Mundaring Primary School students with the board games and bridge they created through the Learning Studios program.
Camera IconMundaring Primary School students with the board games and bridge they created through the Learning Studios program. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Mundaring PS students among first in world to access new educational technology

Lynn GriersonHills Avon Valley Gazette

YOUNG children in Mundaring are among the first in the world to access cutting-edge technology by linking to a global educational network.

Mundaring Primary School principal Paul Larkin said Microsoft and Hewlett Packard (HP) invited his school to join the design-challenge project, Learning Studios.

He said of the 60 schools involved, only four were in Australia.

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The international STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) program used at the school is equipped with advanced technology from HP and its partners to encourage creative collaboration between students and schools.

As part of HP and Microsoft’s ‘reinvent the classroom’ initiative, Digital Promise Global directs the worldwide network of Learning Studios created for student-centred experiential learning.

More than 120 students at the Mundaring school have completed challenges to raise awareness of the 17 UNICEF global goals to end poverty, fight inequality and address climate change by 2030.

Inspired by the UNICEF goals, the children designed websites, posters and created 3D printed logos, fridge magnets and badges.

Other projects have involved students creating and constructing bridges, along with designing and printing cookie cutters using CAD software and 3D printers.

Mr Larkin said Learning Studios engaged students and teachers with a curricula of design challenges.

“A Learning Studio is a place to dream, investigate, design, create and solve,” he said.

“HP, Microsoft and Digital Promise Global selected a committed group of schools to become Learning Studios and take part in a collaborative global network.”

Mundaring Primary joined the project in June last year.

A recent project involved students creating board games by sharing ideas with peers from other schools around the world.

“This challenge culminated in our students sharing their original game designs with students from Skyline Elementary School in Solana Beach, California,” Mr Larkin said.

“To allow for the time difference, our students came early to school at 7am, so they could interact with their US peers who stayed back at school until 5pm their time.”

Mundaring Primary teacher Jonelle Lorantas is an enthusiastic supporter of the program.

“It was an amazing opportunity for our students to interact with their peers from half a world away and share the fruits of their collaborative labour,” she said.

“There was plenty of sharing and plenty of fun as well, with cultural differences becoming evident throughout the hour-long Skype session.”