Apple Distinguished School Award for Flemington Primary School
At a invitation only event at the Bastow Institute for Education last week, John Cauch, International Vice President for Education at Apple presented Flemington Primary School with an award as an Apple Distringuished School.
Principal Lesley McCarthy and eLearning Leader Phill Cristfaro accepted the award.
Last Tuesday, Phill Cristofaro and I attended a workshop with John Cauch, the Vice President Education for Apple. He spoke about Apple’s focus on learning as distinct from education and their work in developing personal devices to support 21st century requirements. He used a quote which is part of the rationale for our work and that is:
“You have to risk going too far to discover just how far you can really go.”
Then, Flemington Primary School, along with 7 other Victoria schools was presented with a certificate of attainment as an Apple Distinguished School. Apple Distinguished School designation is reserved for schools that have demonstrated Apple's highest vision of a successful 21st century learning environment.
The selection of Flemington Primary School as an Apple Distinguished School highlights our successes in enhancing and extending teaching and learning with thoughtful and innovative implementations of technology.
Schools nominated for designation as an Apple Distinguished School must demonstrate the highest vision of a successful 21st century learning environment, and a willingness to share best practice with other schools and educators.
The specific manifestations of these qualities include:
• A school that demonstrates "best practice" qualities of 21st century learning environment;
•Visionary leadership;
•An ICT infrastructure that supports a blended learning environment;
•Engaging teaching and learning methods that capitalize on the qualities of today's students who are mobile, collaborative and creative;
•One-to-one access to portable / mobile access devices for teachers and students;
•Evidence of ongoing professional development;
•A systematic approach and ongoing process for evaluation and assessment of results for education improvement and sustainability.
Congratulations to Phill and the Grade 5/6 team – Elise Turner, David Meyer, Fiona Themann, Christina Laught and James Thomas {2012}; and to Bruce Ziebell and Danh Ho for their involvement.