When technology is used purposefully, it becomes a powerful tool for engagement, discovery and personalised learning. At the heart of our digital strategy is a commitment to using the latest tools to enhance the educational experience while remaining deeply mindful of the boundaries required to maintain a focused and respectful learning environment.
To ensure consistency and technical proficiency, we issue each student their own Apple Laptop. This program empowers students to become self-directed learners, providing the platform for research, collaboration and creative problem-solving across all subjects.
Each student receives a brand-new laptop in Years 7 and 10. The cost of the laptop is included within the annual College fees. Laptop insurance is available at an additional cost.
Upon entry in Year 7, each student is required to complete a Digital Licence that outlines responsible use and aligns technology use with our Mercy values. This also represents an opportunity for families to set boundaries around the appropriate use of technology at home.
We recognise that technology works best when it doesn't become a distraction. We maintain strict off-and-away rules for personal devices, such as mobile phones, to ensure our classrooms remain spaces for deep thinking and face-to-face connection. All students are required to leave their mobile phones in their lockers during the school day.
Victorian schools have been mobile phone-free since Term One of 2020. While there is significant merit in keeping our College free of mobile phones during school hours, this is a temporary step. As technology develops, we cannot ignore how smartphones have become less devices and more of a lifestyle.
For an adult, moderating smartphone use can be a challenge. For a developing adolescent, this challenge is profound. As more research becomes available, the connection between early smartphone ownership and negative social, emotional, mental and educational outcomes for young people is becoming clearer.
Current research suggests more positive outcomes for young people from delaying smartphone ownership by one year. As a College focused on Wellness for Learning, we are seeking to meet this contemporary research with action. As such, we are asking families of our Year 7 students to delay smartphone ownership until the beginning of Year 8. This allows our Year 7 students to navigate an already complex year of change with an eye on making friends and settling into secondary school, instead of the pressures that smartphones bring.
To keep our community seamlessly connected, we utilise Compass as our primary communication tool. Available via a desktop portal or a convenient mobile app, Compass allows parents to access real-time updates, track schedules and stay engaged with their student's learning journey.
