Students Log-In to High-Tech Learning

From the Southern Gazette (Community News), 1st November 1999

Year 3 Students at Cloverdale Primary School are involved in a novel project that involves multimedia technology, learning and fun and games. Thirteen students have been appointed to the Junior Advisory Board of Fun-Ed - a new multimedia company designing educational computer games. Last term the children were surveyed to find out what type of games they enjoyed playing.

This term the Fun-Ed development team is working closely with the Cloverdale students who formed the Junior Advisory Board on developing the games. Last week the students were issued with their own business cards and Fun-Ed t-shirts and spent a day working with the development team.

School Principal Colin Hollier said the students' involvement with the project had many purposes. "It has enabled our year 3's to actually have a say in materials they will work with in the classroom.

"It has also provided extension for our more talented students - enabling them to be involved with technology, while compiling activities that are fun." Mr Hollier said. "We trust that the experience will also teach the children some degree of selection in what is appropriate for their age group. " Seeing their names in finished product will increase their motivation to try new ideas." Fun-Ed is a subsidiary of the Jaycees Community Foundation. Fun-Ed consultant Bronwyn McCormack said that during the next few months the students would learn how computer games are designed from start to finish, give advice to the Fun-Ed development team, play games and have fun.