Future plans include installing more interactive whiteboards, continuing to build a bank of activities for them, maintaining a focus on innovative ICT uses

1. Title
Re-energising ICT and maximising student engagement,
at Camberwell South Primary School, through the use of
existing ICT resources, Easiteach and Web 2.0 technologies.
Contact details
Team Members: Barbara Krongold (leader), Rebecca Hodge, Phillipa Lim
Camberwell South Primary School
Ph: 9889 4295
cambsthps@cambsth.vic.edu.au
krongold.barbara.f@edumail.com.au
Abstract
Our 2008 Student Attitude to School Survey indicated that our students were disengaged in the
classroom and we were looking for ways to enthuse them in them learning. Also we had several
IWBs in the school that weren’t being utilised to their potential, and the intention to purchase more
as funds become available.
Our aim was to skill staff, ourselves foremost, so they became more confident in using the board as
an effective teaching & learning tool.
In addition there was a basic awareness of web 2.0 technologies and a keen interest to start using
these to enhance student engagement and extend student ICT skills.
Keywords
ICT – Student Learning, Interactive Whiteboards, Easiteach, Web 2.0, Student Engagement

2. Why we chose this project?
•ICT is a major priority in our school strategic plan
•To make best use of our great facilities & equipment, in
particular the IWBs, laptops and wireless network
•To skill and support staff and help them feel confident in
their use of ICT
•To excite children and engage them in their learning
•To meet the requirements of the ICT domain in VELS
•To explore the possibilities presented by web 2.0
technologies
•To provide students with choices
Collecting Data
•Staff completed the ePotential survey (to ascertain their strengths & weaknesses)
•We surveyed staff about their use of software and hardware in their classrooms (appendix A)
•We surveyed a sample of students, across all levels of the school, to gauge how they perceived the
use of existing ICT in their classroom (appendix B)
Skilling Ourselves
Our data revealed:
•teachers wanted to learn how to use IWBs & Easiteach
•some teachers were curious and keen to explore the use of web 2.0 technologies in their
classrooms
•students commented that learning with computers was fun
•the most common use of ICT was for wordprocessing and internet research
Before we could skill and support other staff members we needed to engage in Personal Learning.
We undertook the following:
•One on one training with an IWB trainer from Well Imagine That
•Attendance at a Teachers Teaching Teachers Forums
•School visits to Billanook PS & Murrumbeena PS where we observed their use of IWBs and other
technologies
•Regional PD & conferences to Investigate Web 2.0 technologies
•ICT Network meetings
•One on one training with ICT innovator in Catholic Education system
•Personal exploration of web-based resources

3. Sharing with Others
• Created a team Blog, and Barbara created a personal blog, to keep a record of our
experiences and to share our progress with staff.
http://tplcsps2009.edublogs.org/
http://barbstpl.blogspot.com/
•Enlisted support from our Ultranet coach to run whole staff PD
•10 mins of each staff meeting was dedicated to demonstrating tools in Easiteach.
•Shared learnings with teams
•Pip & Beck provided training for junior & middle teams
•Barbara has worked with Senior unit to create class wikis – student digital portfolios and reflection
on their learning
•Introduced web 2.0 technologies to students eg Podcasting, Toondoos, creating videos with Flip
cameras, uploading audio & video into Edublogs & Teacher TV, blogging
•Created a bank of IWB activities and resources available to all staff on the school network
•Distributed Easiteach toolbar ‘how to’ posters to staff
•Conducted after school ICT focus sessions for staff
•Converted many typical paper-based activities to IWB focus eg interactive attendance roll, big
books, literacy and numeracy activities

4. Indicators of Success
•Teachers are using IWBs on a daily basis
•Teachers are familiar with the functions of Easiteach at a basic level and are asking for assistance
in taking it further
•Teachers are using and adding to our bank IWB activities
•Teachers are attending targeted focus PD sessions
•Senior students are using wikis as digital portfolios
•Individual teachers have created wikis for communicating with parents
•A unit team is experimenting with using a wiki for team planning
•Interest in using web-based activities for student learning has increased
•Through teacher observation it is evident that students have become more engaged in literacy &
numeracy activities through the use of IWBs
•Individual students are using the IWB to share their outside school experiences at school eg photos
and videos
Screenshots of current wikis

5. What we have learnt?
•You don’t know what you don’t know
•Many things impact on staff uptake of technology
•The technology will always let you down
•The more you learn the more there is to learn
•The ground keeps moving
•Children’s enthusiasm will help drive ICT uptake
•It all takes TIME
Future directions
• Installation of IWB in all classrooms in the next 6 months.
• Provide a designated computer for each IWB
• Continue to build our bank of IWB activities
• Managing the resources we have created and make them accessible to all
• Continue the culture of sharing so people buid on each other’s skills
• PD new staff on how to effectively use IWBs
• Some Level teams to set up wikis as main portal of communication with parents.
• Maintain the focus on innovative use of ICT in student learning
• Further use of Wikis and web 2.0 technologies in classroom programs

6. APPENDIX A – STAFF SURVEY
Name: ______________________________
ICT- What is currently happening in our classrooms?
Below is a list of the technologies we have available at CSPS.
Please circle the technologies that you have used in the last 6 months to support your teaching
program.
Please briefly indicate how you have used them and in what area of VELS. Eg. Number
Teacher laptop
Classroom laptops
Digital camera
OHP
Video camera
Scanner
Interactive Whiteboard
MM Projector
Microphones
Web cams
Digital microscopes
Easiteach
Wikis
Blogs
Websites
Please choose 3 technologies from the above list that you would like help with.
Technology
1
2
3

7. Below is a list of some available software on the CSPS network (child computers).
Please circle the programs you have used in the last 6 months to support your teaching program.
Feel free to add any others that you have used.
Word Inside stories Kid Pix
Excel Easiteach Kidspiration
Power Point Team Board Paint
Outlook Fiore Kahootz
Storybox Tux Typing Photo Story
Wiggle Works The Magic Schoolbus Picassa
Publisher Audacity Maths Circus
Maths 300 Numbers Up Encarta
Dangerous Creatures Digital Learning Resources Google Earth
Google Maps Heinemann Atlas People, Place and Time
Image Banks
Please choose 3 programs from the above list that you would like help with.
Programs
1
2
3
Prioritise your preferred methods of learning? (1- most preferred, 8- least preferred)
Approach an Small group Self directed Online learning Whole School
expert for 1:1 targeted PD (eg. - personal Staff meetings
assistance Thursday after research
school) - online reading
Read step-by- Modelled teaching Other-
step instructions (demonstration)
APPENDIX B – STUDENT SURVEY

8. Name: ______________________________
Level: ____________________________
ICT Student Survey
How often do you use computers in the classroom?
o Never
o Monthly
o Weekly
o 2-4 times weekly
o Daily
For how many hours a week would you use computers at your school?
o Less than an hour
o 1-2 hours a week
o 2-4 hours a week
o More than 4 hours a week
What do you use computers for? Tick in the box
Email Internet
Chat PowerPoint Presentation
Games Web Design
Word Processing Reference/Research
Drawing/Pasting Animation
Multimedia Production e.g. Databases or spreadsheets
Kahootz, movies.
Wikis Blogs
Creating music Other

9. Do you like using computers at school? (Briefly explain your answer.)
What are the best things you use computers for?
What would you like to learn how to do on the computers?
What is the main way you learn about computers at school?
Do you think using computers makes learning fun?
Select the subjects that you use computers in at school.
Art Mathematics
Literacy PE
Italian Resource Centre
Music Inquiry
Other