Music technology students at Kamo High School are learning audio engineering skills at the cutting edge of modern teaching practice.
It's called Technology Enhanced Learning and it could soon be the way many school subjects are taught.
The students use computers to access their lessons, working through an online course developed by
their music technology teacher Alex Wallace.
Mr Wallace developed the course last year as part of his post-graduate studies at Canterbury University.
The course has been recognised as an example of best classroom practice and included on a Technology Enhanced Learning DVD produced by Auckland University.
The DVD, which features interviews with Mr Wallace and one of his students, will be sent to teachers around the country to promote the use of technology in teaching practice.
Mr Wallace said students responded well to the course because they were familiar with the online format and could log on to the course from home as well as at school.
"It's a better medium for their generation to learn with," he said.
Mr Wallace said the course emphasised student enquiry rather than teacher-focused lessons, allowing him to facilitate the student's learning rather than directing it.
"It's pretty powerful stuff, but a lot of time that I had to put into it myself," he said.
Several of Mr Wallace's colleagues were keen to learn how they could develop online courses for their students.
Year 13 student Cameron Ferguson said the online course allowed him to experiment with options that would be difficult to replicate through standard teaching mediums.
"There's a lot more options to get answers," he said.
"You don't just have to go to the teacher, you can ask other students or find answers online."
He also enjoyed being able to work on the course at home.
"You just log onto it when you get home and fill everything on it at home, if you have a bit of time, and email your answers through to Mr Wallace and he can tell you if you've got stuff wrong."
