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2006 Knowledge Bank Rich Picture Case Studies
Wheelers Hill Primary School - Prep Website

 

Name: Megan Tyrrell, Jo Goldie, Sandra Mazzocca
School: Wheelers Hill Primary School
Postal address: Whites Lane, Glen Waverley, 3150
Telephone no: 9561 3457
Email: tyrrell.megan.e@edumail.vic.gov.au

 

 

Preps @ Wheelers

"Today I learnt that if there is a fire the alarm will wake me up. Today I learnt that if there is a fire I need to crawl down low and go, go, go. Today I learnt that you need to crawl to the door. If you stand up you get the bad air."

 

 

Case study focus

This case study focussed on the development of a website designed to create a wider learning environment for students, teachers and parents. Preps @ Wheelers is used as a teaching and communication tool by demonstrating the ways in which technology can be used to enhance the learning process. It contains specific examples of the ways in which the Prep teachers at Wheelers Hill Primary School have used thinking and goal setting tasks, students self and peer assessments and rubrics to develop the metacognitive abilities of their students. There are also samples of student work and planning documents reflecting the new curriculum.

 

What aspect of best practice will be the focus of the case study?

In this case study, a number of aspects of best practice will be the focus. The multimedia skills of the teachers and the students will be significantly developed as they will be exposed to a variety of technology skills. The emphasis will shift from the traditional forms of text literacy to visual literacy. Communication within the Prep teachers will improve and new alternative forms of assessment will be used such as digital rubrics.

How does the case study intend to showcase or demonstrate best practice?

The case study demonstrates best practice both internally and externally amongst teachers. The Prep teachers at Wheelers Hill Primary School will be working in collaboration with each other to create, design and maintain the website. It will showcase best practice to other teachers. Furthermore, best practice will be demonstrated in creating a wider learning environment by giving parents access to the Prep website.

The form of the case study

The Prep website which will contain:

• Samples of student work

• Student rubrics

• Self and peer assessment documents

• Discussion board where students give their opinions on topics explored or work undertaken

• Digital photos to enhance to visual literacy

• Digital reflection cards

• Digital story boards

• Opportunity for parents to access the site via a hyperlink. They can provide feedback.

What multimedia and/or online tools have been used?

Multimedia tools and programs including PowerPoint, Publisher, Word, KidPix, digital photographs, other schools websites as examples and various online sites as appropriate to Preps. This will encourage investigation into current Prep themes.

Engagement and benefits

We have made this case study engaging and readable by encouraging ongoing involvement from the teachers, students and the parents. It centres on the thinking domain and develop the students’ metacognitive skills. Students are empowered and are encouraged to work together. Their work is showcased in a manner that is appealing to their peers and it will be readable because it will cover visual literacy components.

By creating an ongoing teaching and learning interactive environment, the tools and content are successfully integrated. A learning partnership between the students, teachers and parents is generated. The students and teachers use the tools required to put in the content. This information is then extracted from the website. Students are able to learn the content of what other students have done by appraising their work.

Students are provided with a range of different challenges using technology to enhance the learning process. It caters for the different learning styles, particularly visual and spatial learners. The Prep teachers will benefit as we will develop their skills in incorporating technology into the classroom and wider school programs and will explore opportunities for future development. The different ways of assessing students as they progress through their learning, not just at the end are also examined. Other teachers at our school will benefit as they will be able to see the way in which it has been implemented as knowledge, ideas and resources are shared. Teachers within the Cluster and beyond will profit as the case study will be showcased. The website is intended to be presented at a Cluster Professional Development session. Overall the case study is centred on using multimedia to enhance the learning process, using self assessment and developing collaborative learning communities. One way in which this is focussed is by facilitating parental feedback.

 

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