Technology @ HIS

 

• The G Suite for Education (formerly called Google Apps for Education)

• Email – Gmail for HIS
• Calendar – Google Calendar for HIS
• Drive – Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms for HIS
• Websites – Google Sites for HIS

• Reports – ManageBac (PYP, MYP & DP)

• Attendance – ManageBac (PYP, MYP & DP)

• Curriculum – ManageBac (PYP, MYP & DP)

• Library – HIS Follett Destiny

• Others include
• Brainpop, NewsELA, SeeSaw, NoodleTools and more

Harare International School has continually invested in technological infrastructure to help support staff, teachers and students in delivering the full IB curriculum. As a result the school has a wide range of hardware and software readily available to staff, teachers and students. The school also has two dedicated, high speed, fibre optic lines delivering over 60Mbps of bandwidth. These developments have opened up an incredible array of online, and offline, opportunities, to help assist with teaching and learning.

Just as importantly though, is to bridge the technology infrastructure to the curriculum being taught to our students. As such the school has a dedicated technology integration specialist who supports students, teachers and parents in getting the most out of the technology on offer.

Many projects have been enriched with students being able to talk to leading experts from around the world via Skype, collaborating using Google Docs on their devices, creating content through the use of video equipment, and so much more.

HIS is proud to have such a plethora of technology available to the school community, and view integration as key to the successful use of it all.

Elementary Each Elementary School (ES) teacher has a laptop, Apple TV and HD projector. Throughout the week they also have access to a fully equipped Mac lab and a dedicated cart of tablets (EC1 to Gr 2), or Chromebooks (Gr 3, 4 and 5)  that can be brought to the classroom as and when needed.

The Gr 3 to 5 students have access to the Google for Education accounts which enables them to work collaboratively, in real time, and access their work irrespective of the device they are using. Each year group makes use of this in unique ways.

The projects are becoming progressively diverse and complex and we are finding the next generation is increasingly IT literate and capable of more than we imagined. It’s important to lay a solid foundation within the ES and as the teachers continue to grow in confidence, with the rapidly changing technology, we are excited with what the students will be engaged in this school year.

Middle Years Program (MYP) students (Gr 6 to 10) have either a Chromebook (Gr 6, 7 & 8) or a MacBook laptop (Gr 9 & 10). Teachers materials are online and enable students to view videos, sites and other material outside the physical classroom. This means that when they attend class the teacher can focus on helping them apply what they have learned rather than using valuable time teaching theory.

High School teachers are taking the opportunity, wherever possible, to flip their classrooms as the opportunity to take advantage of a technology increases. For example, one teacher is providing online tutorials for her IB Film students. Once they have viewed their individualized tutorials, at their own pace, they use the screen capture facility in QuickTime to create their own videos on the concepts /skills learned, and then their peers review and comment for assessment.

Technology Professional Development is to help increase teacher, student, and parent skills and knowledge of existing technology – on campus as well as emerging educational technologies worldwide.

With these new skills and knowledge:

• Teachers will be able to integrate technology more effectively and efficiently into class lessons
• Students will be better equipped to demonstrate their learning and be self sufficient users of the tech made available to them
• Parents will be better prepared to support their children at home.

Technology Professional Development will be offered on a regular basis throughout the school year for teachers, students and parents. Please check back here regularly to find out what new training sessions are on offer and to find archives of previous presentations.

If you have any questions about Tech training please email helpdesk@his.ac.zw.

Teacher professional development focuses on learning how to use the tools that will enable them to be facilitators to our digital natives. Workshops are given on the multiple platforms that are available on campus. Teachers learn how to use many of the common and popular tech tools that can benefit them in their teaching endeavours as well as to contribute to student learning. During these sessions we also explore and discuss ways in which the technology can contribute to differentiation and self paced learning. In addition, teachers explore how these tools can contribute to approaches such as flipping the classroom, integrating social media, and embracing new technology. Becoming comfortable with a multitude of platforms prepares teachers to be able to now integrate the different technologies into the appropriate curriculums.

Students As digital natives students rarely need to be taught how to use the technology. Technology comes second nature to this generation. However, in a tech world filled with so many options, it is important for them to understand which tool best serves their purpose, and how to use it appropriately. Student trainings often focus on introducing new technology that is available to them at our institution, digital citizenship, and how to use the tech to maximize collaboration, critical thinking and creativity. Throughout the grades, students are able to explore the multiple platforms such as iMacs, iPads, and the Web. The Student PD instills the skills necessary to embrace new technology and find ways for it to be a beneficial tool in their learning process.

Parents As digital immigrants, many parents have a difficult time keeping up with all the developing technology that their children are using socially and in school. Parent trainings offers a way to bridge that technology gap by introducing popular and commonly used platforms, apps, and programs. We investigate how to operate the technology as well as discuss ways in which it is and can be integrated into education. By attending these workshops parents build a stronger foundation in understanding how technology can contribute to their child’s education. Ultimately, it provides the parents with the tools necessary to facilitate their digital natives education at home.