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Learning Curve
Revitalising Revision
Revitalising Revision.MAGS students are big web users, and they're not just browsing. Sara Goessi finds out how the internet helps them prepare for exams.
Chris Barnett is researching how to make a mummy. Matthew Rowland is working on ray diagrams. Alina Oleinik is studying optical illusions.
There's a teacher on hand, but it's not their science teacher. They can email him their questions, and he's given them a list of Revitalising revisionuseful websites to look at to help them with their study. He's posted those links online, using a system called MyClasses. MyClasses is what's known as a virtual learning environment, which Mt Albert Grammar started trialling last year through Telecom's SchoolZone.
It works like an intranet, which is like a kind of private internet used by schools and other organisations, where users can share information and resources but no one outside has access. It also lets them share a broadband internet connection. Elise Goddard - who teaches French and German, looks after the library, the school's website, and learning through ICT - says MyClasses is perfect for schools like MAGS because it's much cheaper and easier to maintain than an intranet.
"It puts the power in the hands of the teachers to create resources - and actually in the hands of the students," she says. It does away with the need for network support people, and means that teachers can repeat teaching material, rather than having to start again from scratch.
"The interesting thing we've found is that when you create something you can roll it over for the next year, with just a little bit of editing," she says. "So there's a big intial setup time but the stuff we create can be used forever and a day."
Chris Barnett likes being able to email his teachers: "It's useful if you've got a project and you want to email it to the teacher. You just make a new message and send it." Every MyClasses user at the school has their own MAGS email address, which they can access from school or home.
Several of the other students also say they particularly like being able to email their work, so if they're sick or unable to attend school, they can still get their work in on time and keep up with coursework. It's also handy if you lose a homework assignment, because most of the teachers upload those to the site, Chris says. All you have to do is open MyClasses, find the relevant subject and download the assignment.
Rebecca Cross makes the most of MyClasses to work ahead. "We'll be told what we're studying in a few weeks and then quite often I go on and read up a bit so I understand more in class," she says. She also gets a lot out of the websites recommended by her teachers.
"There are all these really cool links," she says, "so we get lots of extra information that we wouldn't learn in class." There's more to MyClasses than handing in assignments and keeping ahead of your class, too: it also makes learning a lot more fun. "In class we usually do stuff out of a book," Georgia Christian says, "but using MyClasses you can play games to help you learn and do quizzes and stuff."
Georgia spends more time on science than on other subjects, but finds the interactivity offered by websites equally useful in other classes. "It's the same with languages," she says, "because you can play games to help you learn the words and the sound of words. You can listen to the letters of the alphabet and you don't have to try and do them yourself. It makes it much easier than trying to figure it out yourself." Georgia's favourite sites for helping with her French study - Zut Language Skills and a BBC schools site - play French songs, which she can then sing back.
Alina Oleinik and Georgia are both keen users of MyClasses' calendar. "At the start of every term I have a look at what's new that's gone up and I write it in my own calendar at home," says Georgia. "So I can look at it and say, 'Okay, exams are starting tomorrow.'"
Matthew Rowlands found out through MyClasses that he had exams coming up, and says he likes the way he can easily find announcements posted by teachers to their classes. Once they know when exams are happening, the students say MyClasses really helps them study.
Sarah Marzana says being given a sample of essay questions really helps you prepare. "I'm pretty sure everybody says this," she says, "but there are lots of revision sheets and little quizzes which you can just quiz yourself and then you know what will be on there."
Sarah and Alina spend a bit of time messaging their friends, but the internet isn't as big a distraction as you might think. Interaction between pupils is an important part of MyClasses, which includes things like forums.
Today, Georgia is looking at what other students have to say about Eva Peron, in a forum set up as part of year 9 English. Their teacher has posted a question asking what was extraordinary about the former first lady of Argentina, and Georgia's enjoying the responses. "It was really fun because it was instant. So you could be on when ten people were on, and it was kind of like an online debate." She's also got a lot out of the links the teacher has provided about Peron.
"You have to write an essay so the teacher puts up all the links for us and so you can use the links to find all the information you need." Sarah says the fun side of MyClasses makes a big difference. "It gives a special perspective on that topic," she says. "You kind of think, well, that's not boring."
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