Junior School Technology

Junior School Technology By Mr Peter Nicholls, Year 2 Teacher

Studies have shown that children between the ages of six to 12 actively learn on

a device between two to three times a week. That does not include the time spent on a device where children learn through guided teaching.

Toowoomba Grammar School staff are highly proficient in helping guide our boys to use their time on devices in a structured, monitored, and effective way. Screen time has increased during COVID, and students spending more time on a device could be detrimental to their overall learning if not used effectively.

To combat this, TGS has a multitude of educational subscriptions to help extend the children’s learning, both inside and beyond the classroom. This allows for a scaffolded learning structure where lessons taught in class can be effectively followed up directly afterwards or at home. Teachers can also assess students’ prior knowledge based on practical tests to see the child’s comprehension level before they embark on the lesson. Teachers can track each student’s progress while still monitoring the whole class. These tools are also immensely effective in collaborative teaching between different classes and school grades.

It is not just paid tools that are effective for learning. A student with the independent ability to selfresearch topics of interest can open a doorway to creativity and broad thinking. Explicit classroom teaching can be complemented by a student’s self-learning. For example, learning about the different lifecycles of animals can be enhanced through active research once a boy has received initial instruction in the classroom. Students can document their investigations through Teams or OneNote and upload their work for the teacher to view. Then, students can have their work printed out to present as their own creation, cementing their understanding of the topic. Being able to task the children quizzes through Kahoot is another fun and effective assessment method for the whole class, built on the boys’ drive and competitive spirit.

TGS offers learning experiences even outside the classroom. The Junior School provides an afternoon club that teaches basic coding through to robotic-based activities. This course caters for different levels (Prep to Year 6) at different times of the year. The children see it as a fun afternoon playing on the computer or with toys connected to their laptops. However, being able to drag and drop code is a fundamental skill needed for future coding. The children can share skills while supporting and further growing their own abilities and knowledge.

Facilitating all these forms of learning is a key goal of the TGS Strategic Plan, “Adopt technology and innovative pedagogy to transform learning outcomes.” We hope to mould effective learners who will easily adapt to Senior School education and the transition to the workplace. We know we are preparing students for jobs that have not yet been created!

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about the Junior School Academic Program at TGS