(WickED) The Digitally-Enhanced Study Support Centre Project

The Digitally-Enhanced Study Support Centre Project was one of four original Digital Opportunities projects launched in 2001.  It investigated the manner in which digital resources such as computers and other electronic peripherals were able to be used to support students attending after-school homework centres in Christchurch and Invercargill.

The project was supported by an online learning portal called WickED that aimed to create and develop a ‘structured’ environment that promoted technology-enhanced learning through the provision of unit-based online learning experiences.  The bilingual website was trialled in the four study support centres with Year 5 to 8 students.

The WickED site was accessed and used by teachers and students, both within and outside of the project.

Interactive activities such as maths bingo and te reo Maori language activities, were available on the site, while students’ work could be submitted for consideration for online publishing.

Teaching resources associated with each of the topic-based units were also available for teachers to access. 

Each Study Support Centre was supplied with high-speed internet, computers, software, technical support and professional development from technology partners such as Microsoft, Telecom, Vodafone and ITAS Renaissance. While the project officially concluded at the end of 2003, many schools are still accessing the resources at www.wicked.org.nz