Education Queensland has established goals for students and teachers alike to reach identified levels of computer competency within their primary school education. An information-communication technologies plan has been established to strategically plan for the needs of our students and teachers.
Every classroom teacher has a modern laptop through the Smart Classrooms 'Computers for Teachers' initiative which allows them to plan and conduct lessons from an interactive whiteboard to enhance the students learning experiences. Our Resource Centre additionally has an air-conditioned computer lab for classes to access.
Planning for all year levels has an ICT focus each term which may include word processing, desk top publishing, multimedia/presentations, research, online discussions, blogs, simulations, drill and practice games and 'Learning Objects'.
Education Queensland has developed a vast repository of digital resources and communication tools which are available to schools at 'The Learning Place' and teachers are taking advantage of this by incorporating its use into planning and undertaking professional development to enhance the teaching and learning (pedagogy) in their classes.
Cybersafety
At Salisbury State School we take our responsibility to maintain the health and safety of our students and staff very seriously. This responsibility includes considering issues related to behaviours online.
Behaviours in the online environment can cover a broad range of issues including online privacy and information protection, good and bad manners, digital citizenship and knowing how to get help to deal with online issues.
As you may be aware, comments posted online about people and organisations may impact permanently on their digital reputation. This includes teachers, other staff and students and the school. There can be very real negative consequences from online posts – relationships between school staff, students and parents can be permanently changed for the worse.
Facebook and other social networking sites are generally not private communities and, depending on an individual’s security settings, comments can be read by many people and remain online indefinitely.
If you or your child are posting information online about the school, staff or students, I ask that you consider the ramifications of these comments on the school and any individuals in the school community concerned. As a rule of thumb:
- Public discussion is most effective when it is conducted in a polite and respectful manner;
- Before posting, consider whether those people you are posting about want information, including photos and comments regarding them and their children, posted on Facebook or on other sites. Perhaps ask them before you do it;
- Rather than airing complaints or grievances in a public forum like Facebook, come and talk to the school first about how to resolve your concerns;
- Remember that as a parent you have a responsibility to supervise and regulate your own children’s online activities at home and their impact on the reputation and privacy of others.
Further information on managing cybersafety.