STUDENTS

Technology at The Overseas School of Colombo aims to engage students, strengthen student learning, and foster creativity, collaboration, and communication within and beyond the classroom. Technology has transformed education and OSC recognises the importance of keeping up with the latest innovations for our students to acquire the necessary skills to become leaders in today’s globalised world. They must become innovative thinkers, ask questions, research, and find solutions in response to the fastest-changing industries in the world today. At OSC, we effectively integrate the latest technologies and teaching methods to leverage and enhance our students’ learning process. In this regard, we believe the COVID-19 pandemic has been a blessing in disguise. Since we had to resort to the Distance Learning Plan (DLP) on a few occasions in the past few years, as a community we have fine-tuned our digital capabilities and are ever-ready to share this knowledge with those around us.

Technology Infrastructure at OSC

Our School is equipped with over 80 Cisco Meraki Access Points to support the Wi-Fi needs of the Bring Your Own Laptop (BYOL) programme from Grades 5 through 12, and over 50 Cisco Meraki security cameras, that are all connected to a state-of-the-art backbone network powered by Cisco Meraki network switches. Additionally, we utilise an enterprise-grade firewall, server systems, integrated printing management systems, and access control systems to provide a wide range of integrated IT systems to our school community. The OSC Tech Department also takes necessary steps to protect our users from data leaks and external network threats, whilst offering services and support to non-educational departments such as HR, Finance, and Maintenance. They also leverage cloud-based technologies to provide disaster mitigation and data recovery capabilities. Classrooms are integrated with touch-enabled interactive displays and projectors to further enhance student learning.

In addition to diagnostic services, the OSC Technology Department frequently purchases site licences or class application software. This includes access to online databases, cloud-based applications, and local computer programmes. All students receive these applications as part of their tuition and certain applications are required to use a laptop at school.

Technology in PYP

Technology is integrated throughout the Primary School. Students are issued school-owned technology devices in Early Years through Grade 4. Since the last academic year, our Grade 5 students have been successfully integrated into the BYOL programme and have begun to use their own laptops.

All students and teachers are provided with a Google Workspace for Education Account, allowing students and teachers to collaborate, communicate, and do classwork digitally along with cloud storage. Teachers carefully make use of our 1-1 laptop programme (Apple iPads, Chromebooks, Windows, and Mac computers) to enhance learning and reinforce healthy digital habits and routines, using Seesaw as our main learning platform.

Technology in MYP and DP

Within the Secondary School, the goal of the technology programme is to help students master many different applications, databases, and online tools that can help them to do research, create and communicate new understandings and learnings. The Secondary School has introduced the BYOL programme, requiring students to bring a laptop to every class daily and use technology regularly.

Our students are provided with the necessary apps and cloud storage to do their classwork digitally while collaborating with their peers and communicating with their teachers. ManageBac, our learning management system, gives students and parents access to their curriculum and online learning 24 hours a day, providing an alternative avenue for students and teachers to communicate.