ICT

Five years ago the Board of Directors recognised the need for a development strategy and gave their support to planned investment in hardware, educational software and peripheral resources. Every primary classroom now has its own multimedia Pentium computer and printer. Students start using a range of early years software packages in the Nursery School where they begin to develop basic computer skills like mouse control. A typical programme, like Sound Stories (from the Oxford Literacy Web) will be introduced to the whole class at one time.   Children then have he opportunity to practice their skills in an interactive and stimulating environment, usually working in pairs with their teacher or classroom assistant. Sound, colour and animation all help to captivate a child’s interest in computers right from the start of their education at King´s College. In the Senior school we have just added additional workstations to provide greater student access to Internet in the library. Students in our Sixth Form have the additional bonus of their own quiet, comfortable computer workroom. This has proved to be a vital resource for A Level coursework, subject based research and University applications. Senior students are encouraged to view computers as "tools for learning" in all subject areas and study using the latest industry standard platforms like Windows and Office.

Our most recent developments include: A Broadcast system, which allows teachers to demonstrate techniques on all screens simultaneously. Staff can also view what is happening on each monitor from the master computer and take control of individual computers to give guidance on screen. Digital, still and video cameras introduce students to image processing allowing photographs to be imported into documents with ease. A projector is used to demonstrate software techniques on a large wall panel. No longer do groups of students need to huddle around one screen. This is also used in conjunction with portable computers in subject class rooms, for example, to show a Geography class an animation on plate tectonics. Two fully equipped multimedia computer laboratories have access to the Internet through a fast ADSL communication link. Photographic quality colour printers are available for rapid output of work. Work has just been completed on the first phase of network cabling the building. We are also investigating the option of using a suite of laptop computers to provide "Anytime Anywhere Learning". This would link together with a system of wireless receivers placed in strategic areas of the school to provide Internet or Intranet access from any physical point within the school.