FIRST LOOK AT NSW CLASSROOMS OF THE FUTURE

Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli has unveiled some of the innovative technology and teaching practices being trialled for new and refurbished classrooms across NSW.

Mr Piccoli visited the Department of Education’s Futures Learning Unit at Australian Technology Park to see students and teachers testing prototyped flexible learning spaces that will enable education to adapt to the digital age.

“The way our children learn is evolving as times change and it’s exciting to see first-hand how the traditional classroom is being transformed into an interactive learning space,” Mr Piccoli said.

“From touch screens to breakout pods with digital projections and new furniture designs, these flexible spaces are engaging students in ways that reflect 21st century learning.

“As our classrooms adopt changing technologies, teaching techniques are evolving and these prototyped classrooms are being used by teachers to test these new ways of engaging students.”

Features of the prototyped learning spaces include:

• Mobile, touch sensitive screens, allowing students to engage with learning materials;
• Wi-Fi and software allowing all devices in a room, including tablets and laptops to interact;
• Writable walls and surfaces encouraging students to investigate and collaborate; and
• Lightweight, flexible furniture that can be easily moved around by teachers and students, creating functional spaces for individual and team work.

The new Arthur Phillip High School in Parramatta will be the first brand new future focused school to take advantage of the new flexible technology rich classrooms. It is scheduled to open in 2019.

“The NSW Government will invest $1 billion from the Rebuilding NSW Schools Fund to transform 1,600 classrooms over the next 10 years,” Mr Piccoli said.