The new mobile technological age has created opportunities that used to be seen only in science fiction movies. But now students at Hagley are putting their creative skills to work designing apps for the mobile world. 

Teacher Sue McLachlan and ICT Director Andy Gorton collaborated in setting up the School of Apps, and it is now into its second year of operation, operating out of a vibrant space upstairs in the main teaching block at Hagley. The room has been designed for that purpose and is a stunning learning space where teachers facilitate rather than teach, and where the environment is more like a start-up business than a classroom. The students are able to follow their interests, working on projects they are passionate about while also gaining Level 3 NCEA credits. They learn how to communicate with stakeholders and to take an idea from the concept stage through to completion, doing lots of thinking, communicating, collaborating and experimenting along the way. Undoubtedly this is 21st century learning in action.

One very useful app which has developed is a booking app available on the i-Tunes App Store for the Hagley Theatre Company. "We got exactly what we asked for," says Cameron Mattox, Artistic Director. "Working with the School of Apps was very easy and our personal developer from the School of Apps, Joseph Quested, delivered an easy-to-use app that covers both our major productions and popular Scene+ seasons. Our audience love how easy it is and it also works for us at the booking office really well."

Check it out at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hagley-theatre-company-bookings/id995855074?mt=8