Emerging Technologies Trials Grants
The following projects, awarded the Emerging Technologies Trials grants, will trial the effectiveness of ICT to enhance the delivery of current curriculum or develop a novel way of improving student outcomes.
Toward a sustainable Robotics Program (Sale Rural Schools Cluster: Airly, Bundalaguah, Cobains, Cowwarr, Loch Sport, Nambrok-Denison, Seaspray and Wurruk Primary Schools)
Senior students from a cluster of rural schools will be using robotics kits to participate in an on-line collaborative project to enhance their problem-solving skills.
Technologies used: robotics kits (LEGO Mindstorms), web cams, laptops, microphones, Bluetooth
Subject (VELS Domain): Interpersonal, Communication, Personal learning; Design creativity & technology; ICT
Year Level: 5-6
Contact: Brenda Talbot (airly.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au)
Creating our very own Radio Program that can be shared with all (Amsleigh Park Primary)
This project encompasses creating a radio program for Amsleigh Park Primary school, school community and homes within the local area.)
Technologies used: computers, software (ACID Pro and Super Dooper Music Looper), microphones, headphones, mixers, aerials, low frequency transmitter
radios, MP3 players.
Subject (VELS Domain): English, Performing Arts, ICT
Year Level: P-6
Contact: Frank Catalano (catalano.frank.f@edumail.vic.gov.au)
Our citizens, our community, our business. (Bairnsdale Secondary College)
Students will conduct interviews with local residents, create the podcasts and vodcasts and share them amongst the Year 7 cohort via an educational wikispace that can be accessed both in and out of school. Discussion boards will be used by students to explore and discuss issues arising from the interviews, including their attitudes and opinions, as well as their experience in using the emerging technologies.
Technologies used: podcasts, vodcasts, wikis, discussion boards, multi-media software (Audacity, PhotoStory3, PowerPoint, MovieMaker)
Subject (VELS Domain): Civics & Citizenship Level 5, Economics Level 5, ICT Level 5
Year Level: 7
Contact: Sheryl Carnie (carnie.sheryl.m@edumail.vic.gov.au)
Interactive Wireless Classroom (IWC) (Baranduda Primary School)
After using the Interwrite interactive whiteboards for a year, the Baranduda Primary School teachers and students are now ready to trial a wireless classroom which will allow a new level of interactivity in digital learning to be applied across all learning areas.
Technologies used: Interwrite Pads, Interwrite Personal Response System (PRS) infrared; Interwrite PRS software
Subject (VELS Domain): Interdisciplinary Learning: Communication, ICT;
Disciplined based learning: English (Reading & Writing), Mathematics, Humanities
Social Learning: team work
Year Level: P-6
Contact: Angela Gray (gray.angela.j@edumail.vic.gov.au)
‘Canstruction’ - 3D modelling and digital animation (Knox Northwest Cluster of Schools: Bayswater Primary School, Bayswater West Primary, Boronia West Primary, Bayswater Secondary College)
Students and teachers will be working with professional engineers to design and create 3D virtual representations and build scale models of famous monuments and buildings using full cans of food.
This project will allow students, teachers and community experts to work together in a collaborative, constructivist learning community to deeply explore mathematical and scientific principles and apply this new learning to a real life project.
Technologies used: 3D modelling software (Google Sketchup) and Animation programs (MovieMaker).
Subject (VELS Domain): Mathematics
Year Level: 5-6
Contact: Peter deWacht (dewacht.peter.w@edumail.vic.gov.au)
Blogging our Curriculum Vitaes (Belvoir Special School)
This project aims to use new technologies to enhance the learning of students by providing alternative programmes and giving students with low literacy levels opportunities to achieve their VCAL goals.
Students will create a blog that will become an online curriculum vitae, presenting a collection of their achievements and showcasing their best work to potential employers.
Technologies used: Acer EPC's, audio and visual recording devices.
Subject (VELS Domain): VCAL (Foundation), all strands - Work Related Skills; Personal Development Skills (team work, planning and organising); accomplishments in Outdoor and Environment Studies; achieving learning outcomes in Information Technology and literacy.
Year Level: 10-12
Contact: Julie Elizabeth Boyd (boyd.julie.e@edumail.vic.gov.au)
Using Visual Media for Movement Analysis (Bendigo Senior Secondary College)
Students will use flip videos to capture their own movements and then share these video captions via a wiki for biomechanical analysis and collaborative evaluation of their performance.
Technologies used: Flip Videos
Subject (VELS Domain): VCE Physical Education, VCE Physics
Year Level: 11-12
Contact: Meredith Fettling (fettling.meredith@bssc.edu.au)
My Alpine Story (Bogong Outdoor Education Centre BOEC)
Students will be creating a series of vodcasts and developing a variety of ‘digital reflection’ projects to express their connection and understanding of the Alpine Environment and to share their learnings with peers and parents.
Technologies used: Google Earth, web browser, iMovie, digital camera, GPS, Filemaker pro, iWeb, interactive whiteboards, digital projectors.
Subject (VELS Domain): Communication, ICT, The Humanities- Geography, Interpersonal Development, and Health and Physical Education.
Year Level: 9-10
Contact: Tim Esnouf (esnouf.timothy.t@edumail.vic.gov.au)
How an interactive response system can be used in an Early Years classroom to improve teaching and student engagement. (Coral Park Primary School)
The project will investigate how using an interactive voting system in an Early Years classroom affects student engagement and teacher’s assessment. It will also look at how teacher’s assessment can then be used to improve planning and teaching.
Technologies used: Quizdom response system
Subject (VELS Domain): Interpersonal Development, Personal Learning, English, Maths, ICT
Year Level: P-2
Contact: Kellie Knox (knox.kellie.m@edumail.vic.gov.au)
TaskMagic - an interactive learning tool (Croydon Secondary College)
In this project, interactive authoring tools will be used to make the classroom more interactive and engaging in order to improve student motivation and boost their confidence in the subject areas that it is used.
Technologies used: TaskMagic authoring tools, headphones
Subject (VELS Domain): LOTE/German, English, ESL, Humanities, Science, Health and PE, Music.
Year Level: 7-12
Contact: Celeste Acfield (acfield.celeste.c@edumail.vic.gov.au)
Interactive language classroom (Croydon Secondary College)
The aim of this project is to encourage and engage more students in the LOTE classroom through ICT based tasks.
Technologies used: video conferences, multimedia language samples, films, photos, PowerPoint presentations, data projector
Subject (VELS Domain): LOTE/German, English, Health
Year Level: 7-12
Contact: Tobias Bockholt (bockholt.tobias.t@edumail.vic.gov.au)
Lab in a box (Croydon Secondary College)
Yarra Valley eLearning Community (YVeLC) science students will upload edited videos of their science experiments to a central blog and invite and respond to comments from the community.
Technologies used: digital video cameras, web streaming, blogging
Subject (VELS Domain): Science
Year Level: 7-10
Contact: Brett Groves (groves.brett.g@edumail.vic.gov.au)
Bringing Life Long Learning To Life (Drouin Primary School)
This project will create the opportunity for staff and parents to learn together and to develop skills in ICT through targeted professional development and out of hours sessions that would then be passed on and supported in their students.
Technologies used: electronic whiteboards, data projectors, computer / laptops
Subject (VELS Domain): Design, Creativity and Technology; Humanities, Science, Civic and Citizenship, Personal Learning, English and Mathematics
Year Level: P-6
Contact: Lyn Keating (bockholt.tobias.t@edumail.vic.gov.au)
Palaygo Mail Plus for secondary school students (Elwood College)
This project focuses on the concept of social networking for young people in Australia and Japan and allows intercultural and language learning in more interactive way.
Technologies used: Palaygo Mail Plus program, Computers, Internet.
Subject (VELS Domain): LOTE/Japanese
Year Level: 7-9
Contact: Hiroki Kurihara (kurihara.hiroki.h@edumail.vic.gov.au)
‘Podogogy’ – using portable media players to support learning (Fountain Gate Primary School)
The project explores new and innovative ways to support, foster and motivate students from Language Background Other Than English (LBOTE) who are starting school with below-expected language skills.
Portable media players will be used to give students greater access to quality audio/video language resources and the opportunity for their learning to continue outside of school hours.
Technologies used: portable media players, Clicker software
Subject (VELS Domain): Strand: Discipline-based learning; Domain: English; Dimensions: Reading, Speaking and Listening
Year Level: P-2 (target); 3-6 (if resources allow)
Contact: Wendy Worrell (worrell.wendy.j@edumail.vic.gov.au)
Launching ICT into Specialist Domains (Glen Iris Primary)
Specialist teachers will be using ICT in and outside the regular classroom environment to support their teaching and student learning that makes specialist sessions relevant and linked with classroom activities.
Technologies used: Mac laptop computers, microphones, digital blue cameras, video camera
Subject (VELS Domain): LOTE/French, Arts, PE
Year Level: 5-6
Contact: Nicole Vargo (vargo.nicole.n@edumail.vic.gov.au)
TechnoChinese - taking LOTE outside the classroom (Hawkesdale P12 College)
This project uses Web 2.0 and mobile technologies to enhance the teaching of LOTE Chinese and to enable students to learn on demand.
Technologies used: networking communities, mobile phones, wikis, blogs, podcasts, video, iPods, mp3 players
Subject (VELS Domain): LOTE/Chinese, ICT; Personal Learning - Organisation
Year Level: 8-11, 6-7 (extension)
Contact: Jessica McCulloch (mcculloch.jessica.l@edumail.vic.gov.au)
A hop, skip and a jump across the globe! (Kew Primary School)
This project will provide students with the opportunity to communicate and collaborate with students of a similar age from a London school using Web 2 technologies.
Technologies used: Podcast, vodcast, blog
Subject (VELS Domain): Interpersonal Development; The Arts; English;The Humanities; Communication; Design, Creativity and Technology; ICT; Thinking Processes with possible extension to Mathematics and Science.
Year Level: 3-6
Contact: Karlie Noden (noden.karlie.k@edumail.vic.gov.au)
The Koorlong Primary School Interactive Website (Koorlong Primary School)
The main aim of the project is to ensure interaction between the students and the school community through the publication of student work on the school’s blog.
Technologies used: Internet, Interactive Whiteboards, digital camera, scanner,
PowerPoint, WordPress publishing platform, blog
Subject (VELS Domain): All Domains
Year Level: P-6
Contact: Ian McMahon (mcmahon.ian.ir@edumail.vic.gov.au)
Maximising the use of Interactive Whiteboards in a Specialist Setting (Latrobe Special Developmental School)
In this project, adaptive technologies will be trialled to give students opportunities to access programs and software currently utilised in the school.
Technologies used: Interactive whiteboards, intellikeys, switches, scanners.
Subject (VELS Domain): Information and Communication Technologies.
The use of ICT is integrated into most learning domains, especially English and mathematics.
Year Level: P–12
Contact: Nicole Ball (herbert.nicole.l@edumail.vic.gov.au)
Engaging Individual Learners with iPods (Leopold Primary School)
This project will focus on developing strategies to integrate iPod Touch as a new learning tool into the classroom curriculum to make it more exciting, personalised and innovative and to empower students to learn at their own pace.
Technologies used: iPod Touch, computers, digital cameras, digital video cameras, data projectors, Internet
Subject (VELS Domain): All curriculum areas particularly English, Humanities and ICT
Year Level: 3-4
Contact: Kathleen McGeady (mcgeady.kathleen.a@edumail.vic.gov.au), Anne Wescott (wescott.anne.e@edumail.vic.gov.au)
Reptiles Online (Lilydale High School)
By providing real time web cam images of the animals’ behaviour and data from the animals, this project will give students opportunity to access information and to learn more about some of Australia’s unique wildlife.
Technologies used: web cams, data loggers, web site software, computers set up in the reptile room for data logging.
Subject (VELS Domain): Science, Mathematics
Year Level: 7-10
Contact: Marcus Whitby (whitby.marcus.h@edumail.vic.gov.au)
New Spaces for Learning: Developing Digital Literacy through a Web-based technology across two schools and student home communities ( Meadowbank Primary and Campmeadows Primary Schools - merging)
The aim of the project is to baseline student digital literacy levels and track the impact of various school-home based strategies across the two schools on digital literacy development and teaching / learning practices.
Technologies used: web-based Digital Excellence application, School and student/family home computers
Subject (VELS Domain): Cross-curricular
Year Level: P-6
Contact: Robert Greenacre (greenacre.robert.r@edumail.vic.gov.au)
E-books in education – Books aren’t dead they are just going digital! (Melbourne High School)
The aim of the project is to ascertain to what extent e-books can be a powerful and effective learning tool for students which will personalise their learning.
Technologies used: e-books and e-readers (Kindle, Sony Portable Reader or iTouch)
Subject (VELS domain): Physical, personal and social learning: Personal learning; Discipline based learning: English (Reading; Speaking and listening), History (Historical knowledge and understanding; Historical reasoning and interpretation); Interdisciplinary Strand: Communication, Design, Creativity and Technology, ICT, Thinking processes
Year Level: 9-10
Contact: Dianne Ruffles (dianne.ruffles@mhs.vic.edu.au)
Personalising Numeracy through Emerging Technologies (Mooroopna Park Primary School)
This project will provide teachers with the opportunity to deliver a personalised approach to numeracy instruction, engaging students with information and communication technologies.
Technologies used: Interactive Whiteboard, workstations, Digital Learning Objects, Nelson Victoria Teaching Objects, Easiteach, Maths 300, Targeting Maths, school Intranet
Subject (VELS Domain): Mathematics – Number, Space, Measurement Chance & Data, Structure, Working Mathematically.
Year Level: 4-6
Contact: Kirsten Dickins (dickins.kirsten.j@edumail.vic.gov.au)
Developing digital curriculum to be delivered on our Interactive Whiteboards. (Mount Beauty Primary School)
The aim of this project is to create and develop digital curriculum for the Interactive White Boards to engage students in their learning and allow teachers to use digital assessment and feedback tools.
Technologies used: School laptops, digital cameras, Interactive Whiteboards and Quizdom.
Subject (VELS Domain): English, Mathematics, Science
Year Level: P-6
Contact: Tony Keeble (keeble.anthony.j@edumail.vic.gov.au)
Using collaborative tools for literature circles (Ranfurly Primary School)
The aim of this project is for students to run their “Literature Circles” and discuss books that they are reading with students from other schools using online conferencing tools.
Technologies used: Skype, Communicator, Elluminate or other conferencing tools
Subject (VELS Domain): English – Reading, Speaking and listening
ICT for communication
Year Level: 5-6
Contact: Louise Gum (gum.louise.lm@edumail.vic.gov.au)
To actively engage Year 7 and 8 students with 21st century learning tools. (Ringwood Secondary College)
In this project, students will create podcasts and blogs based around the texts studied within the subject of English throughout the year.
Technologies used: IPod Touch
Subject (VELS Domain): English, ICT, Interpersonal Development,
Communication, Thinking Processes, Personal Learning, Civics and Citizenship
Year Level: 7-8
Contact: Clare Rafferty (cr@ringwoodsc.vic.edu.au)
Making connections (Roxburgh Rise Primary School)
In collaboration with members of the local community, a group of students will produce a short documentary about the effects of vandalism and its repercussions on the community.
Technologies used: digital cameras: still photography & video footage; laptop computers, microphones, computer programs: Kidspiration (planning),Vegas Movie Maker, Acid Music Maker
Subject (VELS Domain): Civics and Citizenship, The Arts, English, Geography, Maths, Design, creativity & Technology, ICT; Interpersonal Development, Thinking Processes, Communication
Year Level: 5-6
Contact: Lili Arganaraz (arganaraz.liliana.f@edumail.vic.gov.au)
Using Web based technology for Student Exhibitions (Sunbury Primary)
In this project, a Web based program (iWeb) will be used to create Student Exhibitions, including Digital Portfolios and Roundtables, as individual performance based assessment to provide a management tool for teachers and students when filing assessment evidence.
Technologies used: Digital cameras for still and video footage; built in iSight and microphones in MacBooks and iMacs, iWeb and the iLife suite of Mac software including iMovie, iDVD, iPhoto, Photo Booth, iStop Motion, Word, Excel spreadsheets, drawing tools
Subject (VELS Domain): Personal & Interpersonal Learning, ICT, English, Mathematics, Science, Communication and Design, Civics & Citizenship, Thinking, Performing and Visual Arts
Year Level: 1-6
Contact: Iain Sparrey (Sparrey.iain.i@edumail.vic.gov.au), Marie de Prada (De.prada.marie.t@edumail.vic.gov.au)
In Charge of Classnet (Thornbury High School)
This project aims to develop appropriate protocols and procedures for receiving, transferring and publishing ideas within a teacher-moderated Web 2.0 application.
Technologies used: Classnet application
Subject (VELS Domain): all
Year Level: all
Contact: Paul Van Eeden (van-eeden.paul.p@edumail.vic.gov.au), Colin Thompson (thompson.colin.c1@edumail.vic.gov.au)
Online Delivery of Curriculum by Webcast (Trafalgar High School)
The aim of the project is to deliver the content covered in the IT Applications Unit 3&4 and IT Pathways Unit 2 courses online via a webcast.
Technologies used: Microsoft Movie Maker, video editing software, digital video cameras and Microsoft Produce, PowerPoint, multimedia projectors, PCs
Subject (VELS Domain): ICT
Year Level: 11-12
Contact: Mr Chris Denny (denny.chris.z@edumail.vic.gov.au)
Voices from a Connected Classroom (Upwey High School)
The project will trial and report on the introduction of a programme of using mini PCs in a non-lab situation to complement work being done in cross - curricular units of work for Year 8 & 9 students. Students would learn to create podcasts, vodcasts, embeddable short films for placing on their blogs and how to use these machines with online conferences.
Technologies used: ASUS Eee PC with webcam and microphones to develop podcasts, vodcasts and other embeddable products for use on student blogs, wikis and for class presentations and online conferencing.
Subject (VELS Domain): English and Humanities, Maths Science, PE, Art and Commerce
Year Level: 8-9
Contact: Sue Tapp (tapp.sue.f@edumail.vic.gov.au)
Program planning using ICT (Warrnambool East Primary School)
Teachers will trial ‘My Class Record’ application to enhance their program planning and tailor teaching programs more accurately to the needs of their students.
Technologies used: My Class Record, laptops
Subject (VELS Domain): All VELS domains
Year Level: 3-6
Contact: Adrian Calderwood (calderwood.william.wa@edumail.vic.gov.au)
Vodcasting for personalised learning in a Learning Management System (Wodonga Senior Secondary College)
This project will engage learning areas that are often teacher focused for demonstrations or leading activities in more interactive student learning.
Technologies used: Digital Video Cameras, wireless microphones and content management software
Subject (VELS Domain): All areas with early emphasis on Technology Studies (Food, Hospitality, Automotive, engineering etc)
Year Level: 10-12
Contact: Pam Oakes (oakes.pamela.l@edumail.vic.gov.au)
The iPod Touch as an Anywhere, Anytime learning tool that compliments a community-based learning and teaching strategy of improving student engagement and outcomes in Literacy and Numeracy. (Yarra Road Primary School)
The aim of the project is to investigate the ability of the iPod Touch as an ‘Anywhere, Anytime Learning tool’ to compliment a community-based online learning and teaching strategy of improving student engagement and outcomes in Literacy and Numeracy across the Primary curriculum.
Technologies used: iPod Touch; iTunes, Podcasts, iWork/Keynote/PowerPoint, GarageBand and the YRPS School Website
Subject (VELS Domain): Information & Communications Technology (ICT), Communications, Personal Learning, Design Creativity & Technology, Mathematics and English.
Year Level: 1-6
Contact: Ciaran Hanley (hanley.ciaran.c@edumail.vic.gov.au)
