Information Communications Technology

Firbank has a strong record in understanding the potential of applying technology to enhance students’ learning.

The School has an extensive cabled and wireless network which enables on-line delivery of curriculum. PC and Mac ‘laboratories’, ‘class sets’ of laptops, interactive whiteboards, a Music Mac Laboratory, a Media/AV Studio and networked computers give all students ready access to industry standard software and programs. The School is committed to cloud computing and students can access their files from any location at any time. The video conferencing facility on each campus encourages interactivity and connectivity on a local and global scale.

This multi-dimensional environment ensures that all students develop confidence and competence in using technology in all subjects.

The school has installed interactive whiteboards in all classrooms from ELC to Year 12. Interactive Whiteboards provide a dynamic tool for teaching in a multi-media rich environment. While much of the focus has been on using Information Communication Technologies to enhance learning, interactive whiteboards bring the focus back to enhancing teaching, helping teachers to do better what they already do well.

Interactive whiteboards lead to more substantive conversations in the classroom and higher order thinking and enable students to make powerful connections with prior learning.

Teaching takes place in various learning spaces and the use of mobile devices such as mobile phones, iPods and iPads and digital cameras is encouraged.

Firbank has a strong focus on guiding students to become good digital citizens. Clear guidelines and programs are established to address the issue of on-line citizenship. The key messages of these programs are reinforced by visiting experts. The School is currently involved in a 360 degree digital citizenship project involving participation by parents, students and staff.

The School has a detailed Strategic Plan for the use of Information Communication Technologies 2011 – 2013. We are committed to:

providing learning experiences which are not bound by time, space or traditional pedagogy
providing students with more differentiated learning experiences
developing 21st century skills: creativity and innovation, communication and collaboration, research and information fluency, critical thinking, problem solving and decision making

The implementation of the Plan is supported by extensive professional learning opportunities for staff including attendance at conferences and school visits, overseas and interstate. The Firbank, Learning & Innovation Centre (FLIC), situated on the Senior School campus, also provides many professional learning opportunities for our staff.

Following extensive iPad trials during 2011 to investigate what role the iPad might play in the educational program of the School, the decision was made to introduce iPads for all Year 7 and Year 8 students in the Senior School. Sets of iPads are also available for use by classes in our Junior Schools. The use of iPads has opened up many new opportunities to enhance both teaching and learning. In addition, various subject disciplines are preparing virtual and on-line units of work to extend and support face-to-face teaching and offer alternate ways to deliver courses.

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