It seems kids these days are spending more and more time on portable devices – from school, to home and in the car.
As they are more widely adopted in the community, smartphones, tablets and computers are being used to teach kids and support their learning.
That’s exactly what we are aiming to achieve through Western Power’s new approach to our education program.
Since 2008 we’ve been visiting primary schools and helping more than 200,000 students learn about how electricity works and how to stay safe around it.
Over the years we’ve seen a societal shift towards a different approach in education, with a large focus on interactive and immersive technology.
Who would have guessed that augmented reality like Pokémon Go and virtual reality headsets would be such a big part of everyday life so quickly?
The exciting part is, this new technology gives students a better understanding of what they are learning as they become a part of the experience, get outside and be active participants in their education.
Electrical safety in a virtual world
July 2017 will see the Constable Care Safety School welcome its first students to a completely new experience. Students will navigate this scaled version of Perth streets on bike and foot, including rail/public transport, traffic lights, road works, school zones, and even powerlines and a green dome.
We’re proud to be able to be a part of this project that will reach over 20,000 students each year.
Last week a team of our new apprentices installed our piece of the puzzle, a scaled version of our power poles, standing at around 3m tall.
Students will view the poles through an iPad Mini where they will work through a simulated ‘powerline down’ scenario, choosing what to do and how far they should stay away from the hazard.
While this is a rare occurrence, it’s a great lesson to learn in this safe and interactive environment.
Being a part of the Constable Care Safety School is just one of the new ways we are working to educate kids in our operating area about Western Power and living near our network.
Soon we’ll announce some other exciting developments in our education program including a new interactive online version of our ShockProof program that will put kids firmly in the driver’s seat of their learning.
So while all of this new technology is moving fast, kids love it and they are ready to throw themselves in and tackle the new tasks it presents.