Central to the core values of Sydenham-Hillside Primary School is the challenge we set to be innovative and inspiring in our search for excellence in curriculum, teaching, learning, performance and relationships, which produce engaged, robust citizens and lifelong learners capable of shaping our future.

The school “1:1 iPad Program” affords the opportunity for our students to enter a new world of curriculum possibilities, allowing engagement and involvement in their learning. Learning experiences across the school are purposefully designed to develop the attributes of a life-long learner. In this way, each student learns to develop and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, practices and attitudes necessary to be an engaged, robust, 21st century citizen, capable of shaping our future.

The 1:1 iPad program is part of our ongoing plan to engage students in learning. iPads will be used as an explicit learning tool to do the following:

• Develop the ability of students to become ‘Digitally literate’ by being able to transfer knowledge and skills and apply it to new technologies

• Access interactive learning in Literacy and Numeracy via the web based programs

• Explore creative tools for showcasing the learning styles of students.

• Communicate within and beyond the school as part of an interactive approach to learning

• Encourage a connectedness between home and school to support learning for students and families

• Provide students with 24/7 access to their learning.

• Students are able to choose the type of product they construct to demonstrate their understanding through the use of different apps.

• The iPad is a personal device and reasonably priced to act as a 1 to 1, anywhere, anytime learning device.

• The abundance of applications (apps) and access to information on a vast range of topics allows students to peruse topics they are interested in learning about.

• Notes can be kept together in one place, commented on and can be accessed anywhere, anytime.

• The touch interface correlates to the technology that students use in their everyday life and allows a high level of interactivity.

• A 10 hour battery life means the iPad can be used throughout the entire school day.

• There is anywhere, anytime access to information that contains text, sound, images and interactivity. Information is displayed in rich multimedia that is appealing to students.

• Light and portable, easily carried in the school.

• The iPad requires minimal technical support.

• ICT and Digital Technology is becoming a larger part of the curriculum

• Research states that ICT skills and technological thinking are essential for those moving into the workforce

• Using digital technologies makes learning more authentic

• It is our responsibility to teach kids how to be safe and act responsibly online (digital citizenship)