Academic

Innovation

Hillcrest Christian College is passionate about educational innovation, and changing the landscape of conventional schooling. We continue to invest in our innovative learning environment, equipping students with the essential skills to thrive in our digital world.

Our classroom curriculum and practical cocurricular programs have been designed to embed learning experiences that teach new and emerging technologies, and create the best possible digital platform for our students.

Hillcrest was recognised for our high levels of innovation and received 

the Educator Magazine's Innovative Schools Award in 2017 for incorporating digital technologies, creative classroom design, and innovative pedagogy and programs. In 2021 Hillcrest was awarded the 2021 "innovation in learning environment design" across Australia for our Middle learning Community.

Hillcrest also received the honour of being invited to participate in Cambridge University's prestigious CAMBRIDGE STRATEGIES: INNOVATION 800 publication. The College was identified as a highly innovative educator, and asked to share more about our programs on the world stage, through this collaborative partnership with the esteemed University. Only 100 schools worldwide feature in this publication, and reinforces our position as a highly innovative school. 

View the CAMBRIDGE STRATEGIES: INNOVATION 800 publication here.

Hillcrest teaches a skills-based curriculum in our state-of-the-art learning facilities. Our brand new, purpose-built Prep - Year 2 Castle Precinct consists of 12 unique learning spaces in the design of a castle, with flexible indoor and outdoor learning areas, retractable doors, break-out spaces, modern furniture, innovative technology, and engaging play equipment.

The Years 5 - 8 Middle Learning Community and Precinct provides an innovative, open-plan environment that fosters self-directed learning and greater student engagement, and features an expansive open learning area, a sound studio, green-room, Skype room, Maker Space, media room, café and quiet study area.

Our newly-renovated SLC facilities offer a range of specialised and innovative learning spaces for our senior students, including art rooms, science laboratories, a large commercial grade kitchen for Nutrition Studies, ESTEAM labs, innovative and collaborative spaces, and an Engineering workshop. 

Tech Central was completed in 2019 as our new collaborative technology space for Hillcrest students and staff, providing an open-plan, flexible, shared place for students to come and learn about new technologies, as they interact with our latest gadgets, like our mini 'Ozbots,' VR goggles, and drones.

The innovative space was also designed to improve our IT Support team's integration into teaching and learning by offering a comfortable and modern space for students to drop in any time for IT Support, and where the IT Support team can present PD Sessions and showcase new technologies.

Our innovative programs include the I Love Reading literacy program which facilitates the rapid learning of reading, robotics and virtual reality programs, coding clubs, real-world website development, and other advanced digital programs.

Many of our subjects also incorporate Design-Centred Learning (DCL), where students engage in tasks that solve authentic problems for a real-world audience. Our older students also take part in a skills-based program which focusses on interpersonal, social and communication skills which equip them to be successful both at Hillcrest, and in their future workplace.

Design-Centred Learning Activities

Our Junior Learning Community operates with iPads and interactive displays. The Middle Learning Community and Senior Learning Community have a device for personlised learning at school and at home through our one2one Device Program. This program supplies students in these year levels with a Microsoft Surface Book, Stylus pen and the relevant software, for a three-year period. Our one2one program ensures that students can enjoy the many educational benefits of utilising one type of device in the classroom. The cost of this program is added to the College Fees. For more information please email one2one@hillcrest.qld.edu.au.