The world at their fingertips

Wed, May 8th 2013, 11:54 AM

The 30 students at Abraham's Bay High School in Mayaguana now have even easier access to a wider source of knowledge through the iPad.
Thirty-seven iPads, two wireless routers and a laptop were donated to the school from the Mayaguana Development Group. The students are allowed to use the iPads in the classroom to assist with their academic studies.
The students can use the iPad to access Khan Academy, a Bill Gates-backed online resources that is one of the premier educational internet sites which teach students about science and mathematics. Students can make use of the site's extensive video library, interactive challenges and assessments from any computer with access to the web. In an effort to ensure that the students use the iPad for the reason they were intended, the iPads were updated with software and apps simultaneously and prevent them from accessing inappropriate content using a special syncing cart.
With the guidance of their teachers, the students have been using the technology for the past two months.
"The iPads have really made a difference at our school. It is so much easier to access information that can help with the completion of homework and coursework," said Jada Charlton, head girl at Abraham's Bay High School. "I am proud that our school was selected because it really made a difference in the educational process."
Head boy Cameron Charlton said the use of the iPads assists him with his school work and is certainly taking their school into the technology era.
"I am able to research word meanings and gather information that is vital to me. It is something that we really appreciate as we prepare for the way forward," said head boy Cameron Charlton.
Abraham's Bay High School math instructor Susan Miller said if she's teaching a lesson on probability she would give the students the gist of probability, and then allow them to visit the Khan Academy website where they would watch various mini video presentations on the subject matter.
"The video lessons would start from basic Probability with a thorough explanation of the term Probability and how the formula is derived, after which varying examples are shown. At the end of the video presentations, the students are able to complete activities based on the video presentations they had previously watched. They are also able to check their work to see if they were accurate, if not, a detailed explanation is given in stages for them to see their error(s). This type of teaching and learning activity encourages self-directed learning so that advanced students can push ahead and students needing remedial help can get assistance with foundational concepts," said Miller.
Abraham's Bay High School acting principal Brian Williams said he has already seen the students confidence grow as a result of them having easy access to wider source knowledge.
"The Ministry started the technology revolution at this school last year with the Ministry's INSPIRE ICT Project and this expands the effort to close the technology gap in The Bahamas," said Williams.
Mayaguana Development Group company representative, John Moses, presented the iPads to Minister of Education, Science and Technology Jerome Fitzgerald.
The donation was coordinated with the school and island residents.
"This has been a team effort with the Mayaguana Advisory Board and Council and the school's leadership to provide Mayaguana's students with the best technology resources available. Mobile technology is having an important impact on education and some of the world's most privileged schools are integrating tablets into the classroom. We are pleased to have worked with the community leadership to give local students the same opportunities," said Moses.
Minister Fitzgerald thanked Moses and the company for their generosity and assured him that the devices would be used to enhance the instruction the students obtain from their teachers.
The education minister said it is important for all stakeholders in The Bahamas to be involved in the education of students. And that he was pleased that students at the school would have the much-needed resource just prior to sitting their final and national examinations.

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