21st Century Learning & Technology

Today's world has been transformed by information technologies. More importantly, information literacy - the ability to use the information that new technologies make available- is a critical learning experience. Students must acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to access, evaluate, use and communicate information efficiently and effectively.

At BISS, we believe that skills, habits and attitudes while using educational technologies should be fully integrated into all curriculum areas and teaching. Students in BISS use engaging technologies in collaborative, inquiry-based learning environments. BISS teachers are willing and able to use the power of technology tools to assist in transforming knowledge and skills into products, solutions and new information. The focus at all time is on learning and enhancing outcomes. The technology itself is ubiquitous and supports learning needs at all times.

A robust wireless network supports mobile computing devices across the school campus. Learning management systems including Web 2.0 tools support online and blended learning. Students at all levels are expected to become reliable and responsible digital citizens as they interact online and use technology in their learning.

All teachers and students at BISS are expected to use digital technology, including desktop computers, laptops and handheld devices, school network facilities and associated online tools in an ethical, culturally sensitive and appropriate manner for an educational community. At all times BISS community members are expected to conduct themselves in a manner which is cognizant of the rights, feeling and freedoms of others as well as themselves. Due consideration must be given at all times to the effects one's actions have on other members of the BISS community, the host country and our global community. When using digital technologies at home or at school, digital citizenship in terms of responsible, reliable and respectful use is expected.


e-Learning in the Elementary School

Being able to read and write multiple forms of media and integrate them into a meaningful whole is the new hallmark of literacy. During the Elementary school years, students will develop appropriate digital skills that they can utilize in every subject. Units of work include the use of multimedia (images and videos) as a process and as a product. Classrooms are becoming increasingly equipped with mobile devices.

Grades form Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 2 are equipped with iPads (where there is an iPad for every two students) and Grades 3, 4 and 5 are working in a 1 to 1 learning environment while at school (where there is one computer/device per student in the class at all times) and take advantage of the fluency this provides for everyday workflow.


e-Learning in the Secondary School

In order to ensure that our students have access to 21st century learning methodologies to be competitive graduates and prepared for an ever-changing workplace, BISS has moved to become a predominantly digital school. To this effect a 1 to 1 laptop programme in Secondary School was introduced in 2009, and all students required to bring an Apple MacBook laptop computer to classes for personal use.


IT Services at BISS 

All laptop users at BISS have access the IT Services office (3rd floor admin area) from 7:45-5:00 Monday-Friday. They can also be contacted by email at itservices@biss.com.cn 

All students at BISS have access to the Internet through our campus-wide wireless network. To assist with internet safety, BISS has purchased and implemented Internet filtering software that provides keyword blocking of inappropriate websites, and this is monitored by IT Services and educational tech staff. At the same time, we foster digital citizenship and awareness while learning online as part of the curriculum across the PYP and MYP programmes. Situations of inappropriate use will be addressed as disciplinary issues. BISS maintains its commitment to e-learning and therefore will ensure access to an appropriate and efficient network to support online learning.


Learning Management Tools

Students across BISS currently use a variety of learning management tools (or platforms) to access curriculum directions and resources from their teachers, and collaborate on learning tasks. Parents have access to the public areas of these sites which are overseen by the teachers for safety, and can use it to communicate with teachers and their own children, review their children's work and share it with family members around the world.

Blogs are a very powerful tool to empower student action and help students reflect and share interests, hobbies, learning experiences while building writing abilities. Through the BISS Blogging Network, students and teachers are expanding their learning experiences beyond the classroom environment and traditional school schedule constraints.   

All students in the MYP programme maintain a digital portfolio online. Many teachers make use the BISS Moodle and/or wikis for online tasks, project-based collaborative work and for activity websites. The majority of BISS blogs and wikis are available for public view.

Various learning management tools allow BISS teachers and students collaborate in cross-curricular projects and provide the opportunity for feedback from anyone in the world, creating limitless collaborative options and improve student writing.


BISS Moodle: http://moodle.biss.com.cn/moodle/login/index.php 

Blogging Network: http://blogs.biss.com.cn