Digitisation isn’t a new term, but it is undoubtedly a highly relevant one today, which is having a huge impact. Driven by the capabilities of new, advanced technologies and the evolving expectations of society, the world-at-large is changing, and all aspects of life are being disrupted. Especially the workplace and, subsequently, the demands from education.
There is no escaping the digital age and the technology which surrounds us. It has become so integrated into daily life that it is sometimes hard to forget what it was like before, and many children do not remember a time when we were without the systems that we have today.
Technology Enhances Education
When you have millions of individuals, each with distinctive traits and abilities, who need to be educated at the same time, it is very hard to cater to all of their needs and specialities. The unfortunate fact of the matter is, learning is not a one-size-fits-all concept, and what works for one student could be absolutely catastrophic for another ─ as is often the case when schools have to implement a single non-adaptable curriculum.
It is easy for some students to get lost in this system as they may not be performing as well as their peers, or they may be showing poor behaviour because the form of education offered does not suit them. It is important that each student is treated as an individual and their strengths and weaknesses are monitored, with support being available where needed.
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Technology has started to disrupt the status quo, though – service providers are beginning to meet the growing demands of personalised experiences through digital means for their consumers. Students, who have grown up around smart devices and computers are demanding that their classroom and campus-life be disrupted by technological advancements too. This can provide difficulties within classrooms and teaching institutions if they are not able to keep up to date with the requests of students. This is one of the reasons why OWIS puts technological advances as an important part of its framework.
Tech-Enhanced Learning at OWIS
Technology and electronic devices have become an integral part of the curriculum at One World International School. In fact, we’ve recognised the many benefits that technology can bring to the classroom and that it is an essential component of a well-rounded, 21st-century education. Our schools feature a myriad of devices to enhance the student experience.
● Each classroom features an interactive screen and audio system, and we use iPads to assist us in creating a digital portfolio of samples showing students’ great work. These portfolios allow students to look back on past successes with pride; this grows their self-esteem and is a catalyst for improvement in learning outcomes. It allows their work to become interactive and three-dimensional whilst utilising the technology available.
● Nothing can quite match a traditional library, but at OWIS, we also use ebooks to supplement it. This allows students the best of both worlds, as they understand the importance and heritage of books and print, whilst also having the opportunity to access ebooks. It also means that the books and resources are more accessible to students when they are off campus, for instance when they are doing project work or when they need to travel with their families.
● Teachers capture interesting moments of the learning process using their iPads; some recordings are shared throughout the institution and contribute towards the enrichment of learning for all students involved. This is a wonderful way of creating a time capsule to see how the students and school develops over time.
Going Virtual
In modern society, almost everything is online and that reigns true for educational resources too. The students of today have, in most cases, grown up with technology and, more often than not, smartphones and tablets aren’t just a novelty; instead, they’re an extension of a person. With that in mind, educational institutions have been looking to the internet and the cloud, where they can upload lessons, presentations, videos and all manner of resources ─ which can be accessed at the click of a button, at the students’ convenience.
At One World International School, we use Google applications for education, which students can access from their household computers and smart devices too, through inbuilt cloud-storage. This suite of applications allows students and teachers to communicate and collaborate on projects with ease, inside and outside of the classroom. This also means that students will never lose out on valuable education time if they are unable to attend school for any reason. It gives parents peace of mind if they need to travel with their children that they can stay up to date, and it ensures that teachers are able to keep supporting the students wherever they are with the use of video conferencing technology such as Zoom.
Adapting to digitisation
At the core of One World International School is our incredible teaching community. Our educators provide the foundation for our global community, hailing from all over the world; each member of staff is enthusiastic, caring, internationally-minded and committed to lifelong learning.
The teachers and teaching assistants at OWIS have adapted to the times and have incorporated and readily embraced digital innovation into the classroom. Teachers are well-versed with the technologically-enhanced classrooms that our institution boasts and they work hard to guide their students through a technology-enhanced curriculum. They are continuously bettering their technology skills so that they can support the students. At the same time they encourage students to pass on their knowledge of different technologies to the teaching staff and their peers.
The use of multiple educational applications and technology tools allow our students to receive a deeper, more up-to-date education at school. This can also be extended to an interactive experience at home, through smart devices. This empowers students, enhancing their learning capabilities, and gives parents a window through which they can see what their child learns at school. For parents it is also often a learning experience as in some cases they may not be as up to date with the current technology available. As technology moves so fast it is those who use it regularly who remain the most adept.
Looking To The Future
The future has never looked brighter for the education system and, while digitisation can seem like a daunting prospect, we must all remember that the capabilities of modern technology have the potential to enhance learning in the classroom and at home. More importantly, digital disruption is allowing institutions of education to mould academic subjects to the individual needs of students, creating a far more flexible and engaging learning experience for everybody involved.
At One World International School, we have embraced the advantages of technology, and it has become a crucial part of everything that we do, optimising the learning outcomes of our students and bettering the overall environment of the school. We also take a proactive approach to teach the importance of safe use of technology, the internet and social media to ensure that our children remain safe and are aware of any risks. Take a look at our dynamic, tech-enhanced campus to see exactly what digitisation has done for modern education.
If you’d like to know more about how OWIS is future-proofing education, do contact us or schedule a visit to our campus to see how technology is incorporated meaningfully in our classrooms.
