THERE was a time when Sekolah Seri Puteri, Cyberjaya English teacher Dr Adzuhaidah M. Taha had to lug a heavy laptop to her classes along with a long adapter wire to connect it to the projector in the room. It was either that or vie with the other teachers in booking the computer laboratory for her lessons.
Things have become much easier and simpler for teachers and students since 2014 when the school management adopted the “bring your own device” concept. With the implementation of the concept, teachers and students use Apple’s iPad as their primary tool in the teaching and learning process in school.
So now, Adzuhaidah, warmly called Ms Adzu by her students, carries her iPad to all her classes. There is no need for her to bring along any wires as the Apple TV is available in class and she simply has to wirelessly connect her iPad to it.
“iPad use at the school has been an eyeopener and an innovative way to teach students. Prior to its use, I used more of PowerPoint software, the chalk-and-talk method and other traditional ways of teaching,” she said.
“Through its use, I have become more creative in my teaching methods using Apple’s Pages, Keynote, iMovie and other software programmes and applications,” she added.
After practising four years of innovative teaching and learning using Apple technology, Sekolah Seri Puteri became the second Sekolah Berasrama Penuh, or fully residential school, and the seventh school in the country to be awarded the Apple Distinguished School status.
At an event late last year, the school received the award from Apple, along with recognition for 29 iChampion teachers and 60 Tech Leaders chosen from every batch of students to assist the others in transitioning to full use of Apple technology.
Nur Fatihah Mohamad Rizal of Form 5 Elit, one of the appointed Tech Leaders, said: “The status puts our school on a different level and I am still amazed at the recognition.
“Apple technology, especially Pages, has a sleek and convenient touch to it that helps a lot with work and assignments. It helps take our presentations to another level. Not only that, students are able to explore more and make discoveries outside the world of textbooks.”
She added that the technologies give students a deeper insight into their study preferences as some find that they do better with audio while others work better with visual apps. “Who can blame us if we prefer the use of these technologies as they make studies and classes so much more accessible?”
Fifth former Madihah Nabila Mohd Azlan from Kota, Negeri Sembilan said: “Education using advanced technology has made learning more interesting and effective.”
She added that Apple technology also makes communication between teachers and students easier especially if the teacher is not in school due to other work commitments. The same goes for students who submit assignments using the iTunes app.
“Teachers can highlight the assignment and comment on it, and students can make corrections without even meeting the teacher. Discussion and research can be done online too,” said Madihah Nabila.
“This proves that wireless education, and teaching and learning using modern technology have a huge impact on student learning and in increasing their ability to solve real-life problems.”
So what does it take to be recognised as an Apple Distinguished School? The road to becoming such a school is a long and arduous journey. Since Sekolah Seri Puteri embarked on the programme four years ago, it had needed to be continuously innovative in its approach to teaching and moulding students to become future global leaders. To this end, the iPad has proven to be a great tool in transforming the teaching and learning process as well as in assisting students in their co-curricular activities.
“Using the iPads has become secondhand nature to the students after a while,” said Adzuhaidah.
“Such use promotes critical and creative thinking which goes far beyond exams.”
The use of iPads has also given more students the opportunity to play music. For instance, they use the Garageband App to compose music and perform at events in and out of the country.
Students learn to code using the Swift Playground App, a vital skill in today’s digital world. They also use the apps in the iPad to assist in robotics competitions. For projects such as i-Garden, students scan the QR code to get information on plants in the school garden. For project o-Quip, students access past year exam questions and answer them online interactively. These apps naturally help to promote self-access learning in students. Other than that, the Fitivity app enables the basketball team, SCUD, to learn techniques of playing the game, while the iPad is used to record their games and helps them to improve on their performance.
To enhance student learning, the iPad offers the use of augmented reality technology when learning science subjects. Making objects and experiments come to life makes it easier to understand concepts. Students record the process and progress of their science project via STREAM in iTunes U. Here, teachers can access their work and monitor their progress. Teachers store their teaching materials in iTunes U. Assignments can be given to the students if the teachers are not in school.
Last year, the students showcased their work that made use of augmented reality and multiple 3D modelling at the Digital Maker Fair. Adzuhaidah said that the “bring your own device” programme has had a positive impact on both teachers and students. Parents are also excited about the programme. As not all parents can afford to equip their children with an iPad, the school has 180 devices available for loan. Some PUTERI alumni members of the school also help poor students to buy iPads.
Zuraini Mohd Zain, whose daughter Zuhayra Ermyna Izehari is in 2 Pintar, said: “To be able to enrol my daughter into an Apple Distinguished School is a dream come true.
“Through various learning techniques using the iPad, I witnessed how this ‘magical’ tool helps students to reflect, be team players and develop problem-solving skills.
“When my daughter comes out with her digital learning products, I am in awe at how and what she has produced. And as my family members are mostly using Apple products, it is much easier for us to share and view my daughter’s wonderful work. “It is a new way for parents to celebrate the learning culture. Undoubtedly, Apple bridges the gap between my generation and the young ones.”