A School Visit to Camberwell South Primary School

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

A visit to Camberwell South Primary School to learn about the coding applications they are using. I met with Duncan Exton, a contact I made through iEARN ( a global collaboration platform for educators). Students demonstrated projects that they are working on. They shared from their iPads to the Apple TVs in the classroom. Perhaps the students were on their "best behavior" for their visitor, but I was very impressed by their attentiveness! Also, their level of engagement was quite high. After each project share, classmates would indicate something they liked and offer a suggestion for improvement. The shared their positive constructive criticism with thoughtfulness and kindness.

This class was a combination of first and second grade students. The project (recreation of something they had done on school vacation) was completed with Scratch Jr, with an app on the iPad. Many students bring their own device, but the school provides extras for the classroom. Students were able to articulate which coding options they chose and why. 

The classroom was very open, with tables, not desks. There were open spaces for whole class work and small group settings. Students were gathered together on the floor, as commonly found in our elementary schools. 

The grade 3 and 4 students were using the Kodable app to solve puzzles. They were also working independently in code.org. All students were engaged and well behaved. I also learned about an MIT developed app called Lure of the Labyrinth. This problem solving game and puzzle package comes complete with standards and the ability for students to work collaboratively in groups to solve the stages. The Lure of the Labyrinth is an option for a collaboration project, as is Scratch.


The grade 5 and 6 students shared their Makey Makey musical projects. Various items were used such as clay, foil, carrots, and bananas. 

I had a great day observing the projects and learning about the apps used! Thank you Camberwell South Primary School for your hospitality. I look forward to future collaboration between our students. That will be an exciting venture! 

Melbourne is a clean, vibrant, artsy city. It seems to have a "vibe" all its own. I spent two nights eating outside (in my winter coat!) on Degraves Street. What a fun laneway with cafes and tables throughout the lane.