In 2022, we began our journey with one class in Year 7. Each year the class is composed of students and staff who have opted in or chosen to be involved. We believe that by providing students and staff the choice to engage in a new style of learning at Elderslie High School we will create the classroom learning culture required. We will offer the opportunity to all new prospective Yr 7 students and families in all future years. Students and families will register their interest through the Tech Elect Registration page above each year. We can offer this opportunity for only 1 class of 30 students each year. A fair and transparent process will then occur ensuring all students have the equal opportunity to access this opportunity. Successful candidates will then be notified and offered a place in the class and a small waiting list will be developed. In future years we hope to expand the program further but this will be based on intertest and availability. If your child is successful in gaining a place in this class, the opportunity will continue in subsequent high school years.

Our Tech Elect class will be like no other. Students will experience their learning from a custom created classroom. A classroom designed to generate the skills required to thrive in tomorrow's world, one that integrates technology use into the learning experience and allows students to be owners of their creative content demonstrating their knowledge, skill and understandings. Students will be arranged into groups and work collaboratively on their tasks, sharing ideas, receiving feedback then sharing with the rest of the class through a series of student pod screens. Each student pod workstation will include comfortable seating, writeable desktops for group brainstorming and presentations, connectivity to a pod learning screen and options for personalised audio experiences. It will look different, but the learning will be turbo charged through the use of iPad technology to provide instantaneous connection to each other, information, the teacher and the world that was once unattainable.

The students who choose to participate in this class will experience the first part of high school in a slightly different way to the traditional style. Students will remain in this classroom for English, Maths, Science, History/Geography, Languages and PDHPE (theory) classes. They will still work with expert teachers who will move to them rather than the traditional method of students moving around the school. We hope this will ensure students feel more connected to their learning space and each other, comfortable in the surroundings and provide an easier transition into a large high school setting. We also need our students to become creative consumers of their learning and we believe a hands on approach is beneficial. Students will be experiencing the subjects of Technology Mandatory, Music, Art and Agriculture in our specialised classrooms with our expert staff.

 We believe in fostering the soft skills needed in the future also. The learning will involve a strong emphasis on Collaborative learning experiences and team work, activities requiring and building Communication skills, integrated self and peer Critical Reflection evaluative techniques and encouraged autonomy and choice in Creativity to demonstrate knowledge, skill and understanding. Students will blend their learning using a book and an iPad. The use of a book allows students to continue their physical writing skills and maintains those skills developed in primary school. The use of an iPad sits nicely on a desk next to the learner to complement their bookwork, is portable, fosters creativity through its wide ecosystem of engaging applications and is easily managed to ensure that it's a learning device, not a toy or gaming machine.

Students and families will have the opportunity to enter their expression of interest through the Tech Elect Registration tab (above) during Term 3 of each year. We will offer an information evening during the Year 7 Information night each year and a session during Term 4 for all successful students and families. A link will be emailed to all parents who have provided an email address in their enrolment application. Details will also be posted through our social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram. Please contact the school on 4658 1110 for further details.