It’s coming true.

This month the Government’s promised ‘Digital Education Revolution’ is hitting home. An influx of laptops will arrive at Yass High School in the week beginning November 23.

Each Year 9 student will be given their own laptop. They will be required to take care of it, ensuring it arrives each morning full charged and ready for use.

Yass High School Information Technology teacher, Rod Saville, believes the laptops will change the way lessons are taught for the better.

“It’s going to be a great step forward. These kids will go into year 10 with a laptop and keep it until year 12 and beyond,” he said.

“The classroom structure will change. The teacher will no longer be the source of all knowledge. I’m confident it will enhance each student’s learning capabilities.”

Mr Saville was confident the school’s teachers would handle the transition. “Teachers are coping with change all the time. It’s a challenge but it’s an opportunity I’m sure they’ll all welcome,” he said.

The school’s technical support officer, Sam Columb, has been working rigorously to prepare for the computers’ arrival. Over the term break, Sam spent hours upgrading PC software and networking computers school-wide.

Another improvement to the school has been in the installation of the laptop wireless network. Pupils will be able to use 24 managed wireless access points installed into all permanent learning spaces within the school.

Year nine parents and students are invited to attend a meeting on Tuesday November 24 from 6pm in the library, where laptops will be handed out and questions answered.

Mt Carmel Central School also benefited from the Government’s ‘Revolution’. The local Catholic school last month received 16 PCs to accommodate senior classrooms.

As well as the computers, the school decided to install seven smart boards in selected classrooms, enhancing the environment in which students can learn.

Mt Carmel’s Information Technology Coordinator, Cheryl Walker, was very pleased with the upgrades and said it would benefit the high school students enormously during lessons. “We’re really happy with the improvements. It’s a plus for both students and teachers,” Mrs Walker said.