ICT

In preparing girls for twentieth-first century work and leisure, we acknowledge the importance of technology in communicating information.

The ubiquity of technological modes of communicating, including the use of mobile technology, social networking, blogging, virtual learning environments, sharing, re-configuring and re-inventing are a natural way of life for many students. We aim to guide students through this rapidly changing landscape and help them use the tools they use successfully and creatively.

The creative use of technologies is, we believe, fundamental to growth. Starting from the individual, we ask ‘what do you want to create?' In this sense we do not specifically teach software skills, preferring to focus on the outcome rather then ‘click-by-click' training.

We do, however, utilise a range of professional tools that enable our students to achieve their goals. We make use of imaging software such as Photoshop, layout software such as InDesign and tools such as Dreamweaver and Flash to build web and interactive content. Students make animations, films and soundscapes; they explore interactivity and user-generated content making use of online information gathering technology through our intranet.

In subject specific settings, students make excellent use of professional, industry standard software to complete high-level work. For example, in Music Technology, students use Logic to write, record, edit, mix, and perform; in Art students use After Effects to composite film and animation; and in Technology students use InDesign to layout their coursework. Office tools such as word-processing, spreadsheets and slide presentation tools are standard in all subject areas at all ages.

Students make good use of the school's intranet to download work, to access subject specific blogs and to access streamed rich media. They also use online forms to conduct surveys and to gather data for manipulation.

Our aim is learning. We use any technology that makes this aim easier to achieve.