OLASHORE DEMONSTRATES BLEND OF TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION

In its quest to be one of the most technologically advanced schools in Africa and prepare its students for the new competitive knowledge economy, Olashore International School is integrating technology fully into its curriculum in a renewed and unique blend of technology and education. 

In one of the biggest ever  technology roll out in the school system in Nigeria, Olashore is entering into a strategic partnership with Apple through Core Group Africa, the authorized exclusive distributor for Apple in Nigeria and Sub Saharan Africa. 

When this plan is fully implemented, the students and the teachers will be solving complex problems and discovering latest research information simultaneously with the teachers in real time. This will be powered by the Apple iPad and a full educational technology back up from Core Group Africa- ‘the home of everything Apple in Nigeria’

This new and unique technology enhanced teacher-student connection for fast track learning was announced today at an Executive Briefing session in Lagos, under the theme: Blending Technology & Education for World Class Learning. Speaking at the unveiling of the initiative,  Prince Bimbo Olashore, the Chairman, Board of Governors of Olashore International School, stated that “Nigeria can no longer wait and be playing catch up with technology or keep waiting for technology transfer. We have to leapfrog to catch up and get our young Nigerians prepared for the new technology driven world. We are pleased to be making substantial investment in this direction.” 

The new comprehensive Technology in Classrooms program  is expected to be achieved by setting up LAN Network Distribution in Classrooms and Hostels, Proper Wireless Distribution in the classroom (one per class), indoor wireless device with high frequency, Firewalls to manage internet access on the iPad, Proper audio and visual multimedia systems in the classrooms that will support the iPad integration, Learning Management System that will not use the Internet, and a Mac Server for Mobile Device Management that will be used to manage the iPads. 

At the launch program, the School Principal, Mr Derek Smith stated that “Olashore International will also review its overall technology framework, through a curriculum mapping program, faster internet connection, a new mobile device management (MDM) to check unproductive online presence. It will also make professional development for teachers mandatory, constant and purposeful, and finally, reinforce Students’ responsibility in taking charge of their lives.”

Olashore School represented Nigeria at the recent  Apple Summit in Johannesburg. The Summit was aimed at running a successful students’ centered classroom, integrating technology in the class for differentiation, putting learning at the center of the class not the technology, enabling a successful flipping of classroom, maximizing the learning time rather than the teaching time, encouraging collaborative learning system as well as making learning more experiential and interactive for the students. The Summit also looked at how the Substitution Augmentation Modification Redefinition Model (SAMR model) in which a progression of the adopters of education technology often follow as they progress through teaching and learning can be adopted. 

All the learnings will be adapted in the new technology and Education initiative of Olashore School. Mr Derek Smith restated the commitment of Olashore International to remain the pride of Africa in secondary school education. The Chairman, Board of Governors, Prince Bimbo Olashore, stated that "Olashore International School is a leading academic institution where leaders are made by providing our students with life skills, leadership training, arts, sports and global exposure while preserving our core Nigerian culture and societal values."

Established in 1994, on 60 acres of land,  Olashore International School is a co-educational school  which offers high caliber education in a wide range of subjects at Junior Secondary, Senior Secondary and a University Foundation Programme in partnership with Lancaster University. Over the past 20 years, the school has succeeded in creating a community of world class services around the school including a first class hotel, a golf course and Leadership training centre that all combine to give the school a unique identity. The school is particularly appealing to discerning Nigerians at home and abroad, as well as expatriates residing in Nigeria, who desire a school with a strong value system, demonstrable track record and a clear sense of purpose.