WEEK 1: Introduction

Hello, my name is Laura Bain and I have been a Primary School teacher for 12 years.  My classroom experience has stretched across the primary years of schooling and has taken me between public, private and international systems, with several years spent teaching in the UK.


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School image created by Pressfoto - Freepik.com

Interestingly, it was while teaching overseas that I got my first taste of classroom technology. My Year 4 classroom in Essex had an interactive whiteboard and the school also had an impressive computer lab. My students attended weekly computer lessons with a specialist teacher, which I also ended up attending alongside them. I remember being amazed by what the children were achieving and wanted to learn how I could leverage these tools in my practice. This time opened my eyes to the potential of technology in education and had a profound impact on my teaching. When I came back to Australia, I entered the independent school system, where I have continued to work until now.
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I am happiest when I am doing new things and being creative and I guess that is why I found my home in the EdTech world. Technology has been a constant in my approach for many years now. I find it both interesting and exciting. I love the way it continues to challenge me and reshape my teaching. I also love how it can engage, provide access and help students achieve things they didn't think they were capable of. 

My work with technology in the classroom has seen me progress to an ICT Coordinator on the school Primary Campus and then to an eLearning Coordinator in recent years. I have been teaching the Digital Technologies Curriculum in a specialist role over the last two years and been heavily involved in the creation of a maker space and launching integrated STEM units across the Primary Campus. Next year, I step into the role of Head of Digital Learning and Innovation. I will be overseeing technology on  both Primary and Secondary campuses of my school. Part of this role will be assisting teachers to better integrate technology into their classrooms.

I began studying my masters in 2018 and hope to complete it at the end of 2019. While I admit to having plenty of practical experience with technology, I wanted a deeper knowledge of the theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of technology integration. Looking forward to learning more this session!