Technology at Trinity - How it's changed our lives
by Shayaan, Jared and Shashank
The Technology Industry is an ever-changing thing and new discoveries and inventions are always on their way. Over the past six weeks, the Trinity Tech Team - Shayaan, Jared and Shashank - have looked at how technology has evolved at the school. The team have been working hard to interview teachers, take pictures and get statistics to piece together the changing story of technology at Trinity.
We are the JK team and we have cracked the truth about Trinity’s terrific tech, which now includes around 350 computers and over 100 iPads! They have even brought a Virtual Reality headset into the school.
We had a few key questions for members of staff about how technology has changed over the course of their Trinity career. What was a computer like back then? How did they teach and learn? How have things changed? We were determined to get answers.
First we went to Mr Tucker, Head of Science at Trinity and a physics specialist. He joined as pupil in 1969, before later becoming a teacher. He explained how a printer in his time was called a Bander machine. They used alcohol to print out copies and Mr Tucker would happily bring them back. He said, “The copies were printed with a bit of alcohol so after the copy came out it would have a nice smell!”
Next we went to the dramatic Mr Mazur, Head of Drama. He gave us a pretty good idea of what was considered a ‘wow’ back in the day. Twenty-eight years ago, Trinity wasn’t a must-have-tech school and even then they had the odd phone. He said, “The newest bit of tech in the school would be a mobile phone, which one of the sixth formers had. It was the size of a brick and had to have a very long aerial. The computers were the size of a classroom and we didn’t have any because we didn’t need them."
We had a few key questions for members of staff about how technology has changed over the course of their Trinity career. What was a computer like back then? How did they teach and learn? How have things changed? We were determined to get answers.
First we went to Mr Tucker, Head of Science at Trinity and a physics specialist. He joined as pupil in 1969, before later becoming a teacher. He explained how a printer in his time was called a Bander machine. They used alcohol to print out copies and Mr Tucker would happily bring them back. He said, “The copies were printed with a bit of alcohol so after the copy came out it would have a nice smell!”
Next we went to the dramatic Mr Mazur, Head of Drama. He gave us a pretty good idea of what was considered a ‘wow’ back in the day. Twenty-eight years ago, Trinity wasn’t a must-have-tech school and even then they had the odd phone. He said, “The newest bit of tech in the school would be a mobile phone, which one of the sixth formers had. It was the size of a brick and had to have a very long aerial. The computers were the size of a classroom and we didn’t have any because we didn’t need them."
The creative Design and Technology teacher, Mr Price, joined Trinity in 1980 as a second year student. He told us about how all the things we have today are very impressive and that Trinity has always been a great school for choosing the latest tech. He explained that having things like CAD (Computer Aided Design) and CAM (Computer Aided Manufacture) really helps to make up lots of time in the workshop and get the work done quickly. However, he is still a fan of the old ways, “We’ve still got hammers, we still use hammers, I like a hammer – always use the biggest one whenever you can!”
Finally, we spoke to Mr Van Graan, the Head of E-Learning at Trinity and the main man in charge of all the tech. Although he only joined a year and a half ago, he had lots of experience and had a story to tell from his childhood in South Africa. He said, “When I was at school computers were not very sophisticated back then, they didn’t even have a mouse! Being able to turn on a computer and make a file was like 'Whoa, you’re a genius you’re really cool!' So… it’s been quite a change!”
Clearly technology has changed dramatically throughout Trinity over the years and teaching has progressed with it. We are just at the start of our Trinity careers and we can’t wait to see what the future holds and how technology will boost our learning.
Finally, we spoke to Mr Van Graan, the Head of E-Learning at Trinity and the main man in charge of all the tech. Although he only joined a year and a half ago, he had lots of experience and had a story to tell from his childhood in South Africa. He said, “When I was at school computers were not very sophisticated back then, they didn’t even have a mouse! Being able to turn on a computer and make a file was like 'Whoa, you’re a genius you’re really cool!' So… it’s been quite a change!”
Clearly technology has changed dramatically throughout Trinity over the years and teaching has progressed with it. We are just at the start of our Trinity careers and we can’t wait to see what the future holds and how technology will boost our learning.