- Technology
At Hangzhou International School (HIS), we're always looking for meaningful ways to support our educators in growing professionally – especially when it comes to thoughtfully integrating technology into our IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) teaching and learning.
That's where Nova comes in: our new internal SharePoint-based hub designed specifically as a central resource and playground for teachers to explore, learn, and share around technology integration.
Nova serves as a one-stop space where educators can easily find information on school tech initiatives, internal and external professional development opportunities, and most excitingly, showcase the innovative work happening in classrooms.
It's not just a repository; it's a living platform meant to reduce the daily cognitive load on teachers by making resources accessible and inspiring, much like we aim to do for our students in their learning environments.
Investing in teacher learning
This year, Nova's real power has shone through our dedicated professional development sessions. We've carved out time during several Wednesday staff meetings for hands-on, practical learning.
A major focus of the Nova professional development series this year has been artificial intelligence (AI) in education.
Sessions covered foundational understanding of what AI is, an overview of various AI tools tailored for education and their benefits, crafting effective prompts as educators, and aligning AI use with IB requirements for transdisciplinary learning.
At another session, teachers dove into the PICRAT model, a framework that helps educators reflect on technology use, by asking two key questions: What is the student's relationship to the technology (Passive, Interactive, or Creative)? And how does the technology influence teaching practice (Replacement, Amplification, or Transformation)?
This tool encourages moving beyond simply substituting old methods with digital ones toward creating more interactive, creative experiences for students that truly amplify or transform learning, aligning beautifully with the PYP's emphasis on inquiry, conceptual understanding, and developing Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills like critical thinking and research.
In short, 15-minute "speed sessions," we've shared quick, actionable tips and tricks for our learning management system, Toddle; practical ways to streamline planning, assessment, reporting, and student collaboration without overwhelming busy schedules. We've also explored robotics together, giving everyone a chance to tinker and see its potential in transdisciplinary units.
We emphasized extending thinking and designing richer learning experiences, blending analog and digital tools to support deeper inquiry and student agency.
These opportunities follow a thoughtful progression: starting with the "why" (grounded in theory and the principles of effective teaching and learning), moving into practical application, and encouraging iteration and refinement.
This mirrors the design thinking processes encouraged in the PYP and the reflective, iterative nature of developing a programme of inquiry.
Embracing a growth mindset
Teaching is demanding work. It calls for constant mental, emotional, and physical energy, not just to manage daily tasks, but to make a genuine impact on students' growth. We cannot ask our learners to embrace challenge, take risks, reflect, and evolve if we're not willing to do the same.
Initiatives like Nova honor that reality by creating supportive, low-pressure spaces for professional growth. When we lower barriers to exploration and make learning experiences engaging and insightful for teachers (just as we strive to do for students), everyone benefits.
Nova is still evolving, fueled by teacher input and shared successes. It's a reminder that growth mindset isn't just for classrooms, it's for us as educators too.
By investing in our own learning around technology integration, we're better equipped to design dynamic, inclusive environments that empower every student in our learning community.