The definition of homework is taking on a new meaning for some bussed students at St. James Catholic High School with the launch of a pilot project that will equip several buses with wireless internet.
In the first project of its kind in Ontario, Wellington Catholic District School Board will outfit three buses with wi-fi.
The busses transport nearly 100 St. James students daily to and from communities in Wellington County including Arthur, Elora and Mount Forest.
Students will have access to wi-fi on the bus through a secure network and will follow the same internet usage policies used at school.
Students will have access to Ministry of Education approved digital tools such as Desire2Learn, Google, and Homework Help.
Staff at St. James will be trained and coached on how to incorporate these tools into the existing curriculum.
“The board is always exploring new and innovative ways to make learning easier and more accessible for our students,” said Tamara Nugent, director of education. “This project is a natural fit for students at St. James, many of whom spend a fair amount of time commuting to and from school.
“Wi-fi on their buses will … encourage them to use travel time to engage in innovative learning.”
The project was made possible through collaboration with several business partners, including Wellington-Dufferin Student Transportation Services, Colony Networks Inc., Georef Systems Ltd. and Telus.
The pilot project will be evaluated throughout the semester, including feedback from students and staff.
