If there’s one thing students need for a future career in any business, it’s the ability to harness and use technology at its highest levels.That’s why veteran teacher Steven Doyling decided to step outside the traditional classroom and into the future with his new technologically advanced after-school programme called Interactive.Through iPads, desktop computers, an interactive white boards and Web 2.0 sites, which allows users to interact and collaborate with each other in a social media dialogue, Mr Doyling is looking to take what children like most these days — essentially anything digital — and turn them into learning tools.The Interactive programme, which runs five days a week after school for students age seven to 14, will focus on a wide range of subjects from literacy and social studies to physical and environmental sciences.Parents will be happy to hear that Mr Doyling assists all the students in completing their homework each day and then they get to dive into various fun projects that are academic in nature.An overall goal of the group is to create a project for the Annual Agricultural Show in April.“We will be using different iPad apps to foster creativity, like creating collages and stories,” said Mr Doyling, who has been teaching for the past 12 years most recently at West End Primary. “I want to stress though, the students will not be playing games on the iPad, there is a real teachable component to the equipment.”From blog development, which students will focus on writing to share with other students globally and holding online discussion forums, to creating windmills to teach children about how to turn wind into power, Mr Doyling is looking for ways to have fun but also learn.“We’re using technology in a 21st century setting,” said the teacher, who has also tutored for the past four years and also holds an academic camp each summer.His classroom is equipped with dozens of iPads and desktop computers that he bought himself and an interactive white board, which is this generation’s computerised version of a chalkboard.Additional elements to the interactive white board are the smart responders — which are essentially remote controls allowing the students to ‘buzz’ in their answers to questions posed by Mr Doyling.Asked why he decided to strike off on his own instead of staying within a traditional school setting, Mr Doyling said that it was his passion for technology that drove him to take the leap.“Using technology is a new trend in teaching and this environment gives students the opportunity to learn in a new way, an alternative to the traditional methods,” he said.But he said, any student is able to join his programme — not just the academically superior ones.“Any student is able to join. Everything children do now these days is digital — the programme definitely fits in with the time that they live in,” he said.For $70 a week, the after-school programme is a deal, with all of the equipment provided for students.Mr Doyling said that he’s used his techniques over the summer and with the students he tutors and they have really taken to technology.“They love it, it’s part of their culture,” he said. “It’s a skill that is present today and that they’ll need in the future.”The Interactive programme runs five days a week at the Hamilton 7th Day Adventist Church on King Street from 3:30-6:30pm Monday-Thursday and 3:30-5:30pm on Fridays.For more information call 533-4452 or 232-4451 or e-mail interactivetutor@yahoo.com.