St. Saviour’s School, Ebute-Metta, Lagos State, on Wednesday recorded another first in Nigeria nay all of Africa to introduce e-learning technology in the primary school sector known as LearnPad System.
The LearnPad is an exciting tablet computer built and designed by Avantis, specifically for use in schools and the classroom.
The device is a touch sensitive tablet that provides a safe and simple way to access a vast range of e-learning content, including applications, websites and flash based activities, as well as videos, music, e-books, documents and other digital curriculum content, even as it is internet enabled.
Speaking at the LearnPad launch, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, wife of Lagos State Governor, expressed delight on St. Saviour’s devotion to improved teaching and learning, adding that the State Government has learnt from the giant strides of the School.
Mrs. Fashola who was represented by Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, the State Commissioner for Education, said the State would look inward during the next budget to make provision for similar project be replicated in the Government owned primary schools, stressing that the State has always been supportive of educational enhancement through technology.
“This is a wonderful innovation and commendable I think should be replicate in our schools. As time goes on we will see how it goes. It is a thing about the budget which we have to look into.
“We have a robust ICT plan for Lagos State, not just the schools. For instance, we have about 200 schools that are ICT compliant and we are developing them in phases. Each term, more schools are added. It is an ongoing process and cannot be done in a day,” she said.
She said the State believes in the era that technology is already revolutionizing teaching and learning and will buy into the St. Saviour’s model.
Earlier in a welcome address, Mr. Tom Ogboi, chairman, board of management of the School, said they have kept faith with the vision of the founding fathers by maintaining high standards for which the school is known world wide, even as the academic records are unbeatable.
He said: “We are not beating our chest, but a beautiful legacy of 63 years is a great achievement. We are the first Trust not-for profit school in Niger. We led the way, shined the light for other private primary schools to follow. Today, we can look back and say without equivocation that we have made a positive impact on education in Nigeria.
“In addition, we have also added a few other firsts. For instance, we were the very first primary school to be internet compliant. We were the very first to have computer laboratory. We were the first to have a science laboratory. We were the very first to teach ICT as a core subject in Nigeria. We are also the first to teach moral instruction as a core subject and music as a core subject. Our children sit for Trinity College London School of Music, London and they perform very well”.
Ogboi added that they were the first primary school in Lagos to support public primary institutions through the donation of educational infrastructure to Lagos State School
Speaking further, he said, “What makes the LearnPad technology different is that it was developed by educationists and teachers for the pupils. It is like none other. The expert educationists and teachers have an understanding of the pupils and the classroom requirements and have gone ahead to develop this technology. Other systems were developed by scientists who do not have understanding of pupil and classroom environment requirement”.
Nodding in agreement, Mrs. Alisa Griffiths, head teacher, St. Saviour’s School, said the technology comes with many benefits such as access to elaborate or world wide teaching resources, language laboratory, continuous updates in latest teaching and learning materials, e-library capability, link with interactive white boards in the classrooms, complete teacher classroom control and pupils monitoring and total inaccessibility by pupils to unauthorized sites.
Griffiths added, “LearnPad features a secured, customizable user interface, providing a safe way for students to access only approved applications, content and websites. It has an integrated, secure full screen web browser that limits pupil’s ability to access non-approved sites and helps keep them focused on the activity at hand.
“LearnPad also provides access to network resources and shares, as well as supporting the widest range of digital e-learning content, more than any other tablet computer available today”.
LearnPad won the prestigious BESA Educational Resource Award for Best Primary ICT resource and was nominated in a further two categories, Best Secondary ICT resource and coveted innovation award.