Intel Teach Essentials Course implementation stories: Quakers Hill Public School
We always talked about ICT and learnt amongst ourselves but until Intel the light bulb didn't come on.
Quakers Hill Public School, built in 1912, is the oldest school in a growth area of north-western Sydney. It has 650 students and 40 staff.
At Quakers Hill Public School, there is a strong belief that for students to engage fully with life in the twenty-first century, they must be confident users of ICT. There is also a commitment to quality teaching in the school. A major focus of school planning for professional learning has been training teachers not only to be computer literate but to be able to integrate ICT into learning effectively.
Why Intel Teach Essentials Course?
Over time, Anne Mulcahy, the Principal of Quakers Hill Public School, fostered and built a culture of innovation and excellence in the school. She said: 'Now the staff drive this impetus and the motivating force for the Intel program came from them. They had the passion; it was my job to make sure it happened.'
Anne shared the outline of the program with Principal colleagues in the Blacktown Learning Community and a number decided to work with Quakers Hill Public School in the Intel® Teach Essentials Course training.
In Term 3, 2004, the program began with sixteen teachers from Quakers Hill Public School and six from other small schools, and in November 2004 nineteen Participant Teachers completed the program. A further course for Participant Teachers is being run in Term 2, 2005, in response to requests from the remainder of the staff.
Anne believed the Intel program would support staff and student learning by developing teacher knowledge and understanding of how to plan and implement ICT in classrooms. She didn't want just to tinker at the edges of ICT training; she wanted a program that would enable her teachers to work with students in new and more effective ways.
Jenny McCarron, one of the two Master Trainers (MTs) at Quakers Hill Public School, knew that the full potential of the school ICT network to integrate and share learning applications was not being utilised. She felt that Intel® Teach Essentials Course provided the perfect opportunity to improve teacher skills and give them more confidence.
Interview with Jenny McCarron (dialup version) (wmv - 570 kB)
An interview with Jenny McCarron about the implementation of the Intel Teach to the Future program at Quakers Hill Public School.
Interview with Jenny McCarron (broadband version) (wmv - 2034 kB)
Individual teachers wanted to participate for a range of reasons:
- 'ICT is an integral part of education and I didn't want to be left behind.'
- 'I love to learn new things and expand my knowledge so I can apply it in my classroom.'
- 'I felt my computer skills could be upgraded.'
How the program operates at Quakers Hill Public School
The Intel® Teach Essentials Course program was run with two groups, each on a different schedule. Jenny held sessions on Mondays and Tuesdays from 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm each week, while Sakuna Pho, the other Master Trainer, held fewer weekday sessions because his group decided to include two full Saturday workshops.
Participants saw advantages in both approaches:
- the weekday group liked the after-school sessions because they already held regular professional learning activities at that time and so they were used to working in that timeslot.
- the Saturday group appreciated being given options for session times and felt that compressing the course meant they could achieve more sustained learning.
Two other key factors helped the success of the Intel program. One was a major commitment of the school's professional learning funds to allow each teacher three release days as part of the program. The second key factor was the high quality of the delivery of the program by the two MTs, Jenny and Sakuna. One teacher commented that even though her group had a protracted break in the middle of the program they caught up quickly because the MT knew them well and understood their learning needs.
The benefits
A school survey of allIntel® Teach Essentials Course participants revealed that:
- 100% believe the course had assisted in their understanding of the integration of computer technology into effective classroom practice
- 100% believe that the ideas for programming (suggested in the course outline) were useful in planning and teaching to improve student outcomes
- 89% believe that they had improved their computer skills
- 78% believe they are better able to evaluate Internet sites and programs.
An interview with Daniel Elvidge (dialup version) (wmv - 486 kB)
An interview with Daniel Elvidge, a Participant Teacher.
An interview with Daniel Elvidge (broadband version) (wmv - 1546 kB)
The survey showed that teachers will use ICT in teaching and learning programs more confidently when they have developed their own skills.
Important benefits were gained through combining elements of Quality Teaching with Intel's focus and essential questions to enable teachers to consider pedagogy, ICT applications and learning. Gail Oakman, a Stage 3 Opportunity Class teacher, said 'teachers feel more confident in talking and sharing their learning with their peers, we have a common language now'.
Benefits seen from undertaking the program included:
- working with teachers from other schools and learning with and from them
- the enthusiasm as Participant Teachers tossed ideas around and tried out new approaches
- the growth in teacher confidence and their ability to integrate units into programs.
One teacher with limited expectations before the course now uses software applications he had previously only heard about; while another says she is no longer in a daze and can teach her class in the computer laboratory without them always telling her how to do things.
Intel Teach Essentials Course in practice
Teachers expressed confidence in Jenny and Sakuna, as colleagues who were able to support their learning needs and clarify the content of the program when necessary because 'they know us and how we want to apply our learning with our classes'. Because the MTs are teachers from within the school, the support is ongoing and Jenny, as the teacher librarian, is finding that she can help staff analyse units of work for the required ICT resources and then be on hand as they teach their class.
Participants are already applying their learning by teaching the unit of work they developed as part of the Intel program. Two Stage 3 teachers each taught their unit twice by swapping classes and are finding that their students are now more confident users of ICT. Robyn Simmons, a Stage 2 teacher, has used her new skills to develop a unit called 'Who will buy' on products and services and she plans to develop a history unit next.
While they experienced a steep learning curve, staff are pleased with the quality professional learning they gained through the program. 'It didn't matter what level you were at when you started, there was plenty for everyone to learn'. Because the course was so practical and relevant, teachers have been able to apply their learning to their teaching.
Gail Oakman summed up by saying: 'Earlier ICT training didn't challenge me. Intel lifted my skills and I was thrilled with the whole course'.
Interview with Gail Oakman (dialup version) (wmv - 639 kB)
An interview with Gail Oakman, a Participant Teacher.
Interview with Gail Oakman (broadband version) (wmv - 2287 kB)
Quakers Hill Public School
Medlow Drive, Quakers Hill NSW 2763 Australia
