Following our shortened Governing Council meeting on Wednesday June 21st, we had the privilege of attending the opening of Port Lincoln High School’s exciting new Lumination Learning Lab. There was a large crowd of interested special guests representing local government, business, parents, education staff and students. There was a real buzz of excitement and anticipation as proceedings commenced with an Acknowledgement of Country from Principal Student Leader Nathaniel Hirschausen-Burk. This was followed by a warm welcome and explanatory addresses from Principal Student Leader Denise Sadiwa, Principal Mr. Todd George and Lab Champion Mrs. Joh Walding. We couldn’t wait to have a go and experience this new way of interacting and learning.
Lumination’s Learning Designer Jolanta Stephens spoke about the relationship between this new technology and the ways that the school and her team are creating curriculum that can span all areas of learning with incredible new facilities and equipment.
The young and the young-at-heart alike spent the next hour eagerly immersing themselves in a host of virtual and augmented reality worlds. These included all manner of artistic, cultural, historical, technological, and scientific experiences, as well as several fun physical activities. I was particularly interested in the virtual reality activity of being an astronaut working on fixing a problem on the outside of the International Space Station. As pictured here, a turn in the virtual reality bowling alley quickly brought me back to earth again!
This is a strategic and committed initiative by Port Lincoln High School’s leadership and staff; it will provide advanced and immersive learning technologies to enhance teaching and learning and better prepare our children for the workforce of the future.
PS: It was great to see the team of PLHS staff and students working and learning so fluidly together on Wednesday evening. This really highlighted the strength of the school’s ethos to provide learning that is engaging, cutting-edge and inclusive of all learning styles, interests and potentials. Learning with the future in mind to create opportunities for the now.
~ Brian Gabb (Chairperson, PLHS Governing Council)
