West Sydney school gets connected to improve student literacy

Delany College Year 7 and 8 students try out their connected classroom. Photo credit: Telstra.

Delany College in Granville, western Sydney will use Telstra's 'connected classroom' that features video conferencing to improve Year 7 and 8 student’s literacy levels.

Students will also have access to wireless tablets and cloud-based software applications in the classroom, which has been dubbed the Delany Connective. The technology aids are designed to help teachers and students collaborate.

Delany College principal Peter Wade said Year 7 and 8 students will be taught skills such as creativity, communication, collaboration and critical thinking.

“Learning will be personalised and the curriculum integrated to suit the individual needs of students in Years 7 and 8, moving away from a ‘one-size-fits-most’ approach to traditional curriculum delivery,” he said in a statement.

Telstra uses Cisco collaboration services such as Telepresence for its 'connected classroom'. The telco said its rollout of this technology at the college will help students connect with other schools and experts around the world to discuss different views and perceptions.

In July 2014, Flinders University in Adelaide announced that it would establish a new academy with Cisco at the university’s Tonsley Park campus to help students with their ICT degrees.

Cisco staff will train Flinders students to work with new technologies and digital innovations. The academy will train students in disciplines such as cyber security. Students can undertake the training while still studying their ICT degrees.

Flinders University also uses Cisco Telepresence video conferencing to deliver high-definition video tools between staff across the campuses.

Computerworld Australia has contacted Telstra for more information.

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