Boorowa Central School principal Graham Jones receives a cheque from Boorowa Rotary president Lyn Diskon for the Nearpod licence. Photos: Supplied.
At Boorowa Central School, it’s all about community – regardless of whether that community is across the other side of the road, paddock or (cyber) world.
For this farming village in the Hilltops region of the Southern Tablelands, community means that everyone helps each other out, and just because its youngsters live in the bush and not the city, there is no reason for them to miss out – on anything.
To this end, the Boorowa Rotary Club has invested in Nearpod, a cutting-edge educational platform that transforms traditional lessons into interactive, engaging experiences.
Thanks to the support of Rotary, the local school now has a subscription to Nearpod, which gives a real-time look into how students understand their lessons.
Boorowa Central School principal Graham Jones said thanks to Rotary, the school could now not only enhance the learning experience for students, but also empower educators with the tools they needed to foster academic excellence.
“The support from Boorowa Rotary is truly transformative,” he said. “With their sponsorship, we are able to bring Nearpod into our classrooms, providing our students with innovative learning opportunities that will prepare them for success in the digital age.”
Boorowa Rotary president Lyn Diskon said Nearpod was a dynamic tool that integrated multimedia content, virtual-reality simulations, quizzes and collaborative activities and was set to become an integral part of Boorowa Central School’s curriculum.
She said Boorowa Rotary was proud to support the scheme, giving students in the regional district the same opportunities as those who studied in the metropolitan areas.
“The partnership between Boorowa Central School and Boorowa Rotary exemplifies the power of collaboration in driving positive change within the community,” she said. “By sponsoring Nearpod, Rotary is not only investing in the future of education but also empowering students to reach their full potential.”
Boorowa Central School teacher Ingrid Corcoran, who is also a member of Rotary, approached the community group to help after she saw the great results Nearpod achieved.
“It really is a game-changer for a lot of students,” she said, adding that it allowed teachers to know exactly where their students were up to and if extra help was needed.
“It works well for the children who don’t put their hand up in class. I have a non-verbal student in one of my classes and they can interact really well with Nearpod.
Boorowa Central School’s Ingrid Corcoran teaches her class using the Nearpod system.
“When we used it in just one lesson, I could already notice the difference.
“What it does is help you differentiate between different students’ abilities.
“It can be as simple as, as important as it is, asking someone how they’re feeling today.”
Boorowa Central School, which runs classes from kindergarten to year 12, has been educating young people in the Hilltops region for more than 150 years. As well as the town of Boorowa and its surrounding rural areas, the school also caters to youngsters from Reids Flat, Murringo and Rye Park.
Ms Corcoran said Nearpod had made all the difference for the Boorowa young people who, she said, deserved to have the same opportunities to learn as their city cousins.
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