Buddina swoops on ICT Certificate

When Buddina State School principal Greg Summers set his teachers an expectation to apply for ICT Certificate by the end of 2008, they jumped at the chance.

So much so that three months before the year's end, 42 teachers had already undertaken the professional development they needed to feel confident enough to lodge their applications.

Greg set the goal and give his teachers time to realise it.

'We wanted to create the idea that the issue of laptop computers through the Computers for Teachers initiative came with a professional responsibility that they be used to engage students, and that they be used as an everyday tool in our planning, teaching, assessing, and reporting,' Greg said.

'The whole exercise became a true learning community, with teachers and aides mentoring each other, in addition to the weekly one-hour coaching sessions conducted before the school day by our ICT program leader.

'It has instilled a sense of achievement, and a realisation that 'I can actually do this!'.

'Lots of teachers are now openly seeking information about how they can now tackle the ICT Pedagogical Licence.'

Applying for the licence has been made a lot easier thanks to the professional development the teachers have undertaken to prepare for the ICT Certificate.

Through this PD, the teachers have already worked on a number of resources they could use when applying for their licence.

Greg set aside three staff meetings (about three hours) so his teachers had time to undertake the PD during school hours.

Also, his school's ICT network administrator volunteered her time once a week before school to provide teachers with some computer tips.

'The major reasons for getting teachers 'on side' were the provision of time and knowledge,' Greg said.

'The whole process has been an ideal vehicle to move teachers into using their laptop, data projector, wireless mouse and keyboard to actively engage students in day-to-day lessons.

'Students are now actively engaged. They use ICT for daily communication, accessing the Internet, editing their writing, and producing great end pieces of work.

'Every day, teachers use their laptops to mark rolls, make entries about students in OneSchool and email.'

It's the combination of ICT infrastructure and professional development for teachers, combined with the gumption of the school's principal, that is turning this school into a learning centre of the 21st century.