1B-4 - 1 - Audit of my school’s ICT use (what we have and what we do with it)

        At my school there are two IT labs and one EDPM Lab. Both IT labs have approximately 36 computers each with Internet connection. There are about 20 computers in the E.D.P.M. lab but there is no internet connection.

 There are five computers with internet connection in the staff room however there is one printer which is not working.

 There are two computers with a printer and internet connection in the Secretary office and there is a computer with internet connection and printer in the Principal’s office. There is also a computer in the Deputy Principal’s office but it has no internet connection.  The office also has a modern high-tech photocopier.

The school library has two computers with internet connection and a printer.

In my department (Visual Arts) there is a computer with a printer but there is not internet connection.

In my school ICT is used in a number of ways.

1. Use of the Internet.  The internet is used by both teachers and students to engage in online research, gathering information and communicating with others. Teachers use the internet to gather resource material to support their teaching for example viewing and downloading lesson plans ideas, worksheets and information on a particular topic to be taught. They research what other teachers and experts are saying  in addition to what they know and the textbooks are saying. They also use the Internet to download images, video clips and audio clips to assist in their teaching. For example as a Visual Arts Teacher I could download a video from YouTube or give the students the link to see a vides about ‘how to use the Airbrush to create Grafitti”.

 Students on the other hand use the internet to email  on-going projects to teachers so that they can check them, make corrections and suggestions and send them back.(This is done to prevent wastage of ink and paper.)

2.  For research and Projects: Students at my school use the internet to gather information to complete their projects. They use word processing to put this information together for proper presentation. Teachers too use word processing to edit information, making notes and creating worksheets, test and quizzes.

3. Information Storage: At my school the computer is used to store information such as students’ attendance, grades and biographical data.  Grade sheets are prepared electronically using both Microsoft word and excel. The school uses the ABUSSTAR system which stores the biographical data, attendance and grades of all students.

4. As Educational Software: At my school the software ‘Mavis Beacon” is used as a drill and practice exercise to teach students how to type correctly using the keyboard.

5. As a means of Communication, emails are sent from the HOD to teachers in the department, to the principal and across departments. Also the technology is used to send text messages to each other.

6. In terms of computer literacy, Information Technology (IT) is taught as a subject and also Electronic Documentation and Processing Management (E.D.P.M.). Both subjects use applications such as word, spreadsheets and database along with powerpoint and movie maker to create documents.