Harris classes in lap of luxury

Dundee schools are set to be trail-blazers for a new high-tech way of teaching and learning, it was announced yesterday.

Deputy Education Minister Nicol Stephen was treated to a glimpse of the future of education through the pioneering personal ICT scheme at Harris Academy.  It involves pupils and teachers being equipped with laptop computers which are supposed to help improve the teaching process both at school and at home.

Personal ICT will also be looking at the impact that new technology can have on younger pupils at Whitfield Primary.  This pilot project will be used to gauge the viability and impact of using new technology in schools across Scotland.

Mr Stephen said, "This is an exciting project that will allow pupils, teachers and parents to explore how information and communications technology (ICT) can transform teaching and learning.  Schools in Dundee will be among the first in Scotland to look at these new, trail-blazing ways of Working."

"The personal ICT focuses on a learning environment where all pupils and teachers have their own personal laptops.  These computers can be used anywhere in school or at home to access networks for learning and teaching. The experience gained from this project will be circulated widely through the education sector.  Further decisions about the use and importance of computers in Scotland's schools must be based on real-life experience."

From 1999-2002 the Scottish Executive intends on pumping over £90 million into the National Grid for Learning to change the face of education.  Personal ICT is worth over £270,000 - which represents a major investment by the Scottish Executive and Dundee City Council.

The rector of Harris Academy, Jim Thewliss, commented, "The children are very excited about this.  I'm actually trying to calm them down just now.  It is two first year classes that will be involved and of course all their teachers.  The project will begin in January when each child is given his own individual laptop and will continue for the next two or three years involving the same children."

"This project fits in well with our plans for the school and has taken us further than we would have been able to go with our own resources.  It is fabulous news for us and Dundee."

(Original text from Courier and Advertiser, Saturday November 24)