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JIS implementing mental revolution through technology
The main role of a school is to prepare its student to become a generation of tomorrow who are equipped with knowledge and social skills and prepared to face the modern working environment.
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- (Courtesy of JIS/-)
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he main role of a school is to prepare its student to become a generation of tomorrow who are equipped with knowledge and social skills and prepared to face the modern working environment. In view of the rapid technological advances, Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS) continuously attempts to ensure that its students are equipped with more than just technology know-how. Besides mastering technology, JIS envisages their students to positively impact their communities.
JIS is highly committed to teaching technology literate global citizens in line with its vision to become “good digital citizens". This vision is attained through a technology-based learning process properly instilled from the early stages of childhood education to high school education. Through the One Student One Gadget program, JIS seeks to accommodate students’ needs for technology information to support their learning process.
Jane Ross, Technology Integration Specialist of Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS), stated that the use of communication technology at JIS has been tailor-made for students from each educational level. For example, JIS introduces the technology to elementary students through the use of tablets in small groups consisting of two or three students. The students learn to operate the device equipped with special learning applications from the school to study, record and even report what they have learned in class to their family members from their individual learning account. At the elementary level, the students are trained to operate a laptop to support their daily learning. Meanwhile, the 5th graders are equipped with individual laptops for classroom activities.
In JIS middle school and high school, students start to receive a variety of individual assignments that require them to master the use of technology. Starting from robotics classes, science, foreign language, photography, filmography to literature, everything is inseparable from the use of communication technology. In fact, sports and extra-curricular activities, such as art, are also closely related to technology.
The One Student One Gadget program is designed with clear objectives in mind. According to Christina Devitt, JIS Technology Advisor, the use of communications technology is central to support the learning process at JIS. As a teacher and Technology Advisor at JIS, she admits that in this era of technology it is difficult to limit access of communication technology to children. Students must be taught to use the widest yet, at the same time, most responsible access to find information needed for learning.
All is done in an effort to give students at JIS global competitiveness. As President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said, a mental revolution is needed. "We believe that our contemporary world is filled with traditional approaches, while in these changing modern times, we must build synergy with technology. Thus, we must attempt to accommodate and attune the new era and what it brings," said Christina.
The impact of modern technology has prompted a generation defined by individualism as information can be self-attained. However, given this situation, JIS strives to encourage compassion and cooperation among students by instilling a collaborative approach rooted within the school’s culture.
The use of technology is expected not only to build students’ perseverance toward learning, but also to shape their character and support their growth to become "good digital citizens". Christina also added that there are effects of technology on students other than being self-reliant and gadget focused. Not only does it support individual assignments, students are also able to use technology for their group assignments. According to Christina, the use of technology has greatly supported students’ learning processes and has encouraged them to be proactive and participate during discussions.
Christina stressed that the students at JIS are prepared not only to become technology literate citizens but also responsible digital citizens. Apart from finding information, JIS shares the responsibility to encourage proper and polite use of technology for social purpose through social media platforms. This includes proper etiquette in sharing and disseminating information as well as responding to social media postings or comments.
To learn more about JIS please visit www.jisedu.or.id
