23 April 2020

By Tate Papworth

The chemistry lab at Caroline Chisholm Catholic College, Braybrook, resembled a television studio more than a classroom last week.

With a large number of students learning from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the school’s head of learning for science Marnie Bates said there were significant concerns for Year 12 students.

‘We were really nervous when this all started unfolding because we didn’t quite know how we’d get the practical component of Year 12 chemistry done for the students’, Ms Bates said.

‘It occurred to me that Edrolo, Australia’s leading provider of online textbooks for VCE students, might be able to help us out with videoing the prac, so the students could watch it back and gather the data they need.’

Ms Bates said Edrolo jumped at the chance to lend a hand and what started as a simple idea quickly became a production.

‘At first we were just going to use our phones, but they had a videographer and everything you could imagine. The set-up was amazing, it really felt like a video studio.’

While pleased with the result, Ms Bates said the most rewarding thing was being able to provide some stability to students in uncertain times.

‘This enables not only our students but all the hundreds of schools who use Edrolo to access this video.’

‘It’s a real feather in the school’s cap and backs up our strong STEM program.’

This article was originally published in the Melton & Moorabool Star Weekly on 21 April 2020.