Macgregor Primary School has wireless Internet architecture across the school. Students are exposed to a wide range of connected electronic devices such as chromebooks and ipads. We believe that ICT should be integrated as a learning tool within all learning areas, and to facilitate this, specific ICT skills are explicitly taught. This is done with individual children, within classrooms, within small groups, within the STEAM activities or within the school's library. Students build their ICT skills through targeted skills (needs) based instruction occurring on a regular basis.
In the Australian Curriculum, students develop ICT capability as they learn to use ICT effectively and appropriately to access, create and communicate information and ideas, solve problems and work collaboratively in all learning areas at school, and in their lives beyond school. The capability involves students in learning to make the most of the digital technologies available to them, adapting to new ways of doing things as technologies evolve and limiting the risks to themselves and others in a digital environment.
Macgregor students from Preschool to Year 6 participate in activities that assist in the development of their ability to:
- use computer based technologies to locate, access, evaluate, manipulate, create, store and retrieve information
- express ideas and communicate with others, using computer based technologies
- develop an awareness of the range of applications of computer based technologies in society
- discriminate in the choice of computer based technologies for a given purpose.
ICT resources in 2021
- Preschool to Year 2 students have access to 1:1 ipads
- Years 1 to 4 students have access to 1:1 Chromebooks
- Years 5 to 6 students have personally allocated Chromebooks
- Every classroom space or learning space has an Interactive Whiteboard or touch screen digital TV
- A range of software applications and online tools are accessed to support learning programs
Cybersafety at Macgregor Primary School
Teachers, along with families, play an important role in preparing students by bringing a greater understanding and awareness of safe online behaviours. Macgregor teachers and school staff are supported with Professional Learning to develop their understanding of current eSafety messaging and compliance.
Macgregor Primary School students learn about eSafety and develop their skills as mature digital citizens. They practise their communication and information gathering skills within a secure environment – while still accessing information required for learning in today's world. So, whether it's working or communicating online, children should feel safe and comfortable.
In addition, every term 'ThinkUKnow' provides a presentation for students in Years 5 and 6. ThinkUKnow is a free, evidence-based cyber safety program that provides presentations to Australian parents, carers and teachers and students. It provides information on the technologies young people use, the challenges they may face, and importantly, how they can be overcome. Presentations are delivered face to face or digitally. The presentations cover topics such as social media reputation management, cyberbullying, ‘sexting’, online grooming, online gaming, inappropriate content, privacy management, identity theft, how to protect your devices, and how to report matters when things go wrong.