Randfontein High School (RHS) for the first time ever are writing all their exams digitally since its launch in November 2014.
“In November last year RHS launched the i#RHS project to implement digital learning and teaching throughout the grades. The innovation appeared to be a huge task which posed several obstacles in terms of load shedding and other variables like the financial factor and myths around eLearning.
“Despite warnings from futurists, the innovation is one year old and the impact is remarkable,” said Jason Fischer, spokesperson for RHS.
Jason explains further,
Upon entering the school, visitors experience an unusual silence as approximately 1 300 pupils are engaged in the different dynamics of learning. All that is visible near the entrance is a charging station and signs that read: Remember to Download.”
According to Jason the project is divided into three components that make a digital school function.
First, the digital space includes technologies like interactive white boards and sound in all the classrooms, internet access, the student portal, IT specialists who offer pupil, teacher and admin support.
Secondly, the digital resources component include all the digital textbooks, unlimited multimedia clips, videos, digital presentations and administrative applications that make life easier for both pupils and teachers.
Finally, the digital teaching component is comprised of various teaching applications that transform a conventional classroom into state of the art classrooms.
Teachers are also able to monitor and control the screens that pupils can access while in class. You might argue that this scenario creates the perfect opportunity for cribbing in an exam, but this myth is busted as the applications blocks all content on the portal, social networking and the use of all applications on the device including the dictionary.
“After the exam, the teacher ‘unhides’ the restrictive application and preparation for the next exam continues as usual.
“You can now hear a pin drop as you pace the corridors. Now you swipe or slide to the next section or you can enlarge the print or size of the graphic to ensure that you’re not off the mark.
Jason added, “Teachers also remind the pupils that they have five minutes left just before the digital clock on the interactive board signals that it’s time to stop writing.”
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