Covenant College

From what I can recall, Covenant College has always sought to be a leader in DT [Digital Technology). Apart from a small stint on the trusty typewriter at the beginning of 1988, being a student at Covenant College usually meant having access to the latest computer technologies. At the beginning of the computer revolution in the mid-1980’s Covenant College was a pioneer in their adoption of the Apple IIc, one of the first of what we now know as ‘personal computers’.

Over the years, the College’s classrooms and computer labs have been home to a range of the latest machines – the Apple IIc, the Apple IIe, the Apple Mac, the Apple iMac and arange of PCs. However, those who have been around for a while would acknowledge that Covenant, for various reasons, has not always been able to keep up with the demands set by such rapid advances in technology. In saying this, I think it would be fair to say that Covenant College has always had technology on the agenda.
It was during a Year 7 computer class back in 1995, that Mr Stok first introduced me to ‘the internet.’ At the time my interest was minimal and I brushed it aside as just another passing craze in the fast developing world of technology. For me, computers were useful for playing games and occasionally typing up school work – that was it.

Fourteen years later, having returned to Covenant as a teacher, I now realise how wrong I was. The adoption and effective use of DT has become such an integral part of education. The good news is, Covenant College is still leading the way in their implementation of DT in education.
If you have had a look around the school this year, you would have noticed that 2009 has seen a significant upgrade and improvement of technology at Covenant College. The College has acquired a larger inventory of more capable PCs, more rooms have been equipped with data projectors and the speed and reliability of the internet connection has been advanced.
Covenant’s leadership has developed the following statement, which outlines the continuing vision for DT at Covenant College.
“To be a Biblical, discerning and critically thinking College that continually seeks to improve student outcomes, empower and support teachers (and administrators) and involve parents in the learning process that includes the use of digital technologies.”

The DT committee

The DT committee has been established by the Leadership Team and is responsible for the implementation of the Covenant College Digital Technology strategic plan.

What we want to achieve in 2009

• Support DT professional learning by training and equipping teachers, students and parents to understand how DT can best be used to support and enhance Christian eduction at Covenant College.
• Connect learning beyond Covenant by providing 24 hour remote access, introducing the use of Moodle for all Senior School classes and developing a parent DT training program.

Jonathan Feldman
Chairman DT Committee

Recently, we have been Benchmarking the reading of all Junior School students.

Some staff, notably those in Grade Prep to Grade 2, have noticed a considerable improvement in the reading levels of their students.

They have attributed this to the introduction of THRASS across Junior school in 2008.

It is still early days, but so far the feedback from parents, students and staff alike has been very encouraging.

Since the Government is encouraging a move back to a strong phonetic approach to literacy, at Covenant we are ‘ahead of the game’ so to speak.

There is talk that trainee teachers at university may be THRASS trained as a mandatory procedure because it is so effective.

Congratulations to all staff for sticking with it and adopting this great ‘program’ that is now beginning to show results.