Picking one device for all gets everyone on the same page

When the newly built Riverbanks College in Adelaide’s north was preparing to welcome its first students, a great deal of thought went into the devices that students would be carrying to and from home.

Staff and teachers wanted a device with the capabilities of a PC, the portability of a tablet, and superior battery life. As a result, they chose the Surface Pro for years three and above.

A deciding factor was the Surface Pro’s digital stylus, the Surface Pen, which enables students to make handwritten notes and draw.

A Surface Pen is a game-changer

Riverbanks College’s head of learning technologies and data intelligence, Rowan Hearne, says handwriting skills are linked to the development of reading and memory.

“If you’re not writing, you’re not learning as much, he says, adding that the pen is useful for highlighting and making quick annotations.”

The use of a pen is essential for algebra, languages, diagrams and creative thinking. The Surface Pen creates notes in a digital form also means students’ work doesn’t get lost, are searchable and shareable.

The Surface Pen uses haptic technology to provide the “feel” of dragging a pen or pencil across a page, while the angle of the nib on the screen can change the thickness of the lines, allowing shading and calligraphy-style marks. It mimics the natural sensations of writing.

The college is investing significant effort into teaching the children to use the devices properly – and some parents also need a bit of time to adjust.

“We had one mother throw out the touchscreen pen, thinking it was an ink pen that had run out of ink. So that was an interesting start to Term One for that child,” says Hearne.

A new school can start with a clean slate

One of the benefits of opening a new school is that “legacy” systems and technologies do not have to be accommodated for the student devices program. Instead, the planners can look around the market to see what is available and choose what is suitable for their school community.

The college, in Angle Vale, operates under the public system and was established at a cost of $116 million. The first students arrived at the start of 2022 and enrolments are growing in a staged process. Today, there are 900 students from preschool up to year nine; the oldest cohort will eventually become Riverbanks’ first Year 12.

By 2026, total enrolment is expected to grow to 1675 students across early learning and care, preschool, primary and secondary school.

Hearne says families are to be commended for making the $1300 investment in the device – which is significantly more expensive than a Chromebook.

“That is a big thing for our community to agree to,” he says. In the geographic catchment for the school, not every family has access to a computer or reliable internet at home. Many families will be paying off the devices over time.

The families are investing in premium technology to ensure the students have the best access to future skills through Microsoft 365 applications increasing their employability in the long term.

One device policy means more time for teaching

Hearne says the devices program has made a difference in classrooms. Having everyone on the same tablets cuts down on the delays and disruption caused by having to give separate instructions for a variety of devices.

“If you’re trying to teach them a skill on a device, it is the same across the classroom, and kids can help each other within that class,” says Hearne.

“We use the whole Microsoft suite as well. So, when the teachers enter the room, they know the students have everything they need within that device.”

The school uses Microsoft platforms for administration, and the school communication channels are run through Teams and Chat, rather than emails.

This means the teaching staff are familiar with a range of Microsoft products, which helps them pass on their expertise to their pupils.

Senior business engagement officer at the Department for Education of South Australia, Ryan England, says some of the “feeder” primary schools in the area have also decided to adopt Surface Pros so that their students are accustomed to the devices when they start Year 7 at Riverbanks College.

Supporting students in the classroom and beyond

The school community is now reaping the benefits of choosing the Surface Pro for its PC-like capabilities, portability, and long battery life. In addition, the digital stylus enhances learning experiences, and the children are developing skills for the future through Microsoft apps.