Apple computer case study

The digital media revolution is in full swing at St Ives North Public School NSW where students are producing their own news programmes through the Kid's News Network (KNN). KNN is an interactive, multimedia online platform that's available across the school-wide intranet. Using Apple's easy-to-use education solutions and with the school's commitment to using technology to support teaching and learning, students as young as ten are involved in creating media-rich news bulletins on everything from school sports results to current affairs.

KNN also features interactive elements such as opinion polls and competitions. Video content covers everything from reports on excursions to profiles of the 'class of the week'. Written reports encompass editorials, investigative pieces and reviews of web sites, games and even the software packages used at school.

Support from parents is highly valued, and a selection of students' work is published via the St Ives North web site to provide a window into the school's activities.

According to Nerida McCredie, the eLearning Coordinator at St Ives North Public School, 'KNN encourages students to share knowledge and ideas within their peer group and to have informed opinions. We set out to motivate the children to think constructively and engage with KNN.'

KNN is made possible through the integration of Apple technology throughout St Ives North. On the hardware side, an iMac server running Mac OS X hosts the school intranet, including both traditional educational resources and KNN. The server also handles video streaming for QuickTime movies published on the site.

Pods of computers are distributed throughout the school on the basis of six iMacs between every two classrooms. A further sixteen iMacs are located in the school's 'R&D Centre', which brings to 120 the total number of computers available.

On the software side, students use Apple software such as iMovie for digital video editing and AppleWorks for drawing and image manipulation, Claris HomePage for Web design and Microsoft Word for word processing.

Network links are Ethernet-based and a school-wide AirPort wireless network provides access for iBooks used in the classroom and for KNN editors working on their iBooks anywhere in the school. The AirPort network is also the primary source of connectivity in demountable buildings.

'We have demountable classrooms on campus and the AirPort network is the easiest way to connect them. KNN is for all St Ives North students to use, and we want them to be able to use it wherever they learn' explains McCredie.

'These children are the digital generation, so we have a great responsibility to make sure they're technology literate,' Ms MeCredie says. 'At St Ives North we aspire to take tech literacy a step beyond the research, gathering and organization of information. We encourage our pupils to respond to what they learn and contribute information back to the community.'

St Ives North Principal Warren Poole is a strong supporter of KNN. 'Technology should make education less passive and more active--that is the essence of KNN,' he says. 'Students in Grade 5 and 6 take complete responsibility for producing, administering and delivering network programming, including editing digital video and converting video files into QuickTime streaming format.'

St Ives North has over 620 pupils from Kindergarten to Grade 6. Being a KNN editor has quickly emerged as a prestigious position: when the call went out for new editors at the start of 2003, more than thirty students from Year 5 applied for the eight positions available.

Although there are only a limited number of editors, the whole school is involved. The KNN editors store work-in-progress in shared folders on the server, and a network drop-box allows any pupil to contribute content. Individual initiatives such as Tom's Technology Tips--the personal project of a single boy--are warmly welcomed.

'We try to give everyone a chance to be involved, so pupils who don't become editors are invited to help out as camera operators or photographers and the whole school is a network of freelance reporters who can write stories to be published on KNN,' Ms McCredie explains.

'KNN encourages students to share knowledge and ideas within their peer group and to have informed opinions. We set out to motivate the children to think constructively and engage with KNN.'

'Participating in KNN really builds up students' confidence, and we want everyone to share in that opportunity', says Ms McCredie.

St Ives North's pioneering work with KNN has been recognized at a number of education conferences. Pupils gave up time during school holidays to present to the NSW Computer Education Group conference at Homebush in 2002, while another group spoke at the Innovation Technology Schools Conference 2003 in Wollongong. The KNN kids encouraged teachers and students in the international audience to set up similar initiatives in their schools. McCredie concludes,

The fact that St Ives North students are confident enough to present KNN before adult audiences speaks volumes for the skills and self-assurance this type of education fosters. Apple education technology is the cornerstone of KNN and we believe this active, engaged approach is the best way to use technology for maximum educational benefit.

For further information about Apple education solutions, please see www.apple.com.au/education.

To help educalors profit from the experience of their peers, Australian Screen Education is introducing a regular new feature on the use of Apple computer technology in education.

Each edition will profile how individual schools and educators around Australia are using Apple technology to prepare students for the digital future. Every story will provide great ideas and helpful technical tips, as weft as recognizing excellence in education.

The one safe assumption about the future is that today's children will be surrounded by digital media in every aspect of their lives. To ensure they're prepared for that future, educators need to equip students with the proper skills. That requires forward-looking technology offering the very latest in digital media.

Australian Screen Education