Executive Summary:
Balwyn High School faced challenges with outdated, wired classroom technologies that restricted teacher movement and student engagement. The adoption of Vivi’s wireless screen mirroring and ClickView’s content transformed their learning environments, enhancing interactivity and educational flexibility.
Background
In Melbourne, Balwyn High School is changing the way classrooms operate by adopting innovative educational technology. By integrating Vivi’s wireless screen mirroring with ClickView’s curriculum-aligned videos, they’re leading the charge in creating engaging and interactive learning environments. This partnership allows teachers to move freely and interact more effectively, while students benefit from richer, more engaging educational experiences.
This story of Balwyn High School is a prime example of how the strategic combination of Vivi and ClickView is essential for modernizing education. Their successful integration demonstrates the substantial benefits of using these technologies together, making a compelling case for their necessity in schools striving to enhance teaching and learning.
Three key figures drive this transformation:
- Deanna Pattieson: An experienced science teacher, drawn to teaching by her passion for helping young people.
- Annie Riley: An English teacher of four years, who combines her love for literature with a desire to help.
- Rein Kiviväli: The Learning Environments Manager, a visionary who sees technology’s potential to reshape education.
Challenge
For many years, Balwyn High School has embraced new technology in the classroom. It was the addition of Vivi and ClickView however, which had the biggest impact, freeing teachers from the front of the classroom and increasing engagement. Riley reflects on what life might have been like before Vivi, “I would find it challenging to not have Vivi to just project the screen and move around.”
Pattieson added another issue: “We used to plug in the HDMI to our laptop…always tied to the front of the classroom with the cable.” “Going wireless has saved time and removed a potential trip hazard.”
Moreover, engaging content is crucial for reaching students. As Riley notes, ‘Sometimes some students are much more engaged with video than other ways.’ This emphasizes the need for dynamic, multimedia-rich lesson plans that address the diverse learning preferences and shorter attention spans of today’s students, making lessons accessible and engaging.
Solution
Enter Vivi and ClickView, strategically implemented by Kiviväli in a phased and considered manner. ‘Nothing happens overnight,’ he emphasizes, “You must be cautious not to overwhelm users—it’s easy for them to dismiss new technologies, if not deployed methodically.” The rollout began with Vivi connected to 20 screens, and it has successfully expanded to over 100 over 3 years, demonstrating a careful balance of innovation and ease of adoption.
Vivi’s wireless screen mirroring is a game-changer. As Kiviväli emphasizes, “Not having to deal with cables is a huge relief. Before, we were constantly adjusting different lengths of cables, dealing with broken ends and tripping hazards.”
ClickView, which provides educational videos to schools, complemented this with rich, subject-specific content. Riley’s English classes dive into ‘The Adventures in English’ documentaries. For Biology, Pattieson shares, “We certainly use ClickView a lot for flipped learning.”
Even better, the two solutions work well together, with teachers sharing ClickView video content directly to classroom displays from within Vivi. Riley appreciates the balance of flexibility and control the integration provides: “You have a lot of freedom and control over the content that you’re sharing when you use Vivi with ClickView.” Pattieson adds, “Being able to store a video in Vivi so you can use it for another class…that’s pretty great.”
Outcome
- Enhanced teacher mobility: Teachers now move freely. Riley’s favorite part? “Being able to roam around the classroom while projecting on the screen.” Pattieson adds, “You can engage with the students, and you can also manage behavior a bit more easily.”
- Improved student engagement: Interactive content boosts involvement. Riley even uses unconventional choices: “I’ll play maybe a ‘Bluey’ episode…they get a break, but I still get them to interact with the English content.”
- Personalized learning: ClickView’s flipped learning videos allow self-pacing. Pattieson observes, “Students value being able to go back and watch it again and stop it and take their notes.”
- Timesaving and efficiency: Riley appreciates this: ‘Being able to project information straight away…saves time in the classroom. We can get through content more efficiently.’ Additionally, the integration allows teachers to easily share content via Vivi. Using the ‘Play Content’ feature, teachers can continue with other tasks, further enhancing classroom efficiency and multitasking capabilities.”
- School-wide impact: For Kiviväli, Vivi’s potential is vast: “Everything being integrated into Vivi Central…it’s becoming not just a classroom tool, but a school tool.” It’s in classrooms, meeting rooms, and teacher spaces, with plans for digital signage and emergency alerts.
Implementation and adoption
Balwyn wanted to ensure a smooth rollout that was sensitive to the challenges of changing how teachers do things in the classroom. Kivivalli stressed their phased approach, “We rolled out Vivi in 20 classrooms, then added another 30 classrooms, then 60, over three years.” While conservative, it allowed Balwyn teachers to adapt to new technology at a manageable pace. Teachers with more experience helped train others within their learning teams.
Looking ahead
Moving forward, Balwyn aims to fully integrate Vivi and ClickView across the entire school community, including expanding usage beyond classrooms to incorporate the broader school communication initiatives that Vivi supports.
The school is actively exploring additional use cases, such as integrating the systems into emergency management protocols, further solidifying their role as essential tools for overall school operations and safety.
Final thoughts
As the world continues to evolve at a rapid pace, Balwyn’s commitment to technology-driven education positions it as a trailblazer, paving the way for other institutions to follow. Their journey serves as a roadmap for schools worldwide, showcasing the transformative potential of integrating innovative solutions like Vivi and ClickView into the educational experience.
By embracing the power of technology as a catalyst for change, Balwyn has not only redefined the classroom experience but also set the stage for a future where education is truly personalized, engaging, and tailored to the unique needs and aspirations of every learner.
