Broadband Innovation Fund

eRich Learning Environment - Principal Case Study


Technology leap takes Lilydale to new heights



Access to a leading edge broadband network, new technology and training has expanded the ways in which learning takes place at Lilydale Heights College.

Implemented over three years between 2005 and 2007, the Yarra Valley e-Rich Learning Environment (YV) Project has not only boosted the use of technology in the classroom but changed the way teachers are thinking about learning.

Funded under the Victorian Government’s Broadband Innovation Fund and the Leading Schools Fund, the YV Project involved establishing a high-speed broadband network linking seven secondary colleges, 40 primary schools and one special school in the Yarra Valley, including Lilydale Heights College.

How it works

Principal of Lilydale Heights College, Greg Hancock, said prior to the YV Project his school relied on fairly traditional teaching methods and was a little wary of technology.

“Our teachers were focussed on their own disciplines and taught very much as they had always done with textbooks and some new media. Laptops were available but they tended to be used by teachers outside the classroom rather than inside.”

Mr Hancock said having access to a secure, virtual network with shared servers and improved bandwidth made a huge difference in terms of being able to integrate technology into the school curriculum.

“It was a big job but once the school was re-cabled it gave us a secure, reliable foundation from which to start using laptops and other technology,” Mr Hancock explained.

The new network includes a cutting edge ‘learning management system’ which facilitates collaboration between teachers on curriculum development and lesson planning, provides opportunities for online student learning and discussion, and offers the ability to monitor and record student progress.

The network also enables the use of laptops and electronic ‘smart boards’ in the classroom, voice over IP communication, and remote or home access for teachers, students and parents.
One of the project’s biggest initiatives was the provision of one laptop between two students for Years 7, 8 and 9, for the 2005 and 2006 intakes.

Lilydale Heights College also had access to two part-time ICT coaches who worked with teachers across a whole range of technology issues – from how to turn on a computer and using electronic smart boards through to designing online learning tasks and lesson plans.

The benefits

Mr Hancock said the major benefits of the technology were an improvement in the quality and quantity of curriculum resources available to students, enhanced ICT skills of teachers, and opportunities for students to learn outside the classroom environment.

“ICT is now a natural part of the learning process at the school, and that’s a big change. It’s changed our approach across the whole curriculum from being teacher-centric and text book-based to using all sorts of media to get information to and from students,” Mr Hancock said.

He said every class now had access to laptops at least twice a day, with four computer labs at the school as well.

According to Mr Hancock the learning management system was a particularly useful communications tool for teachers and students. “We’re getting a lot of information up there for kids to use, and they can store partially completed work on the system, and log in from home to complete it. It’s very interactive.”

“We also have good traffic on the site, which is increasing all the time. We’re up to about 69 per cent continuous usage by teachers, which is very pleasing.”

Part of school’s approach when implementing the YV Project was to make ICT usage easier in the classroom.

“It’s not just about the technology – you have to integrate it into the curriculum and the school timetable,” Mr Hancock explained. “For example, one of the things my staff requested was longer periods of time in one classroom, rather than having to pack up laptops and other technology after every class. It’s a simple request but when we restructured the timetable it made a big difference in terms of continuous learning.”

Another benefit is the new attitude of staff towards technology, which Mr Hancock puts down to the training and support provided as part of the YV Project. “Rather than saying, ‘What are you making us do now?’ they now say, ‘What are we doing next?’”

Future opportunities

According to Mr Hancock the long-term legacy of the project is exciting. “In the past conversations between teachers remained fairly discipline-based. But now through the use of ICT we’ve started to look at learning itself, how students learn, and what tools they need to help them, particularly with literacy or numeracy issues.”

He said there was also more collaboration between schools in the Yarra Valley as a result of the project. “There’s less competition and more cooperation on a whole range of levels which is better for everyone.”