This article was featured in the South China Morning Post. See more of AIS In The Press.
With the use of technology playing an ever greater role in education, American International School (AIS) in Kowloon Tong is leading the way by looking to embrace change and redefine the experience of learning.
The intention is to ensure students have the tools and skills to succeed in today’s fast-moving world, as well as the flexibility, choices and creative confidence to come up with new ideas and the courage to put them into effect. To this end, AIS has been recognised since 2023 as an Apple Distinguished School, a much sought-after designation based on a commitment to innovation and continuous improvement in education.
In effect, that means empowering students to learn, lead and discover new opportunities through the use of Apple products like Mac and iPad plus a wide range of other apps, while also letting teachers design exemplary lessons that bring every subject alive. “Attaining accreditation is a process,” says AIS Head Of School Ms. Anita Simpson. “We put Creative Confidence at the centre of our ‘Future Framework’ and have found that use of the tools is intuitive, helping students and teachers demonstrate their creativity and achieve learning goals.”
When integrating technology into the school, three words guided the thinking and decision making: inspire, imagine and impact. They continue to be important in shaping a culture which encourages a spirit of exploration, individual talents, and the belief that everyone has the potential to make a mark in the world.
“The tech tools are there to enhance learning and prepare students for a world we can only imagine,” Simpson says. “They work in small groups, build robots collaboratively, make videos, and bring their skills to school every day. The power of that has changed the way we see education.”
For Jeremy Green, Learning Activator and Apple Distinguished School Lead, one of the most impressive things has been the continuous emphasis on innovation in the classroom environment. “AIS has really taken that to heart for all subjects and grade levels,” he says, “We are cultivating a growth mindset around technology and encouraging teachers to be bold and experiment without fear.”
We use tech tools to enhance learning and prepare students for a world we can only imagine.
To make everything accessible, the school is always open to using apps which are not part of the Apple ecosystem. Teachers also make sure that each day’s activities include plenty of non-screen time with books and other mediums of instruction. For instance, AIS’ whole school Creativity Scope and Sequence focuses on student planning and creation of digital products (digital presentation, art, music and video production, and app creation) which can be a great way for students to collaborate, present their ideas, and engage an audience.
“There are new ways to communicate and interact with the rest of the class,” Green says. Other major benefits have derived from the selection and deployment of a 50-strong force of student leaders who to serve as “TECHsperts”. Members of this team, easily identified by their red lanyards, are largely self-taught specialists in different apps. They have a passion for technology and are there to assist fellow students on an ad hoc one-to-one basis and, more formally, teachers who would like to have additional tech support during lesson time.
The latter can mean TECHsperts leading a class or sitting in during a lesson, and perhaps circulating between groups, to help explain key steps and figure out any problems. On average, an individual TECHspert might be called on in this way once or twice a month, with the time and date fixed in advance via an official “ticket” system.
“Our youngest TECHsperts are 11-years-old,” Green says. “They apply to join the group and say what they are good at. Overall, the initiative is a great thing. It is building skills and helping to integrate technology in new and more innovative ways.”
Ankul Sidana, a Grade 12 student, notes that TECHsperts are usually expected to gain certification as an “Apple Teacher” by passing a short assessment from Apple Education to demonstrate proficiency with different apps or programs. “When instructing people, I try to let them use their instinct, not just tell them what to do,” he says. “Apple apps are consistent. Adding an image to a presentation or spreadsheet is similar, so building instinct and recognition is a big part of it.”
Also in Grade 12 at AIS, Lindsey Ng basically taught herself how to use GarageBand to produce music and is happy to share her expertise with others. “I’ve led a workshop,” she says. “TECHsperts also support the full Google suite and can get training and badges for that too.”
For Braeden Ng, a 12-year-old in Grade 7, requests for help often involve issues with an iPad, but he also provides in-class support in the Elementary, Middle and High School. “I had to teach a Spanish class how to draw a hybrid animal with the software,” he says. “First, I demonstrated what to do and then checked if they were doing it right or wrong. I practice the day before and feel confident about it.”
Kushvi Mehta, as a 13-year-old in Grade 8, admits to feeling a little scared when first asked to teach others, but soon got into the flow. “I’m most interested in digital art,’ she says. “Once you know the way, it is very easy; just a few clicks.”
This approach to sharing and spreading tech expertise is definitely proving to be a mutually beneficial; “By empowering students with the knowledge and skills to support their teachers and not expecting teachers to know every app inside out, we have lowered the anxiety bar and raised the bar on opportunities for creativity and innovation,” Simpson says.
