At Carrum Downs we are fortunate to have not only computers in classrooms but also a fully equipped computer lab run by a full-time specialist ICT teacher. In the lab students start right from the beginning with preps working on developing fine motor skills as they use the mouse to explore a number of edutainment programs that are both non threatening and reinforce topics that have already been covered in the classroom The prep year is finished with them producing with little to no help from the teacher their own slideshow about themselves and their first year of school in Microsoft PowerPoint.
Students increase throughout the years up to the point in grade 6 where they can produce 3D animated stories, create their own simple computer games, design and develop a website and utilise email, use both digital cameras and video cameras to script, direct, produce, film and edit.
As you can tell it is not just standard desktop computers that students will have access to, over their time at Carrum Downs PS they will also be using laptop computers, interactive Smartboards, digital cameras, web cameras, video cameras, electronic microscopes, microphones, sound boards, digital drawing pads (slates), scanners, printers and storage devices such as CDs, DVDs, USB Memory Sticks, SD or XD Memory Cards and External Hard Disk Drives.
We also run a couple of extra sessions outside of their normal lesson time, this includes:
· Advanced Lego robotics team that compete in a number of competitions with other schools,
· Lunchtime computer lab sessions for students to catch up on work or to improve or add to what they have already done in previous sessions,
· Photography sessions which extends what is already taught in the lab
· An extension on the buddy program that sees grade 5 students working with the ICT teacher early in the week so that later in the week they can teach the preps. This develops leadership skills, reinforces existing knowledge, and develops a growing community feel in the school.
