Digital Classroom on Wheels

Youngs Bus Recycle Program Creates a Digital Classroom on Wheels!

Today marks a big day in the “journey so far”

Rockhampton’s Young’s Bus Service is handing over the keys of a Volvo Coach tomorrow as part of their Community “Bus Recycle Program”, to give the Coach a second life!

The Bus Recycle Program is designed to support community organisations that can utilise one of Young’s retiring buses to deliver something back to the community.

When I saw the post on Young’s Bus Service Facebook Page, I was inspired to submit my idea, which had been bubbling away for many years. I’ve always wanted to convert a Coach into a classroom and take it around Australia.

As many of you know, I’m a strong believer to dream big, you are only limited by your imagination and the courage to follow it through.

When I learnt that my idea for the retiring Young’s Coach was the selected as the winning entrant, it was amazing and to be honest a little scary at the same time.

Since learning of the good fortune, I’ve formed a committee and established Digital Coach Inc, a not-for-profit organisation that will drive digital education into Regional, Rural and Remote Australia.

The next stage is to raise money to convert the coach into digital classroom on-wheels.

We will be crowdfunding and approaching like-minded businesses who want to to help those in Regional, Rural and Remote Australia to receive digital education.

The Coach will target parts of Australia that are getting left behind the digital world. The education will cater for small businesses, farmers, schools, organisations and even local governments.

I certainly be onboard the Coach for various legs of the journey, but we are going to find other skilled digital coaches to jump onboard too. We’ve got plans to offer scholarships for other teachers to join parts of the journey, so they can get upskilled and take their knowledge back to their community.

The classroom will feature some of the latest technology, including 3D printers, drones, mobile devices and wearables. There will be computer workstations and a large touch screen to host the classes on board. The fit out will be energy efficient and use solar energy. There is plans to wifi that could reach a radius of 10km!

Digital Coach Inc also hopes to also raise public awareness on key Internet issues that affect those in the target areas, including broadband access and data drought etc.

Phil Young, the proud owner of Young’s Bus Service, said that he was very pleased to see the bus go to a good home!

Click to view local newspaper article.