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Photo by Joanne Pearson

eLearning at Christchurch Boys’ High School

Joanne Pearson —

In 2016, four Year Nine and three Year Ten classes are dedicated eLearning classes. So what does this actually mean? Are the boys on their device every second of every lesson? Do they no longer use pen and paper? The truth is quite simple, they use their device to support and enhance their learning. 

At Christchurch Boys’ High School, we believe that a balanced approach is important. Practical, ‘hands-on’ experience is still an essential part of their education and we are blending both traditional and digital methods of learning.

The students who have opted to be part of the eLearning classes are required to bring their device to every lesson. The boys use a mixture of Moodle and Class OneNote for the majority of their subjects. This enables them to access classroom lessons and resources. During class time, the boys use a variety of online tools and software to maximise their learning. A number of our students are benefiting from being able to access OneNote’s Learning Tools, a free Add-in that assists them with their reading and writing.

At the beginning of the year, all students who were new to eLearning engaged in an introductory training session to gain an overview of the tools that they would be using throughout the year and to familiarise themselves with the expectations and guidelines for eLearning. The boys were also introduced to the concept of Digital Citizenship and a follow-up session occurred during library orientation.

As we have progressed through the term, it has become evident that our boys are strong consumers of online content. Staff have been working closely with the students to upskill them in using their device for educational purposes. Staff are also undertaking professional development to increase their own understanding of how 1:1 devices can enhance teaching and learning.

If you would like further information about eLearning at Christchurch Boys’ High School, please contact Jo Pearson, Specialist eLearning Teacher.

Useful Sites:

Digital Citizenship
· Netsafe

Learning Tools
· OneNote Learning Tools

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