Carlton Primary School hosted a tour and open forum for parents and invited guests last Monday to show how digital technologies are used to enhance children's learning.
"I think some parents are concerned that their children are sitting in one place, looking at a screen all day and we wanted them to see how all of these tools are used daily in classrooms to deliver the curriculum," said acting principal Gaye O'Connor.
"As Carlton School continues to implement its digital school strategy with Google Chromebooks, other associated technologies are also being introduced into learning and teaching programmes to support personalising learning for its students."
Parents got a chance to observe learning and interact with children and computers followed by an open forum discussion where there was opportunity to raise concerns around internet safety, length of time spent in front of a screen and whether children would still use books and how the school was progressing with its innovations in e-learning.
MimioPads are a new part of digital development at the school that allow teachers and students to use a whiteboard or screen in an interactive way. A MimioPad is a wireless tablet and teacher Hayley Morris was demonstrating how the devices worked.
Students were writing descriptions of clouds on the MimioPad before passing it to the next child while each contribution appeared on a big screen at the front of the room.
"It is easier to write on the pad while looking at the big screen," said Ms Morris.
"It took me a while to get used to it and the students are finding it easier now, too. One really good thing about it is that you can print off the screen shots for students who are away that day."
Mrs O'Connor said the school was now fully digital in nine classes, and cloud-based learning was becoming more an integral part of the educational landscape. "It is important for families to see how engaged their children are; and how teachers monitor, manage and motivate learning via the internet and computers."
Mrs O'Connor said the tour and forum were well attended. "Comments were overwhelmingly positive with parents excited by the world being opened up for their children."