Bunbury schools get e-coaches

Schools in Bunbury and the South West are adding an ‘‘I’’ to the three ‘‘Rs’’ by embracing and becoming part of a push to integrate modern technology and media into the education curriculum.

Newton Moore Senior High and Parkfield Primary are among a number of schools that, since the beginning of the year, have been trialing the iPad as a learning aid in the classroom.

In a move to turn the high school in to an ‘‘iSchool’’ a new position has been created.

Lynette Hillier is an e-coach (electronics) at Newton Moore, where she has been given the task of introducing the hardware and software systems into the education structure at the school.

The former science educator says a big part of her job is to teach the teachers.

‘‘The kids are already familiar with them, the staff need to know how they can best use them in the class, it’s my job to show them how they can work with the kids,’’ Mrs Hillier said.

‘‘The school currently has 20 iPads that are being used in a booking system for all students across awide number of subjects.’’

Mrs Hillier said the school had recognised the potential of IT in the learning process and was looking at ways it could best use the iPad to maximise 21st century technology that children and thewider community were already using.

Parkfield Primary principal Charlie Serravite said he was happy his school had been chosen, one of only two schools in the South West, to be part of a $1million pilot program being run by the Education Department to spark literacy and numeracy.

‘‘This is the way of the future, to be savvy with technology,’’ Mr Serravite said.

‘‘It compliments the very visual process of learning.’’

The school, which was chosen to be part of the project after doing well in a National Partnership Program, has 60 iPads, which are being used by students in Years 1 and 2.