although they may have only 12 students may present physically in the classroom -it is up to student to decide mode of delivery.
Technology software
EIlluminate software is used to provide online content (basically the same as Skype with a virtual whiteboard), allowing images and content to be shared. Classes are recorded so they can be repeated at other times. Teachers use Google Docs , Sketchup and Robotics. To date, the school has outperformed other schools in Hawaii.
B. What is happening in Australia!
Government education in Australia
In conjunction with the DER program, most schools have independently developed their own online Moodle Sites, as a means of presenting, and collecting student activities. State Initiatives, like the NSW DER Team support schools regionally through online courses, video conferences and the establishment of peer coaching. ACARA has commenced the development of K–10 syllabuses for English, Mathematics, Science and History, in consultation with the NSW Board of Studies and other states for implementation in 2013
Catholic education
All in together, 200 students in one room!
Greg Whitby, Executive Director in the Catholic diocese of Parramatta, has oversight for 78 schools educating 42,000 students. He hopes to close the last classroom within five years, transitioning to ''agile learning areas'', open-plan rooms where much larger groups, sometimes even the whole school - learn in one area.