Canberra Public Schools empower students to “Learn, Anywhere”
The Australian Capital Territory Education Directorate serves 45,000 students in 87 schools comprising the Canberra Public Schools system. They are committed to providing all students with technology for learning 21st-century skills. To fulfill that mission, they launched a districtwide digital schools program with the goal of empowering students to “Learn, Anywhere.”
Challenge
In order to provide a strong technology infrastructure to support improved learning across the district, the Australian Capital Territory Education Directorate connected all Canberra Public Schools into one centralised network using broadband Internet access. But their learning management system was difficult to use and did not scale to mobile devices, and many of the schools’ laptops were slow and obsolete. They needed a new learning management system and computers that were fast and easy to use to engage students in collaborative learning—at school, at home, and anywhere else they needed access.
Solution
In 2014, the Directorate ran a pilot test with G Suite and Chromebooks in four primary and secondary schools. G Suite were easy for teachers and students to use, and Chromebooks were affordable and in sync with the district’s wireless system. The pilot was a success, with students, parents, and teachers welcoming a new world of learning opportunities. They’ve since rolled out G Suite and Chromebooks districtwide. Students are now enthusiastic about working together in a safe, secure e-learning environment. They can truly learn anywhere.
