By Tory Woodhead and Katherine Al
Elmwood is once again proud to announce that we have been selected as one of Apple’s distinguished schools. Apple awards this distinction to schools that demonstrate the promotion of leadership and educational excellence through the use of technology. Through our one-to-one technology program, the design lab, and other initiatives undertaken in the school, Apple recognized Elmwood as a driver of innovation through tech. We are extremely grateful for this merit, as Elmwood is one of only 19 schools in the country that have been awarded this distinction!
As technology and the online world become increasingly important in our lives, it’s imperative that our students develop these skills and best practices. Technology as a field of study is also becoming more important in the job market, so by engaging our students with tech early, the aim is that they will hopefully be more successful in their time after Elmwood. Our one-to-one laptop programs in the Middle and Senior Schools help our students become very well acquainted with new programs and technologies. We also foster this relationship with technology by introducing our students to more advanced forms of tech, such as our 3D printer and laser cutter in the Fab Lab. The use of technology in this way allows students to create things they had never thought possible, and gives them the opportunity to expand their knowledge and understanding of the subject at hand. Our use of technology is aligned with our Strategic Direction 2021+ and is underpinned by the constant that pedagogy drives technology, not vice-versa. Our school strategy is constantly evolving as we learn and our technology must continuously evolve and develop to meet the needs of the world and our students. Our faculty and staff are driven by improvement, and their training and support are paramount to our vision for success. As an all-girls school, we are very proud of our commitment to the whole girl, and technology is a key element in ensuring the girls are successful and ready for the world after Elmwood.
Learning is the single most important element of any school, and technology supports that. Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, believed that “technology is the bicycle of the mind”, driving us forward in our thinking. We hope that through our various technological initiatives, our students are able to see technology in this way too. Thank you again to Apple for the honour.