Using new technology
Enhanced learning using the new technology
We have introduced a free iPad and pen for every senior pupil. These are for use in school but also facilitate remote online learning in the event of a further lockdown to complement the excellent teaching and learning that currently takes place. Details of how these are used to enhance teaching are in a later section.
The Microsoft Teams platform which is used by many businesses and the vast majority of universities is our chosen remote learning platform. Remote Learning Lessons can be streamed on the iPad, resources can be accessed, assignments set and handed in.
MS Teams links to OneNote and provides each pupil with a place to organise revision notes, handouts, classwork, prep and more. Through OneNote teachers can see a pupil’s work in real-time and interact with the document that the pupil is working on. This is particularly useful during the current climate. It gives the teacher the power to write on pupil work, highlight strengths and weaknesses, correct it. Pupils can also save their prep work and classwork on One Note.
Teaching staff can share a whole host of resources including PowerPoints, textbooks, notes, web links, videos and more.
In class, pupils can be guided by teaching staff to watch helpful videos, read extra notes, see exemplar work, use educational apps etc that will really help them make progress by attending to their individual needs. For example, there are a number of Coding apps that will help pupils move to the next level in Computer Studies.
Augmented Reality apps can be used to bring a life-size Mummy in an Egyptian coffin or the Rosetta Stone into the classroom in history. A frog can be dissected and viewed whilst the lungs continue to inflate and deflate (with no frogs harmed during the process). In Mathematics graphs can be explored in greater detail, 3D objects such as Klein’s bottle can be placed on the desk and brought to life in the classroom.
There are several exciting educational quiz apps that are used in lessons. The pupils really enjoy using these apps and teaching staff can quickly see the strengths and weaknesses of each pupil. Pupils can use iMovie to present their understanding of a piece of work, Garage Band is used in music and the excellent interval timer is being used by pupils both in PE and at home.
The iPad can also be used as a fantastic mini whiteboard. Teachers can select pupils work and share it with the class or the class can collaborate on the same piece of work. In class and at home pupils have instant access to the many educational websites that many such as MathsWatchVLE, Dr Frost and ActiveLearn.
The inclusion of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint means that every pupil has access to these resources in every lesson. There is no longer a need to book the IT suite. These are all available for every pupil, every lesson.