Head of Curriculum Leigh Tankey who, with staff support, helped steer the collaborative process that led to the school embracing tech decks as a behaviour management tool.
Schools are overly familiar with the 'from little things, big things grow' mantra, but at Agnes Water State School, the evolution of a 'tech deck' into a behaviour management program took even seasoned teachers by surprise.
The school has used a clever strategy to transform a popular playtime activity into a positive learning experience.
Students' bringing toys to school and resulting misuse and playground conflicts was presenting a challenge for teachers to manage.
Head of Curriculum, Mrs Leigh Tankey, said staff analysed the situation and applied a behavioural support model that has quickly achieved outstanding results.
'These were mostly students needing support around social skilling,' Leigh said.
'During breaks, they were taking their tech decks or toy cars to the library, running around chasing each other and having arguments about ownership.
'They were communicating to us through their behaviour what they wanted to do, so we set that up for them in a positive learning environment,' Leigh said.
The popular solution
The school established a supervised area at break time using school-provided tech decks and has recently added matchbox cars.
The system requires the students to take responsibility for the toys by signing them out, which also overcame the private ownership issue that caused problems previously.
'We haven't lost any, none have been stolen, and they've been very cared for,' Leigh said.
'We thought we'd need to set up some ramps for them, but the kids went to the recycling bin and got the cardboard out and they made their own.'
The systems allows for quick resolution of conflict, and a learning opportunity for students.
'For example, 2 preppies will come up arguing over the same car and say, 'I want that car, I had it first etcetera.' so we'll just stop and say 'Let's have a chat—so you would both like the car? How can we solve this? What could we do here?' And then they learn through the solution,' Leigh said.
'It does take a little bit more energy than you might use on playground duty where you're monitoring a couple of soccer games or something like that—this is more intensive and is targeted.'
Agnes Waters State School students with tech decks at play.
Educational benefits
In a classic case of giving someone responsibility to engage them, the students, mostly Year 3 and 4 boys, love the initiative.
And, according to the department's North Coast Region's Positive Behaviour for Learning Specialist, Billie-Jo McGregor, the innovative approach also brought a range of educational benefits.
'We have strengthened our positive relationships with these students who now feel heard and have their interests met at school,' Billie-Jo said.
'We have also strengthened positive connections within staff because together we came up with a solution that was considered and well-thought out.'
Leigh puts it very simply.
'The same kids who were doing the wrong thing in the wrong place are now doing the right thing in the right place,' Leigh said.
Leigh says staff don't think of the tech decks as toys.
'It's the thing that is the student's interest we have considered,' she said.
'Our role is to make sure their needs and interests are met—so offering this as a play option makes them feel they are heard and it's what they look forward to.
'This activity could be the thing that gets them into the school gates. They are excited because they get to do tech decks at play. This could be the bright thing in their day.
'They're more regulated, their moods are better, and they're more likely to go back into that classroom ready to learn.'