ID Technology Team: Juan Serafica / Phoebe Chiang / Jason Chen
In recent years, digital technology has been rapidly advancing, and at Kang Chiao International School, the teaching teams actively incorporate digital tools into the curriculum to make students’ learning experiences more diverse. Currently, in grades 1 to 4, each class is equipped with an iPad cart, providing each student with an iPad for classroom use. For grades 5-6, every student has their own digital device, fostering not only the use of iPads/Chromebooks for learning but also enhancing their digital literacy skills.
Within the curriculum, teachers have developed various opportunities for students to use digital devices. For instance, in the lower grades, where children are still building their digital literacy skills, teachers frequently design websites tailored to the age group for data collection during project research. As an example, in a 1st-grade project called “A Way to Live in Winter,” the 1st grade team team created an animal website for the students. The homepage featured many adorable animal pictures. When a student needed to find information about a specific animal, they simply clicked on the animal’s picture to access the next page with information about that animal. This website was not only user-friendly but also contained content suitable for 1st-grade students, making it easier for them to collect research data for their projects.
In the higher grades, teachers often integrate learning software or websites that support the curriculum, such as popular tools like Kahoot!, Quizizz, and Quizlet, which are used to turn weekly vocabulary or grammar lessons into games for students to review. In reading courses, they frequently utilize Jamboard to help students organize their article structures. During project work, older students learn how to gather data from the real-world internet, find trustworthy online information, and effectively incorporate their findings into their project works. These are crucial skills that older students need to learn when using digital tools.
As an example, in the 5th-grade project “The Shark Tank,” students not only searched for relevant information on whether animals should be released into the wild or kept in captivity but also used a platform set up by their teachers, a simulated Instagram site called “Kangstagram,” to exchange comments and opinions. Through this process, they not only found an alternative way to discuss topics but also learned about netiquette when leaving comments online. As a result, students working on this project had a more immersive and realistic experience, and they were able to produce very persuasive argumentative essays.
Through the practical integration of digital tools into teaching, we believe that we can provide our children with a more comprehensive and interactive learning environment. Our goal is not only to impart knowledge but also to empower them to harness the advantages of digital technology for learning in this rapidly changing era, thus expanding their knowledge in broader areas and nurturing Kang Chiao’s students to possess 21st-century information skills.