Five minutes with Linda Pilkington

2008 Smart Classrooms Teacher Award winner Linda Pilkington regularly connects her Years 6 and 7 students at Sunshine Beach State School with outside experts through online workshops, chats, blogs, book raps and project rooms. She reports these activities build student autonomy by giving them greater opportunities to take responsibility for their learning.

How's it feel to win a Smart Classrooms Teacher Award?
I was very proud of myself and felt very valued as an educator.

What does winning the award mean to you?
It is fantastic to be acknowledged for all of my hard work and dedication.

Tell us about ICT activities in your classroom.
Very often, my class is involved in online activities conducted through the Learning Place, where they connect with special guests for online chats and workshops.

Another fantastic activity is the annual Online Land Yacht Challenge. It's a collaborative design and science activity.

What is its purpose of these activities?
In most of my online activities, my students converse and work with special guests, many of whom I could not physically lure to my classroom.

What are some of the difficulties you have encountered with this activity?
Occasionally we have problems associated with slow bandwidth.

How have you overcome these difficulties?
Count to 10 and smile.

What have the learning outcomes been for your students?
It would be hard to list them all. My ICT work is richly integrated across many key learning areas. For example, the Online Land Yachts Challenge covers science, numeracy, design and technology, ICT, literacy and art.

Do you have any advice for teachers doing this type of ICT activity?
The organisers of these activities are only too happy to help teachers. Phone, email and talk to other people who have been involved in similar activities.