+ “Technology MUST bedisruptive” ARTIFICIALINTELLIGENCE STEM careers learning caninspire How experiential IN THEIRHANDS THE FUTURE, RESOURCES TOP 50 EDTECH OF 2017 THE THE New solutionsforoutstandingteachingandlearning

+ BYOD - Dr Sonny Magana www.teachwire.net + GAMIFICATION + SAFETY&SECURITY STUDENTS SEN SOLUTIONS FOR MAINSTREAM data work data work Make the HOW TO: for you

2017/18 EDITION|PRICE:£4.99

IN ASSOCIATION WITH ISSN 2055-1150 03 2017/18

9 772055 115015 powerful resources|cutting-edgeproductsinspiringadvice We Bring STEM to Life The UK’s leading supplier of STEM products •Robotics •Coding •Electronics •Science

VEX IQ SUPER KIT VEX IQ Super Kit Contains: The VEX IQ Super Kit contains • VEX IQ Brain everything you need to build your fi rst • VEX IQ Joystick and radios VEX IQ Challenge robot. The kit is • 4 Smart Motors completely reusable so each kit gives • 7 Sensors many years of competition use. With • Hundreds of structural parts hundreds of add-on parts available, • Storage bin £269.99 the kit can be expanded as your • All batteries, charger Order code 70-7891 experience and skill level grows. and cables

All VEX IQ kits and bundles give your school and your students unlimited access to free programming software. FREE Programming Software Contact [email protected] to discuss which programming language is best for your needs.

VEX IQ CHALLENGE Challenge Team Bundle Includes £399.99 TEAM BUNDLE • VEX IQ Brain Order code 70-7953 The VEX IQ Challenge Team Bundle • VEX IQ Joystick and radios is the ultimate kit for starting a • 6 Smart Motors (maximum allowed on a VEX IQ Challenge robot) VEX IQ Challenge team containing • 7 Sensors everything you will need to build a • Smart Cables formidable competition robot. • 16 wheels (including omni-directional wheels) The kit is based on the VEX IQ • Chain and Sprocket Kit Super Kit but also contains the • Tank Tread and Intake Kit Competition Add-On Kit and • Thousands of structural parts Foundation Add-On Kit which takes • 2 storage bins the standard 850-part kit to a • All batteries, charger and cables whopping 2850 parts.

CHALLENGE VEX IQ CHALLENGE – THE UK’S MOST EXCITING ROBOTICS COMPETITION FOR KEYSTAGE 2 AND 3 The VEX IQ Challenge is a robotics competition for students aged 8 to 14. Build a robot to compete against schools from all over the UK in a competition that will test your students design and programming skills to the limit! To fi nd out more about the VEX IQ Challenge, visit www.rapidonline.com/vexiq

www.rapidonline.com PARTNER CONTENT Q&A: ROBOTICS VEX IQ Niels Puttemans from James Montgomery Academy Trust and Andrew Duffey from Henrietta Barnett School explain how VEX IQ is helping their students rise to the challenge of engineering and computer science

T&I: How are you using VEX IQ as an extra-curricular activity? NP: A primary school in our academy acquired their first VEX IQ kit to stimulate a few SEND children during lunch times. Within a few months, 3 of our schools had after school robotics clubs and we’ve been growing our teams ever since. Currently every school in our academy has multiple VEX IQ teams who typically meet once or twice a week to work on their robot.

How do you feel VEX IQ fits into

your current curriculum? 3 AD: VEX IQ is a perfect fit for both the D&T and Computing schemes of work for KS3 an KS4. It teaches the students to be creative, innovative, resilient, reflective and evaluative learners and they begin to understand the value of iterative design development. They really love the competitive element and it means that University courses focusing on we really do get the most out of each and Design Engineering, Engineering or every student. technical design. How have your students responded to VEX IQ? Has VEX IQ developed students and influenced the way they work NP: The students really thoroughly enjoy their time using VEX IQ. This goes both in and outside of from the very start and excitement of the classroom? NP: It became apparent that the students design, build and driving the robots got way more out of VEX IQ than just to new friendships across year groups STEM skills. Thanks to the Engineering and schools. Both our regional Notebook, STEM Research Project competitions and having had the and the need for a team rather than opportunity to share a coach when individual work, there are some very travelling to the UK final have created obvious cross-curricular benefits. We have friendships and friendly competitiveness students develop their communication across our different schools. How has VEX IQ changed your skills and confidence, their interest in various parts of the curriculum has AD: The response has been student’s attitude towards increased and gender stereotyping has overwhelmingly positive. VEX IQ is easily STEM subjects? gone down. accessible to all students which is great, but AD: We have experienced a big increase the program allows for complex systems in our student uptake at KS3 and KS4. and sub-systems to be built which means We now attract around 45% of students we can challenge the students at every into STEM subjects at KS4. Many of our level of ability. A-Level cohort are planning on going onto

Visit: www.rapidonline.com/vexiq Call: +44 (0)1206 751166 Email: [email protected]

teachwire.net Welcome back… Meet the experts

…to another school year, and the latest edition of Andy Mitchell is the deputy Technology & Innovation magazine. So come on chief executive at the Design & – what’s new in your classroom for 2017/18; and, Technology Association.

crucially, are you and your students ready to make the Craig Ring is pastoral leader most of it? for Year 7 at Rooks Heath When I was going through secondary education, College, Harrow. September always meant pristine exercise books, freshly sharpened pencils and, of course, yet another cheap maths set from David Weston is the chief executive of the Teacher which one of the set squares would inevitably and mysteriously disappear by Development Trust. Easter. Now, as I support my own 12-year-olds preparing to move into Year 8, it largely involves making sure they have charging cables that function Geoff Worth is head of science properly, and only school-approved apps on their iPads; checking that they’ve at Pate’s Grammar School in remembered their passwords for the various platforms through which they are Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. encouraged to access the curriculum and share their work - oh, and topping up Gurpal Thiara is learning leader their smart cards for lunches and snacks. of design technology at Seven Much has changed, then - and yet, as every educator knows, the Kings School. fundamentals of teaching and learning (not to mention learners themselves) really haven’t. Technology may have altered the way young people seek Julie Murray is an ex-head of out information; but they still need to assimilate it, weigh the evidence and history and politics. understand how to draw reasonable conclusions from what they see and hear. Exciting, hands-on lessons with robotics kits (p.46) and 3D printing (p.52), or Dr Kevin P Stenson is chief the chance to explore ancient Egypt through virtual reality (p.36), can definitely executive of national education 4 raise engagement – however, if such experiences are to have a real effect on charity, The Smallpeice Trust. long term outcomes, evidence shows time and time again that it remains the teacher in charge of delivering them who makes all the difference. Have a read Matt Lovegrove is a teacher, and ambassador for the National Crime of what educational futurist Dr Sonny Magana has to say about that on pages Agency’s CEOP Command. 10 and 11 of this issue, and see if it inspires you to become just a little more disruptive in your approach. Sal McKeown is a freelance As we find ourselves saying increasingly often in the T&I office: what matters special needs journalist in education, is what works. Ultimately, that’s the key to every product we and author. feature; all the advice we share; the discussions we encourage; and the Dr. Anthony J. “Sonny” Magana III stories we bring you from classrooms across the country. It’s also the principle is an educational futurist, author and underpinning our list of the 50 best edtech resources of 2017, which starts on pioneering educational tech researcher. page 13 and is an incredible celebration of innovation with proven impact. Whether you’re an ardent technophile or rather more Steve Manderson is an assistant anxious about joining the digital revolution, we’re headteacher at Trinity Catholic School, Aspley. sure you’ll find something here that will, at the very Visit least, make you want to investigate further; in the Terry Freedman is a freelance writer, meantime, though, if anyone comes across a set teachwire.net speaker and trainer, and publishes the square with built in tracking device, would they your link to ICT & Computing in Education website. please let me know? the best in Mark Chambers is CEO Have a great year education of Naace. Helen Mulley, editor @Teachsecondary

teachwire.net TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION: IN ASSOCIATION WITH

CONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTS 2017/2018 EDITION

In this issue... TECHNOLOGY 10 It’s time for disruption 25 INNOVATION Dr Sonny Magana argues that technology alone can’t Editor: transform teaching and learning. Helen Mulley, 13 The 50 best edtech [email protected] resources of 2017 01206 505111 Group advertising manager: Your essential guide to Richard Stebbing the very best innovations for Advertising manager: your classroom. Jenny Phillips, [email protected] 01206 505966 Classroom inspiration Group Editor: 26 Classroom life: Pate’s 120 Joe Carter Grammar School Senior account manager: How to turn data into Katie Jones 75 A touch of genius Creative CPD +meaningful stories. [email protected] How to ensure you’re making 102 Classroom life: 01206 505477 30 Put the future in their hands the most of touchscreen Rooks Heath College Account manager: Inspiring students to pursue Ross Conlon technology. Making a BYOD policy work, [email protected] STEM careers, through 80 Seriously special +for everyone. 01206 505926 interactive opportunities. Mainstream SEN solutions 106 Could technology improve Art editor: Lloyd Oxley 36 Choose your reality can bring advantages for all your practice? Designers: Luke Rogers, Terry Freedman looks at the rise learners, says Sal McKeown. Adam Barford and Five ways to bring your CPD Charlotte Weatherley of VR, AR, AI and more… 84 Protect and empower programme up to date. Photography: CLiQQ 40 A different platform We need to keep young 108 Stressed? Photography cliqq.co.uk. Charles Wiles demystifies people safe online, without There’s an app for that... 5 Accounts: 01206 505995 education apps for teachers. clipping their wings, says Matt 110 The help desk Design & reprographics: Lovegrove. Ace Pre-Press 46 The robot revolution Naace CEO, Mark Chambers, 01206 508608 Not only can we do robotics 88 New connections tackles your queries. Subscriptions department: in D&T - we have to, insists Schools are tapping into new Jo Gould, Andy Mitchell. ways of using technology to [email protected] Infrastructure essentials 52 Let’s make it happen! engage with parents. 01206 505112 114 Classroom life: Trinity Lost: female talent Subscription enquiries: Paul Croft explains how schools 90 Catholic School 0844 576 7861 can break down barriers to using To encourage more girls into Close the gap with technology. Publisher: Helen Tudor 3D printing technology across STEM, we need to start early.+ 116 The connectivity conundrum Published by: Maze Media the curriculum. 92 The rise of the (2000) Ltd, 25 Phoenix Court, Kevin Kong on future-proofing Hawkins Rd, Colchester, 56 21st century musicians libro-bots your bandwidth provision. Essex, CO2 8JY. Nik Preston considers how music Welcome to the new era of Tel: 01206 505900 120 The future is cashless… provision is meeting the needs school libraries… … so why haven’t you made the The views in this magazine are not of today’s students. 94 Perfect matches necessarily those of the publisher. switch yet? Link reading skills to future Every effort is made to ensure 124 A world of opportunities the veracity and integrity of the School solutions careers to give learners the best companies, persons, products Create a global classroom. and services mentioned in this 64 Classroom life: chance of success. publication, and the details given Seven Kings School 96 We need to talk 126 Better, safer and are believed to be accurate at the more efficient time of going to press. However, Meet the virtual duck that’s leading about storage no responsibility or liability +to better teaching in Ilford! The digital revolution can Update your visitor whatsoever can be accepted for management system. any consequence or repercussion of 68 Get them involved create practical challenges for responding to information or advice classroom design, says Richard 130 It’s about the access, stupid! given or inferred. Copyright Maze What is experiential learning - Media (2000) Ltd. and how could it benefit Picking – but there are solutions Julie Murray has finally got it. your students? out there. point of edtech...

teachwire.net

PARTNER CONTENT Q&A: VLEs Fusion Alan Sawyers, Managing Director, explains how Fusion can pull all your school’s digital needs together...

Do you have any evidence of the impact of Fusion/ on progress/outcomes? The best evidence comes directly from our users: “The students are benefitting from a much greater use of IT and becoming more adept at using a range of technologies.” – Belmont Preparatory School “The firstthing that strikes you is how intuitive it is, how user friendly it is.” T&I What are the main advantages How does it enhance the teaching – St Gregory’s Catholic School for schools of introducing a VLE and learning experience offered “Important areas of the curriculum for their community? by other providers? combine seamlessly with modern AS The current issue is the vast range The system is designed by teachers, for technology to provide a wonderfully of apps and cloud services available for teachers, and we are constantly consulting engaging experience for our students.” 7 schools, each requiring management, with our schools to review and improve – GEMS Education subscriptions and logins. The key benefit the tools and features to support ever of a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) is changing educational needs. Over 80% What are you able to offer schools that it brings together the whole school of features are those which have been by way of training and support? community in one secure, online space; directly requested by schools. Fusion Teachers are typically up and running student homework – monitoring, grading supports the learning cycle by enabling within one initial training session, and feedback; statistics and reporting; teachers to set, mark, grade and provide supported by a comprehensive parent portal and communication. feedback on students’ work, engaging knowledge base that includes short, Integrated MIS features make setup a parents and communicating with the informative help videos, instant Live breeze and provide information where whole school community. Teachers and Chat, email and telephone support. it’s needed. school leaders can monitor, track and The product contains context-sensitive report upon student outcomes via the help which knows where you are on the What is so special about Fusion? comprehensive reporting module. system so that we can assist more easily. Traditionally, VLE, LMS and MIS operate Our trainers regularly visit schools to as standalone products, it is rare to find How easy do teachers and students ensure our customers are aware of the a single platform that brings all these find it to start using the system? full potential of the system. together. Fusion is one of the few products The simplicity of the system allows users which successfully combines all the digital to get up and running quickly and easily. needs of a school into a single entity. It With four different interfaces and a range supports 114 languages and operates upon of themes, the system grows with your Multilingual any internet connected device. Its main students. Students’ personalised learning strength is in versatility, providing schools is fed straight to their dashboard. With with a range of individual tools they can tools such as Homework, Task Lists, Blogs, select and customise to meet their needs. Forums, File Sharing, Quizzes, Surveys, Fusion can connect to Office 365, Google Calendars, Grading and Markbooks there is Drive and Dropbox and also provides plenty to explore. Because Fusion operates integrated access to over 70 well known in 114 languages it also has a natural appeal content providers. to anyone whose first language isn't English.

To find out more, call 0845 154 3211 | email [email protected] www.mylearningltd.com

teachwire.net GRADED VOCATIONAL PERFORMANCE MUSIC EXAMS QUALIFICATIONS ARTS AWARDS Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocals, Music Practitioners, Jazz Dance, Piano & Keys, Music Creative & Performing Arts, Street Dance, Production, Ukulele Creative Practitioners Musical Theatre

The benchmark for contemporary Specialist qualifications in Developed by industry Graded Music Exams since 1991, Music and Performing Arts; specialists, PAA group graded Rockschool Grades cater for RSL VQ’s educate and inspire exams are designed to measure, beginners through to professional learners whether they’re assess and reward progress standard players. Each Grade will aspiring musicians, performers, whilst encouraging innovation improve your playing, expand your entrepreneurs - or all of the above. and creativity in the fields of technical proficiency and advance Equivalent to GCSE, A-Level and Musical Theatre, Street Dance your comprehension of music BTEC, Vocational Qualifications and Jazz Dance. Ranging from theory – all whilst studying the combine unparalleled industry absolute beginner (Premiere) most influential genres in popular relevance, structure and flexibility to advanced (Grade 8), there music. UCAS points are awarded at where necessary, and can be are no membership fees Grades 6, 7 and 8 for those looking delivered by schools, colleges and involved and free supporting to apply to university. private providers worldwide. materials are provided.

JOIN US www.rslawards.com PARTNER CONTENT RSL: 21st Century Music Education It’s what musicians recommend to friends, teachers prefer for their students, educators select for their classrooms and pupils love to learn.

RSL’s continued commitment to motivate and support students and teachers alike has seen us innovate in many new and exciting ways over the years. By continuing to create engaging, contemporary qualifications we have expanded operations from Graded Music Exams to the inclusion of Teaching & Performance Diplomas, Vocational Vocational qualifications comers remains as vital to RSL’s DNA as it Qualifications and Performance Arts Awards. Dedicated to meet the demands of the was in 1991. Recognising music production’s Going into the 21st century, our goal ever-evolving arts industries, our vocational rapid growth in the education sector, RSL remains the same. To continue to create specifications allow each institution to build knew that the advancement of a formal benchmarks, not boundaries. qualifications which reflect the needs of suite of graded Music Production exams was learners who desire to transition directly into as necessary today as contemporary Graded Rockschool the industry of their choice. With flexibility Music Exams were all those years ago. From a small office in West London, of choice and multi-discipline learning at Purposefully designed for both Rockschool staff had a dream to change their core, RSL VQs are the most relevant, instrumentalists and non-instrumentalists, the entire landscape of formal music accessible, and practical qualifications the aim is to allow access to contemporary education. As players, students and music available in the sector. arts education for the widest, most diverse 9 lovers - we were frustrated by the options audience possible. As with all RSL syllabi, we had with the pathways provided. So, by Performance arts awards the material was informed by experienced working tirelessly to imagine, create, and We believe that giving teachers the industry specialists as well as some of deliver material that people truly connected freedom to create their own content the leading lights of contemporary with, Rockschool sought to become the first gives them, and their students, the best music education. viable alternative to the traditional offerings platform to succeed. Designed for Musical In September, 2016 - 25 years after the available at the time. Theatre, Jazz and Street dance, PAA release of our pop exams - RSL proudly To simultaneously fill the void and satisfy examinations contain three core elements: released the world’s first graded music a demand that they knew was out there, ‘The Performance’, ‘Technical Skills’ and production syllabus. Whether you’re a founders Norton York and Dr. Simon Pitt, ‘Understanding & Reflection’. budding producer, mixer or sound engineer, initially developed a guitar, bass and drums The combination of these elements you can now receive formal recognition syllabus for the contemporary musician. aids the development of well-rounded from level 1 onwards, meaning that Music Rockschool began offering these exams in performers, equipped with industry relevant Production education is now available at all the summer of 1991, making in the world’s skills and knowledge, whilst enabling levels, not just on higher education courses. first graded exam syllabus for popular music. teachers the creative freedom to build All major DAW providers are permitted for Rockschool has come a long way since a bespoke curriculum around their own use, ensuring that navigation during the those humble beginnings. As of 2017, teaching styles and existing programmes. exam is as smooth and familiar as possible we now offer Graded Music Exams in for each entrant. Drums, Bass, Electric Guitar, Acoustic 21st Century Music Education Guitar, Vocals, Piano, Ukulele and Music By giving birth to popular music “Creating benchmarks, not boundaries.” Production. Each syllabus is developed with examinations, Rockschool started a the care, skill and expertise to ensure that revolution throughout the world of music RSL’s vision has always been to increase every addition is creative, innovative and education, empowering a new generation of accessibility to students from a diverse academically attentive. teachers and students across the globe in the range of backgrounds, ensuring that willing Each and every student that successfully process. From a small number of domestic students - regardless of orientation - have navigates Grades 6, 7 or 8 finally earns UCAS exams, we have now gone on to examine the knowledge and skills they need to points playing the music relevant to them, on over 400,000 students, in over 1000 delivery pursue their goals with confidence. If they’re the very same instruments played by their centres, across 40+ countries worldwide. practical, robust, and personally rewarding cultural heroes. Nobody thought this possible The responsibility to ensure that - then we’ve achieved our goal. All with the at the time - they do now. qualifications of this kind are available to all- hope, that one day they can achieve theirs.

For further information go to www.rslawards.com

teachwire.net IT’S TIME FOR Disruption Technology alone won’t transform education, argues Dr Sonny Magana – we need a whole new approach to teaching and learning

eachers are like pipers at the below the zone of desirable effects (0.4 gates of dawn. Educators and above). Worse still, this meagre impact and educational leaders bear has not changed in over 50 years – despite enormous responsibilities for vast leaps in digital technologies since the orchestrating and shaping swinging 60s. The meter for innovation in the future. We do so by education appears to be stuck on low. Tempowering our current students to Perhaps the main reason for this interact and develop deeper connections disappointing impact is that the inclusion with knowledge, each other, and of technologies in schools has done little to themselves, in a modern world context. change the ‘tell and practise’ approach to Arguably, the modern world is teaching and learning – the predominant experiencing a profoundly disruptive period. pedagogical practice of our time. In Across the globe, digital technologies this model, teachers tell students what have enabled radical transformations in knowledge is and what is worth knowing; nearly every imaginable endeavour from meanwhile, students invest their limitless archeology to zoology. It stands to reason capacity for investigating, thinking critically, that educators must effectively manage creating, hypothesising, and collaborating

10 modern teaching and learning tools and by memorising and practising what processes in order to better prepare they’re told. students for social and professional success One implication of this problem is that many years down the track. Towards that if the tell and practise model remains happy occurrence, national educational steadfast, then we can expect the impact systems have optimistically invested of new and emerging technologies – like billions in tax revenues to digitise traditional VR (Virtual Reality), AI (Artificial Intelligence), classrooms. School infrastructures have and the Internet of Things – to be about been updated, new and emerging tools 0.34 for the next 50 years or more. And are regularly purchased, and teachers are that my friends, is double trouble. trained on how to use these new tools. Looking through a new lens Meagre impact Fortunately, there is cause for renewed Sadly, the evidence on the impact of optimism – once again based on evidence these investments does not match the provided by rigorous research. After more optimism. Despite decades of evidence- than 30 years of investigating the wicked free propaganda bombarding teachers problem of advancing technology and and decision makers about the inherently innovation in education, I’ve observed that transformational nature of digital tools in when technology tools are used to enhance schools, the reality simply does not match innovative practices that are grounded the hype. In fact, the average impact in sound research and theory, one can computer technology has had in education expect large to very large gains in student has been downright dismal. achievement and learning productivity. A meaningful way to look at the evidence I’ve synthesised my life’s work into a new of technology’s impact in education is to book, Disruptive Classroom Technologies: use John Hattie’s effect size measurement. A Framework for Innovation in Education. In 2017, after reviewing over 160 meta- My overarching goal is to disrupt the analyses from over 10,000 studies on the predominant use of educational technology impact of computers in education, Hattie tools by using the T3 Framework for observed that the average effect of digital Innovation in Education as a lens through tools in schools is an anemic 0.34 – well which to view schools and schooling. The

teachwire.net DR SONNY MAGANA

“The meter for innovation in education appears to be stuck on low”

T3 Framework is an evidence-based model Solve wicked problems which increments technology usage in In this digital era, it is no longer appropriate schools into three distinct domains: T1: to ask students what they want to be when Translational, T2: Transformational, they grow up. There is a far more important and T3: Transcendent. two-part question to put to them: “What The impact of the T1: wicked problem matters to you… and Translational stage of technology what are you going to do about it?” Thus, use – that is, simply automating the final stage of technology use, T3: teaching and learning tasks, Transcendent, begins with student passion or consuming content and concludes with students engaging knowledge and information in designing original lines of inquiry and through digital tools – has applying social entrepreneurship strategies been historically low. Rather to solve wicked problems that matter to than placing a greater burden on them. Doing this at least once a week teachers, advancing from the T1: – say, on Wicked Problem Fridays – will Translational phase of technology give your students ample opportunities use to the T2: Transformational to explore, interpret, discuss, and critically stage engenders shifting the loci analyse knowledge and information that is of learning experiences from important to them. Moreover, doing teachers to students. While so will empower your students to there is no common become leaders for action who make a 11 definition for this shift, I significant contribution to their local and suggest the following: extended communities. “Transformational The strategies associated with the T2: technology use in Transformational and the T3: Transcendent education reflects the uses of digital tools, as I’ve defined intentional application and identified in Disruptive Classroom of digital technologies to Technologies, have an impact on student unleash students’ learning learning that is equivalent to three or more expertise, in ways not possible additional years of student achievement in without technology, to achieve ever a single academic year, perhaps even more. higher levels of knowledge and mastery.” No one can predict the future. However, I The two elements of this stage are: will make a bold forecast: that together, we T2.1: Production, and T2.2: Contribution. can build collective efficacy in our learning In the former, students leverage systems by using the guidance provided by technologies to produce digital the T3 Framework to not only disrupt the representations of what they know historic pattern of low technology use in (declarative knowledge) and what they education, but to unleash students’ limitless can do (procedural knowledge), as learning potential. That is arguably a set well as to capture and make their of ideas worth pursuing and sharing by thinking pathways explicit. In the today’s pipers at the gates of dawn. latter stage, students use digital tools to design, create, share, and scale digital knowledge products with the purpose of teaching ABOUT THE AUTHOR others what they know. Dr. Anthony J. “Sonny” Magana III is an award- winning educational futurist, best-selling author, and pioneering educational technology researcher.

teachwire.net PARTNER CONTENT Working the crowd Finding the funds to invest in new technology can seem like an impossible task for schools – but could technology itself hold the answer?

T&I spoke to Sarah Palmer, headteacher, to find out how the school used crowdfunding to raise funds to replace its failing whiteboard system with the latest Plus Series interactive screens from Clevertouch

T&I Why did the school need to upgrade its existing technology? SP The school has seven classrooms with seven-year-old interactive whiteboards and projectors. The whiteboards had served the school well over the years, but were at the end of their life and needed replacing.

Why did you come up with the idea to raise money through crowdfunding? The school has a very active Community Would you advise other able to transfer all their old lesson plans Partnership Group comprised of schools to do this? If so, over, so there was no disruption. parents, staff and governors. The group do you have any tips? 12 is tasked with establishing links with For any school looking to secure funding Is it important for kids to use the local community and finding ways outside of the normal education budget technology in school, and why? to enhance the children’s learning avenues, I would advise building good Technology is hugely important in experience at school. ties with the local community. schools. To avoid a digital divide between The group applied for an Aviva School leaders need to be very the home and school, the classroom Community Award hoping to secure creative and willing to try non-traditional equipment needs to be as good if not funding for the technology upgrade. We methods. If you’re asking individuals, better than what they use at home. received 20,000 votes – an amazing businesses or applying for grants, it helps We want our children to experience a achievement for a school of just 220 if you can pinpoint exactly what you school culture that encourages creative pupils. Although we missed out on the want the money for. In our experience, ideas and learning – and we need to big prize, we were awarded £500, which the community reacts best when raising ensure we have the tools to do this. motivated us to find another way to get funds for something that will have a this project off the ground. positive impact on the entire school. Why did you choose We had seen an article about how Keep abreast of the latest technology Clevertouch Plus? schools were using Crowdfunding to changes – we go to BETT every year, We saw the Plus Series being generate income and decided to which is where we first saw Clevertouch. demonstrated at BETTand were give it a go. impressed with the functionality. It was Tell us about the technology you also recommended by our installer with Were you surprised by use and how it has changed the whom we’ve worked with for many years. the amount of support and classroom dynamic? donations received? The previous whiteboards were Was it as a smooth transition Camelsdale is a small but popular school prone to failing mid-lesson and required from the old to the new? with great support in the community. constant recalibration. It couldn’t have gone better. Although we weren’t surprised by the The new screens have transformed The Clevertouch training is a must. level of engagement, we were blown the classrooms. They are bright and Our trainer was excellent and our away by the community’s generosity. colourful; the imagery is sharp and clear. teachers are quickly gaining confidence Through the combined efforts of our The children enjoy interacting directly in using their new screens. PTA, crowdfunding, an Aviva grant and with the screen, which allows multiple a donation from an anonymous donor, children to use it simultaneously. we managed to raise enough money for The Plus Series comes preloaded with seven Plus Series screens. education resources and teachers were Technology for sharing

Clevertouch.com [email protected] +44 (0)208319 7777

teachwire.net 50 BEST

50 BEST edtech resources of 2017 “Because what matters in education, is what works”

ght from the start,Technology & Innovation magazine has always been on a mission GCSEPod to stay on top of new 1 GCSEPod provides focused subject knowledge in a highly developments, particularly in accessible digital format for 20 GCSE subjects, all filtered by exam Rterms of identifying exactly what does and board so students can see what is relevant to them. The content 13 doesn’t have a positive impact on teaching is delivered via 'Pods' – highly concentrated, 3-5-minute bursts of and learning at secondary school level. learning covering all key aspects of a specific We’re as excited as the next geek about topic in a memorable and engaging format. clever gadgets and cool designs, of course The testimonials from teachers, leaders and – but at the same time, we understand that students really do speak for themselves; this is education is all about improving outcomes an innovation that is making a demonstrable for young people. There’s no space in difference to young anyone’s schedule for flashy gimmicks; in people’s results – and, of these times of increasingly tight budgets, course, understanding and schools need to be certain that every enjoyment – and is itself investment they make will have a clear constantly seeking benefit for learners – whether it’s by freeing to improve. up teachers to spend more of their time Cost: £10 per actually teaching, improving access for all, student in KS4 or enabling students to take greater control of their own learning, in a way that gives them the best chance of success. To that end, earlier this year we invited Satchel: Show My Homework Starting off in 2011 as a simple – if brilliant – online the edtech community to share with us 2 homework calendar, Show My Homework has what they considered to be their very best TIME evolved into something considerably more powerful products and resources, with the aim of over the years. Intuitively built features allow teachers BUSTER putting together a list of innovations that to track, monitor and enhance homework so that are already making a real difference in “We’ve saved 95% of time students are more effectively engaged in home classrooms across the country. And now, spent tracking homework on learning. Young people’s independence is promoted, after analysing and assessing hundreds of a termly basis” and detailed instructions and deadline reminders help entries (and mountains of evidence), we them plan their work and raise attainment. Parents I. Graham, Assistant are delighted to be able to bring you – in have their own accounts, too, so they can better Headteacher, Sir Frederic no particular order – the final 50. There’s support their offspring’s learning at home. Created by Osborn School a huge range of ideas here, from revision teachers, for teachers, Show My Homework helps schools apps to storage solutions for mobile maintain and improve standards by giving them complete devices; it’s a true celebration of edtech control of homework. excellence, and we hope you find it both useful and inspiring! Cost: £2-3 per pupil per year, dependent on length of licence

teachwire.net pi-topCEED 3 The Raspberry Pi was a fantastic innovation, in that it offered an affordable and effective way to teach coding concepts in a challenging and dynamic way. However, it was not without its drawbacks. pi-topCEED is a hugely user-friendly modular desktop device powered by a Raspberry Pi – it arrives pre-assembled and with the pi-topOS software suite pre-loaded, so the user simply switches it on and starts teaching with the ready-made worksheets and lesson plans; making it easier than ever for teachers to engage learners in STEAM education. Cost: £119.99 with Raspberry Pi, £91.99 without Raspberry Pi, £5.59 PROTO, £15.99 Speaker (prices current at time of submission)

SEN Oaka Digital SUPPORT 14 TRY THESE TODAY! 8(SEN KS3 Topic Library) Pupil Prime Minister SEN pupils are currently often expected to use the same resources 4 Pupil Prime Minister is a two-week resource for KS2 as their fluently reading peers, or are presented with material that classrooms. It combines English, citizenship and computing is too young for their age group. Oaka Digital provides a wide through learning about politics, persuasive writing and how to range of KS3 resources, written by subject and SEN teachers, to produce a party political broadcast using digital skills. enable SEN pupils to access the curriculum in an engaging, active format with information that is appropriate for their age group (not Cost: £1 restricted by their reading or processing ability). Online activities TECbook and resources include annotated 3D science images for pupils to investigate as well as drag and drop exercises to encourage pupils The first real alternative to printed books in the classroom, 5 to 'have a go' with no fear of being told they are wrong. TECbook starts with the books you all know and love, and builds a powerful educational platform around them. It's supported by Cost: The entire library is available for use by up to 300 pupils at the majority of the major education publishers. one school site for £149 for a 12-month subscription Cost: cheaper or the same price as a printed book Want to try it? Access sample materials at: oaka-digital.oakabooks.co.uk Sumaze FREE 6A free, fun maths app which teaches about powers, logarithms, inequalities and more as a hugely engaging - and addictive - game. Available in the App Store for iPhone and iPad and in the Google Play Store for Android. IMPACT: PROVEN

Mathletics A recent study conducted by the 7Mathletics is an award-winning digital maths resource that’s proven to increase University of Oxford concluded levels of pupil engagement, confidence and motivation, and improve results in maths. that schools who made regular Mathletics contains thousands of adaptive activities aligned to the UK curricula, use of Mathletics (as little as printable eBooks, fun games and videos and interactive rich learning tasks. It helps 20 mins/week) did significantly students to make learning choices, seek assistance when they need it and reflect on better on a range of measures, their learning by being able to visually track their progress. The powerful Mathletics compared to schools that did not Teacher Console provides live data, enabling quick and easy viewing of students’ use Mathletics (uk.mathletics. progress and improvement. Teachers can easily assign targeted and personalised com/advantage). learning pathways to address the needs of every student. Cost: Pricing is banded but starts from £5 per student on average teachwire.net 50 BEST

ActivPanel iMO-LEARN 9 The ActivPanel is an 10According to research, “Sitting in chairs advanced interactive flat for more than ten-minute intervals reduces our panel display (IFPD) which is awareness of physical and emotional sensations powered by ActivConnect, a and increases fatigue”. The iMO-LEARN is a revolutionary, upgradeable smart cube that promotes ‘dynamic sitting’ and Android-based Mini PC. encourages students to move as they learn. The simplicity of operation Moreover, when the seats are equipped with the means that the core teaching custom-designed motion sensor, they can be features can be used even easily linked to online software, which provides without connecting to a instant feedback to teachers and pupils. Quite laptop, including instant a leap for the average secondary classroom, whiteboarding and content perhaps – but definitely worth exploring for mirroring to student devices break-out/nurture spaces. Cost: From £3,000 excl. VAT Cost: The costs for the iMO-LEARN start from approximately £100 and the software license costs from £25

Studytracks EDTECH FOR VIP Studio MUSIC 11 Think about how easy it is to remember the chorus to Purple 12Sessions Rain by Prince or Umbrella by Rihanna… now imagine if your students VIP is a comprehensive, accessible online resource could recall cell structures in biology or key themes from Romeo and to support the teaching of contemporary music Juliet like that? The brainchild of Ivor Novello award-winner George genres across KS3 and KS4. Hammond-Hagan, Studytracks puts the curriculum to music that young Cost: £395-£595 per year subscription people will actually want to listen to; check out some of the sample depending on number of students tracks at studytracks.education. Cost: Freemium (free with £0.99 per subject or £5.99 per student per year for schools)

15 PG Online 13AA multi award-winning, no-frills and non-subscription teaching solution comprising digital lesson materials to cover the new computer science and design and technology curriculums. Each digital teaching module covers a specific section of the new GCSE specification, providing six weeks teaching to fit neatly into a half term. Cost: A single unit of six weeks of lessons costs £120 +VAT for a lifetime site licence.

“We use PG Online materials at every key stage of our teaching. The standard of resources are so good that it’s improved the confidence of all staff delivering lessons, even non-specialists.” SEN Bryan Owen, computer science teacher, SUPPORT The King Edmund School

Aisoy1 KiK 14 Aisoy1 is a ‘social and emotional’ robot – in other words, it ‘feels’ emotions and shows them just as humans do. How you deal with it affects its mood, decisions and reactions; this makes it an especially powerful tool when working with young people who have autism. A range of apps are also available for learning across the curriculum, including coding, maths and English. Cost: From £263

teachwire.net ™

Science | Geography | History | French

WHAT IS INCLUDED WITH OAKA™ DIGITAL? • Over 250 online resources ONLINE SEN LIBRARY FOR KEY STAGE 3 PUPILS • 3D images • Interactive activities £149 for up to 300 pupils (12• Topic month Booklets subscription) 50 KS3 TOPIC• QuizzesPACKS with recordable IN results

Oaka™ Digital can be used on computers, laptops and tablets. [email protected] | www.oakabooks.co.uk | 023 92 388 519

No quibble cancellation policy.

TRY OUR 30 DAY FREE TRIAL! 50 BEST PARTNER CONTENT No learner left behind Kate Doehren, head of learning support at Hurstpierpoint College, explores the importance of digital resources in maintaining motivation for SEN students

How will your SEN pupils access KS3 resources? As teachers know all too well, effective teaching means being able to engage every pupil, irrespective of their ability. But, with a broad range of abilities in each class, how can you ensure that your SEN pupils have the right resources without busting your budget? Maintaining their motivation through KS3 is vital if key information is not to be missed leading up to their GCSE courses. Individual learning styles need to be catered for in the classroom and digital resources can be a great way to achieve this. Every class will have a mix of visual, auditory, reading and writing, and kinaesthetic learners. Digital resources designed specifically for SEN pupils can help bridge the curriculum in different ways is a vital part of attainment gap. They offer the means 17 for pupils to work independently, help every classroom setup. reinforce learning in different ways but It might well provide that ‘lightbulb’ without the pressure from their peers. moment that turns a disengaged student into a motivated one. Such a turnaround Let’s get visual will be because the pupil, possibly for the first time, feels that they can achieve. From Visual aids are a highly effective way to that point on, anything is possible. engage with visual learners, students who have dyslexia or those who struggle to process large amounts of text. Presenting Accessible information information through images, colours, 3D, One publisher addressing this need is Oaka animated drawings, graphs and mind- Books, specialising in topic packs for SEN maps, will be a lot more appealing and pupils. Founded by Bambi Gardiner, herself of big words, complex sentences and long easier to absorb. the mother of a dyslexic daughter, Oaka paragraphs will, not too surprisingly, be a Digital resources can allow pupils to produces revision topic packs to support big turn off,” explains Bambi. “Giving pupils ‘have a go’ at activities or answering the KS3 syllabus in sciences, geography, lower ability books is a no go. What self- questions without the stigma attached to history and French. respecting 12 or 13 year old wants to read getting an answer wrong. When written The company works with subject a KS2 book just because it is easier? Oaka with SEN pupils in mind, such resources will teachers and SEN specialists to create topic has taken key modules from the core KS3 focus on presenting information in a clear, booklets, games and activities that enable subjects and turned them into clear, concise concise and easy to digest format. struggling pupils to read, process and and simple topic packs full of colour, Resources that allow pupils to look at understand the curriculum in a visual and illustrations and active learning activities.” the same information in different ways can kinaesthetic way. For children who struggle with their have a big impact on memory retention. Part of its product range is Oaka Digital, learning, for whatever reason, KS3 is Despite a move away from pupils simply an online resource library for KS3 SEN vital for them gain their best possible regurgitating facts, they still need this pupils. With 50 topics and over 250 KS3 outcomes at GCSE. If they have not information to be able to construct resources, Oaka Digital enables pupils to embedded core information and skills at effective arguments with confidence. access online topic booklets, active learning KS3 then their GCSE courses will be a huge And confidence is key to progression. We activities, 3D images and quizzes to record mountain to climb. They all deserve the all want to feel we are good at something. their progress. best possible help at school - and digital Having resources in the classroom to “If you are a struggling reader or have a resources can help deliver this in a highly enable struggling pupils to access the slow processing speed, using resources full cost effective way.

Visit: oakabooks.co.uk Email: [email protected] Call: +44 (0) 2392 388519

teachwire.net EDTECH FOR HISTORY KAZ Typing Tutor 15 Keyboard skills are 60 second histories increasingly important in our digital 16 60 second histories is a unique world, of course – so this accelerated online teaching resource for schools, learning typing tutor, developed by providing National Curriculum history the same course team responsible support for Key Stages 2-4. Film is a for producing over 55 RSA/NVQ level powerful tool that helps students retain computer and office skill courses, is concepts and ideas; and 60 second definitely one to explore. Its unique histories uses this to engage all abilities, accelerated learning teaching with over 250 short history video clips, method uses 'muscle memory' and plus teacher notes, lesson plans and a 'brain balance'; and has proved so virtual classroom function. effective, that it has taught millions IDEAL FOR: “The clean, engaging style of students in schools, colleges and • lesson starters of the clips increases our universities around the world to type. • introducing, supporting and recapping students’ motivation to learn, they encourage debate in the Cost: From £100 + VAT (annual topics in the classroom classroom and there is a significant online licence for up to 50 users) to • revision, homework and lesson-flipping improvement in concentration and £500 + VAT (whole school roll) Cost: £80 per year for a attention when watching the films.” whole-school licence Dave Whineray, head of history, Hounsdown School, Hampshire NO-COST SOLUTIONS

BBC Bitesize – Revision app FREE Clevertouch Plus 17The BBC Bitesize – Revision app has everything 14-16 year 19 A key selling point for the Clevertouch Plus olds need to get revising, wherever and whenever they need it. interactive screen is that it's completely system agnostic Created for students studying for their GCSEs, TGAU, Nationals or and compatible with any connected device. It is designed for in-class collaboration across multiple student devices 18 Highers, the app is available for smartphones (Android and iOS), and has the key information students need, broken down into brilliant, – bidirectionally mirroring content and, crucially, touch. easy-to-understand, bite-sized chunks It comes with its own free app store full of many of the most popular education apps – all of which have had FREE all advertising and in-app purchases removed, allowing XL Catlin Oceans Education pack educators to use them in the classroom with confidence. The XL Catlin Oceans Education pack is a unique learning 18 Cost: on request from resellers/installers journey that takes students to the heart of our amazing oceans, from the frozen Arctic to the coral reefs. It includes different modules that offer geography, science, technology and design “I kept expecting hidden costs, but there really aren’t any” teachers the flexibility to choose what and when to teach, selecting Stockwood Park Academy from 200+ lesson plans, activity sheets and multimedia resources, including 360 degrees videos, photos and Google Expeditions.. LiteracyPlanet 20 LiteracyPlanet brings together evidence-based and best practice literacy education content with the latest digital technology, to provide an effective curriculum resource for the contemporary classroom from Reception to Y9. It’s suitable for all abilities – including SEN/ EAL learners and those with exceptional learning potential – and offers a fun and engaging learning experience for students as well as user-friendly planning and management tools for teachers. Cost: Variable – visit literacyplanet.com/ uk/schools/school-prices/ for more information

teachwire.net 50 BEST Gratnells BCS Glossary of Computing 22 The BCS Glossary is the most authoritative and 21 PowerTray comprehensive work of its kind on the market today. The PowerTray is a simple, Written in a style that is easily accessible to anybody cost-effective solution providing with an interest in computing, it is specifically designed intelligent charging and storing to support those taking computer courses or courses for up to ten USB devices, each of where computers are used, including GCSE. which can be charged at the most Cost: £23.99 efficient rate. Cost: £250 - £329 Modi 23Harnessing the Internet of Things and Robotics in Education, Modi is a unique hardware system that enables everyone to be a programmer. Instead of having students make prepared projects with all the parts given to them, MODI encourages students to find solutions to a real-world problem. Using materials surrounding them – paper boxes, plastic bottles, 3D printing or LEGO blocks – they can imagine, design and make their own creations. Its software coding tool, MODI Studio, utilises an intuitive, drag-and-drop interface, with minimal wording. Cost: from £149

LITERACY Read&Write SUPPORT 24 Read&Write is a software toolbar with the literacy support features you need to deliver a personalised learning experience to all students – and help every member of the class meet their full potential. Read&Write is great for all subjects and lesson plans, and you can use it with virtually any kind of schoolroom content: websites, Word files, PDFs, Google docs and more. The software’s simple to install, it’s easy for pupils to use independently, and it works smoothly across all your 19 school’s hardware. Cost: From £800 IsoSketch 3D NO SCREEN 25 Drawing Tool REQUIRED! IsoSketch is a pupil-friendly 3D sketching tool, designed for the classroom. As T&I’s regular reviewer, John Dabell, points out: “The shatterproof drawing stencil has been expertly crafted and created by a teacher and designer and is ideal for use in D&T, engineering and maths. It measures just 12cm by 9cm and is a thing of beauty that enables you to draw cuboids, isometric circles, arrows, rounded corners, smooth edges and extend shapes without the trauma or breaking into a sweat.” Cost: £4 / £60 for a classpack IMPACT: DoodleMaths 26DoodleMaths is a cross-platform application that rapidly accelerates PROVEN children’s progress in maths. Its content consists of 20,000 carefully-graded questions, and as with other systems, teachers can set and monitor work from a In a study by the University of Bath, dashboard. But crucially, this content also works alongside an adaptive learning children using DoodleMaths for 20 engine which identifies a learner’s unique zone of proximal development and minutes per week over the summer were creates a daily-practice work program based around it, filling in gaps and 4x less likely to suffer learning loss on guaranteeing progression. returning to school in September, than their peers; their normalised scores Cost: single class – £179 per year; whole school – £5.50 per child per year increased by 4.6% (non-users’ scores decreased by 4.7%). “The DoodleMaths interface is beautiful. Nothing else on the market touches DoodleMaths as a tablet resource.” Gayhurst School, Buckinghamshire

teachwire.net GREAT VALUE! HUE HD Pro 27 Classroom Camera and Visualiser This lightweight, portable, colourful and characterful USB camera is ridiculously easy to use; just plug the flexible neck directly into your computer or via the base. The Pro has a wide angle lens and a built-in microphone; you can record sound and video, take snapshots, use for WAGOLL, CPD and flipped learning… and it’s small and light enough to carry in a handbag or briefcase. Cost: £44.95 + VAT

20

The CREATE 28 Education Project FREE This collaborative platform is designed to provide free resources and support Bettermarks to help educators introduce and embed 3D printing and scanning technology 31 Bettermarks is an online platform in the classroom. These include for GCSE maths, which uses sophisticated professional development resources, technology to ensure personalised, adaptive lesson resources, technology and learning for students and teachers. The curriculum guides, project ideas resource is unique in that it offers students a and inspiration. Membership is free second chance to correct their answer – much and all the resources are free to more than automarked questions. download for members. Cost: dependent on size of school/classes Community members can even access a no-obligation FREE 3D printer loan scheme, where they BOOST PARENTAL can borrow an Ultimaker 3D printer ENGAGEMENT for one month to deliver a project in their school. Find out more and sign SIMS up at createeducation.com 32Parent app The new SIMS Parent app allows schools easily to communicate with parents FREE... AND EASY! and students. Whether FREE it’s sharing information BP Educational Service Science Explorers such as attendance, or 29 Free, high quality videos and resources to help schools run a science day or week school reports, or sending around the intriguing topic, ‘how human changes to environments affect living things’. reminders for homework tasks, all of the information is Bettyforschools.co.uk FREE instantly accessible from the convenience of their phone, Student-led, innovative, refreshing and honest digital lessons about periods, 30 tablet or PC. developed in consultation with teachers and pupils. Cost: on request

teachwire.net 50 BEST

BOOST PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT

Groupcall Messenger 37 Messenger gives schools the ability to send personalised text messages (SMS), emails, automated voice calls, push messages and tweets (via Twitter) to the mobile phones and landlines of parents, staff and DREMEL® key contacts. They can manage their entire parental 33 MICRO engagement strategy with one product. The Dremel Micro has been Cost: £1 per child, per year designed for one purpose – to master all precision DIY projects, from sanding to cutting. Its compact, streamline “Messenger has resulted in a design means it can be held like a pencil for resounding saving for the school. perfect control and manoeuvrability; perfect Casio’s Lamp-Free Within 12 months, £6,000 has for your D&T classroom. 36Projectors been saved on postage alone with (Core Series) further savings on consumables, Cost: £114.38 time management and reduced Casio’s lamp-free projectors, the telephone calls.” Core Series, are revolutionary Netop Vision display products for the The Warriner School 34 Thousands of institutions rely on education market, solving the Vision – classroom management software for high maintenance issues of Windows, Mac and Chromebooks – to ensure traditional projection in the students make appropriate and effective use of UZBL Shockwave classroom and enhancing technology, and give teachers the tools to not 38iPad Case the picture quality and ease only keep students on task but also to foster One of the toughest and most durable of use for teachers. No more improved collaboration and communication iPad cases on the market – it’s not the breakdowns; no more lamps to 21 cheapest, but a lot of research, care and Cost: From £18 per machine for replace – and definitely no loss drop testing has gone into making sure Perpetual licence. From £7 per machine of brightness or picture quality. it’s up there with the best. for Subscription licence. Cost: on request Cost: £31.40 Zzish 35Zzish is an education technology platform that allows teachers to discover, buy and use educational applications effectively in order to ‘move the needle’ on learning. Essentially, you can think of it as a ‘virtual teaching assistant’ – an intelligent, real-time agent that understands each student’s personal learning needs and can tell the teacher who needs help, what they need help with, and how you can help them. Cost: free for the basic platform and features, premium offering for a one-off TIME subscription fee (£56 annually for teachers, £2 annually per student) BUSTER

teachwire.net HegartyMaths 39 HegartyMaths is a revolutionary online maths platform that teaches, trains and tracks students. It has been created to give “Students receive instant feedback students access to world class maths tuition, irrespective of their on how well they are doing on every background or prior attainment – whilst saving teachers time so they piece of work. As a headteacher, I can concentrate on what they do best – inspiring and motivating can monitor the progress of all young people to be the very best they can be. students across the school. The students are always amazed and Cost: £999 + VAT for a one-year subscription excited when I speak to them in the corridors about how well they are doing in mathematics.” Leon Wilson, headteacher, The Hurlingham Academy

SAFEGUARDING 22 SOLUTION Secondary SEN 42Language Link SUPPORT InVentry Although Speech Language and Communication Difficulties (SLCN) affect at least 40Designed with and for 10% of secondary pupils, secondary schools receive very little access to specialist education, this fully-equipped MIS speech and language services and so resources to support both these young people integrated solution allows schools to and the teaching and support staff are limited. Secondary Language Link is an SLCN accurately monitor who is onsite at any training, curriculum- linked intervention and screening package, developed to one time. InVentry speeds up the sign in support the language and communication needs of pupils aged 11-14, to have a process, keeps identity information secure, positive impact on teaching and learning and to make a real difference to the life and leaves schools feeling confident that chances of identified adolescents. their students are safe. Cost: The average size secondary school (939 pupils) pays an annual Cost: £3,000 subscription of £1220

"The InVentry visitor entry system has paid dividends in terms of safeguarding; Firefly OFSTED inspectors loved it." 43This online tool empowers teachers, students and parents to learn more together; schools can set homework, St John Fisher Catholic High School, track progress, create rich resources and engage parents. Dewsbury Cost: Around £10 per student

BBC micro:bit What’s the legacy? 41The BBC micro:bit is an innovative project 84% of those using the device say it IMPACT: drawing inspiration from the original BBC micro and was fun and exciting to use PROVEN building on its legacy. The project is revolutionary in 88% said it showed them that its approach, providing up to 1 million free, pocket- coding is not as difficult as they At Latymer Upper School, 5+ sized programmable devices to students and schools thought it was A*-C GCSE increased from across the UK with the aim of kick-starting a passion 39% of girls that used the micro:bit 62% to 100% within one year for coding. A not for profit foundation has now been said they will definitely do ICT/ of starting to use Firefly established that will ensure the aims of the BBC computer science as an option. A micro:bit are promoted for years to come. previous benchmarking study of year Cost: Up to one million free devices were given; it’s 7 girls showed this was only 23%. now available for retail

teachwire.net 50 BEST

“EDVirtual is quickly becoming a whole school learning platform rather than an isolated resource. It’s been a real success; we had over 500 students use it for the maths intervention alone. We’re now looking to use it for set texts within English, to help our students with core knowledge which they will need to recall in their exams.” Andy Percival, deputy headteacher at Rodillian Academy, Wakefield Groupcall Emerge 45 Emerge 5 is a powerful platform designed for educators to view and interact with their core MIS data EDVirtual (from EDLounge) anywhere, anytime, across a variety of devices. It exists to make the lives of teachers easier - giving them the freedom to manage EDVirtual is a virtual classroom in which teachers 44 their marking, take registers, analyse their data and more, and support staff can help disengaged, and/or out-of- wherever they are, on whatever device they choose. school students gain qualifications and achieve their goals. It was specifically created to target those hard- Cost: From £199 to-reach students, using a school’s own staff, mentors and support staff (alongside EDLounge teaching staff, “I have found it invaluable when meeting parents. I can who are uniquely trained and have extensive knowledge show them behaviour, achievement and attendance on qualifications, methodology, exams, coursework and information when we are talking; and when looking up practical elements) to educate learners in any situation. other relevant information, it is immediate.” Cost: £1,000 per seat Stoke Damerel Community College E-safety 46 Support This unique service puts up-to-date Kramer VIA Go e-safety training, policy documents, 47 This wireless presentation solution could assessment tools, lesson plans and other represent a revolution in connectivity in the teaching resources and practical guidance classroom. It allows a teacher or student with any at your fingertips, making it easy to share Windows PC, Mac, Chromebook, Apple tablet or e-safety policy and practice with pupils, phone Android tablet or phone to connect wirelessly

parents, teachers and other members of and present; up to two participants can be displayed 23 your school community. simultaneously. Cost: £599 for secondary schools Cost: £449

NetSupport SAFEGUARDING 48 Notify SOLUTION EDTECH FOR NetSupport Notify is a simple, low-cost, one-way Soundbeam 6 MUSIC messaging and alerting toolI that delivers effective 49 This brilliant, award-winning piece of one-way communication that must be read, whether music technology for all people - regardless of in the classroom or across the whole school. The ability or disability - uses ultrasonic sensors to messages it sends take screen priority, which means detect movement and translate it into sound. that they can’t be bypassed or ignored – ensuring that Cost: from £2495 everyone is able to see a message with immediate effect and act on it, if necessary. Cost: From £100 for 75 licences and becoming cheaper, the more you buy

Iiyama TE8668MIS-B1AG 50 This interactive 86 inch 4K UHD large format display feels right at home in every classroom. With its high resolution IPS panel, it’s ready to inspire young minds with stunning graphics, content-rich presentations and detailed lesson materials that will be visible from anywhere in the classroom, even on bright sunny days. Cost: £2999

teachwire.net A virtual classroom to enhance learning for all

EDVirtual has been developed to enable your teachers, mentors and “Since using EDLounge, Casey’s attitude qualified support staff can work remotelywith your students in a safe and controlled environment. towards learning certainly changed. She struggled in mainstream school and found Our virtual classroom helps excluded students and those students who it very difficult to interact with people she require a short term alternative provision. Your staff have the capability didn’t know. After a year of using EDLounge, to educate your students on specific timetabled pathways via live video stream. Your students will benefit from being taught through a unique she has now finished her exams and has pathway tailored to their personal needs and capabilities. been accepted onto an apprenticeship working in a private nursery” By using our virtual classroom your school can save time and money, benefit from seamless teacher and student lesson transition, and easily interact and Mrs T - Guardian of Casey, 16, from Sheffield support a group or individual while they are unable to attend school. Our unique safeguarding tools have been designed to give educators the best opportunity to deliver lessons to off-site students whilst monitoring their attendance, behaviour and safety. All virtual lessons are recorded and automatically backed up and saved to ensure safeguarding all round. This provision is a robust and comprehensive tool that not only allows your organisation to offer teaching and support, but also ffo ers; tutoring, assessment, pre-assessment, verification, and expertise in any subject for any age group, for those doing core or academic courses.

The Virtual Classroom will allow you to: • View students’ learning live via a secure server stream • Mentor students through a written chat, verbal chat or face to face video link • Set structured and personalised pathways for individual students using school content or by using 7,500+ ready-made lessons provided Request your • Communicate face to face with students who are learning off-site FREE Demo at • Dramatically improve your students attendance and achievement www.edlounge.com/demo

CONTACT US NOW to see how our Virtual Classroom and online support system could provide a great alternative provision for a range of your students, which adheres to government safeguarding, well-being and supervision legislation.

Contact: Paul Higgins EDLounge Ltd, Unit 5, Aston House, Campbell Way, Dinnington, Email: [email protected] Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S25 3QD WEB: www.edlounge.com Phone: 01909 568 338 CLASSROOM INSPIRATION TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION: IN ASSOCIATION WITH CLASSROOM Inspiration Fresh ideas to take teaching and learning to the next level

BREAKING THE BARRIERS Skills Crisis,” published in 2016 by the House TO INNOVATION of Commons Science and Technology It’s 13 years since I left school, yet I still Committee, 12.6 million adults in the UK remember my most inspiring teachers, lack basic digital skills, costing the UK lessons and experiences in the classroom. economy £63 billion a year in lost GDP. They shaped my education and childhood. Furthermore: 22 percent of IT equipment in Some of these involved technology: from schools is ineffective and the UK will need moving a robot around a mat, to drawing a another 745,000 workers with digital skills digital picture for the first time, to sending by 2017. an email and exploring an internet search engine. These activities sound pretty Fundraising for the future rudimentary now, but at the time they To help alleviate this, we created an online were mind blowing. fundraising platform for schools (www. rocket.fund) to empower teachers to try the 25 Since then, technology has developed at an latest technology and gather reviews on astonishing rate. We all have smartphones, what works. Designed to fuel imagination 1.3 billion people use Facebook everyday in the classroom, Rocket Fund enables and virtual reality is now an affordable schools to raise money from businesses experience. Unfortunately however, the and their community, in order to try new digital revolution hasn’t yet had the positive technology that’s beyond the reach of their impact it could have on the education current budget. It also creates a mechanism system and the use of technology in for us to collect case studies and reviews schools varies widely. from teachers, to help others choose and use technology more easily in the future. Facing a skills crisis It’s fascinating to see what teachers We at Nesta think this situation is due to buy when given the freedom of choice. the existence of several barriers that are This year, the most popular item by far in their turn severely limiting modern is virtual reality headsets. Which is totally classroom inspiration. understandable considering the fantastic As a result, many pupils are being poorly possibilities they offer – from exploring the prepared for the world they’re growing oceans to walking around ancient Egypt. into. According to a report, “The Digital I’m excited to see what else teachers choose to fundraise for in the future and how these technologies develop when the suppliers start receiving direct feedback ABOUT NESTA from the teachers via our platform. Nesta is a global innovation foundation 36% that backs new ideas to tackle the big Ben Gill, of secondary school challenges of our time, through its product manager, educators think that knowledge, networks, funding and skills. Innovation Lab, Nesta works in partnership with others, Nesta teachers are the the most including governments, businesses and valuable source when it charities. It is a UK charity that works all Nesta is a registered comes to measuring the over the world, supported by a financial charity in England and Wales 1144091 and endowment. To find out more visit effectiveness of edtech. Scotland SC042833. www.nesta.org.uk Source: BESA

teachwire.net CLASSROOM INSPIRATION

FROM SPREADSHEETS 26 TO STORIES

If you focus on narrative rather than numbers, data analysis suddenly becomes more exciting – and effective, insists Geoff Worth

ike it or not, for many years, one of my bespoke systems I would often do something about that. Or maybe teachers have had to analyse present the findings in a spreadsheet. we can discover why the boys in year 8 data. There is increasing pressure However, it was on one of these occasions are flying in geography but struggling in to look at the numbers to see that I received the following response, science. It might be that we notice that the how students, teachers and the “Don’t give me another spreadsheet Geoff; introduction of a geography field trip has Lschool are performing. In most schools, I don’t do spreadsheets.” dramatically improved the grades of the data analytics normally falls to Spreadsheets are like Marmite – people current year 10s compared to last year’s one individual who has a passion for love them or hate them – but I believe class. It’s these little insights that will help number crunching and an enthusiasm for data is different. Rather than just being a us to decide on the best course of action creating spreadsheets. string of numbers, data can tell a story; and to take. In my school, Pate’s Grammar School in who doesn’t love a good story, especially if I strongly believe that seeing these Cheltenham, I am that individual. I love to you get to control the ending? The power tales unfold with access to more and play with data because it tells the truth. It of data is that it can solve a mystery – it better data will be the answer to help means I can make decisions based on the can even predict the future. So, once you schools to perform well on increasingly most up to date information. However, I transform numerical data into stories, shrinking budgets. am very aware that not everyone shares suddenly it has much wider appeal. my passion for detailed analysis. By seeing the beginning of a story, we Finding stories at the click of are in a much better position to ensure that a button “Not another spreadsheet!” it ends well – for example, if we know at When a teacher enters a classroom, they It used to be that a colleague would come the start of term that Charlie’s attendance are met with a sea of individuals with to me with a request for analysis. Using is affecting his grades, we can perhaps different needs, backgrounds and interests.

teachwire.net

pp 24-25 classroom life.indd 1 27/07/2017 16:42 TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION: IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Being able to keep a close eye on all of our school, and have the means to do the available data, and quickly spot any them is a daily challenge that all educators so, quickly and easily. changes in pupil and staff performance. face – and I haven’t met many who don’t I meet with a lot of local schools to The introduction of Progress 8 has meant get excited about the prospect of seeing share ideas and best practices. Often that assessing the value that a school a student’s past, present and predicted when we talk about data analysis I am adds to each pupil is essential. We knew future, with just the click of a few buttons. told ‘we’ve developed our own system’. we needed to be able to ensure our pupils Teachers want to teach, so they are all This usually means they have created were reaching their potential. To do this looking for a speedy process that offers something in Excel or Word that only effectively, all members of staff had to be current information, to be able to get the a select few understand or want to able to quickly see if any pupils were not best from their students. Providing tools look at. But no teacher has time to go making the progress we hoped for them which instantly reveal which individuals through complicated analysis to be and then be able to provide the appropriate are struggling or excelling in specific areas able to quickly access the information support mechanisms. It’s obvious that if enables us to create much better support they need. They need to be able to see the analysis is being done by one person, strategies for our learners. an overview of all their students to be and is not being presented in a way that We found creating systems that show able to make good decisions to help all makes sense to all members of staff, then the data stories in a visual way – with learners achieve their full potential. the whole process is a waste of time and Venn diagrams, bar charts, pie charts and provides no value at all. line graphs – has been a powerful tool in Getting ready for Progress 8 To survive on increasingly smaller enabling teachers to engage with complex One of the biggest areas that seeing budgets, we need to nurture a culture of pictures. We use SIMS Discover to do this data as stories has helped us with storytellers within schools. It’s important automatically and it means that data is getting ready for Progress 8. Our that we can see the stories as they develop analysis is now an action that doesn’t get student intake is constantly increasing, and drive action where needed. By left on the to do list. Instead, our staff are so we have to be able to look at the maximising the available data, we will be keen to discover the stories that exist within whole school at any point, review able to write many more happy endings!

6 WAYS TO GET THE MOST FROM

YOUR DATA 27

1. Don’t leave data analysis to one person; the whole teaching staff needs to be on board. 2. Collate your data and consolidate it into one place. It will save time and money in the long run. 3. Inspire colleagues to look for the stories not the numbers. 4. Look for ways for your staff to be able to view and interpret their findings in a visual way. 5. Look for the trends and patterns both now, and also over the past few years. 6. Share your success stories.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Geoff Worth is head of science at Pate’s Grammar School in Cheltenham, (www.patesgs.org). For further information, visit www.capita-sims.co.uk/ TeachSecondary teachwire.net

pp 24-25 classroom life.indd 2 27/07/2017 16:42 What if you had X-ray vision in the classroom?

Now you can. With Vision for Chromebooks you can see all student activity in the Chromebook classroom.

Monitor student screens: See all activity in one glance

Blank student screens: Refocus attention

Block and filter web: Keep students safe

Push URLs live: Save time

See beyond the browser: View activity undetected by other programs

TRY VISION FREE netop.com/chrome

CONTACT MAITEK SOLUTIONS: 01926 813500 or [email protected]

Untitled-1 1 7/26/2017 11:34:09 AM CLASSROOM INSPIRATION PARTNER CONTENT A better way If you’re looking for an effective, affordable solution for managing student devices in the digital classroom, Netop Vision ticks all the boxes…

You have a lot to manage, and the list keeps growing. How do you make sure students are on-task and safe when using technology in the classroom? With Netop Vision you see everything your students see by viewing all student screens from your computer. You can keep students safe by blocking websites and blanking screens. With Vision you can:

+ Capture students’ attention and maintain focus. + Control potential distractions. + Supervise students’ activity. + Help students remotely from your computer.

The right tools At schools throughout the UK, educators are finding that teaching with technology is easier EFFECTIVE TEACHING and more effective when they have the right 29 classroom management tools. Take, for WITH TECHNOLOGY example, Stockwood Park Academy in Luton, Netop is a worldwide leader in classroom which serves students from Year 7 through management software. The company’s KS4 and sixth form. Offering a state-of- innovative line of classroom management the-art building with cutting-edge facilities, products, including Vision Pro and Vision teachers and students have used Netop’s for Chromebooks, support traditional Vision Pro classroom management software computer labs as well as one-to-one since 2012 in their various ICT rooms. computing, blended learning, flipped “Vision Pro is a very powerful behaviour classrooms, and more. management tool,” says Giselle Hobbs, assistant principal in charge of KS3 achievement and new technologies. “It is a + Distribute files, collect assignments and relationships between teachers and students great product that provides real solutions to launch websites for the whole class in one through one-to-one connectivity improve teaching when using technology.” click, saving lost transition time, letting Ms Hobbs also cites that using demos and Vision Pro helps teachers better teachers accomplish more during each pop-up questions have resulted in higher manage classroom technology with class period. levels of teaching and engagement. She these core features: + Post lesson content online and conduct said the teachers’ favourite feature is the web-based assessments supporting sharing screens function because it keeps all + View a screenshot of each computer or blended learning and flipped classrooms. students focused and enables teachers to tablet in the classroom from the teacher share student best practices with others. display, following student’s work in real time. Impressive results She noted that students “are still alarmed + Communicate with students screen-to- At Stockwood Park, the results have been when someone takes control of their screen. Teachers can chat, operate students’ evident. According to Ms. Hobbs, Stockwood screens, but they enjoy the question pop-ups devices for them, or demonstrate directly on has experienced the following educational and benefit from the visual demonstrations their screens – all from their own computers benefits from using Vision Pro: improved during lessons.” or tablets. engagement within lessons; improved Stockwood Park Academy chose Vision + Turn internet access on or off entirely, or student behaviour; better understanding Pro in part because it was priced more choose specific websites to block or allow. and progress on tasks during lessons; a attractively than other alternatives. She’s + Select the applications they want students greater opportunity for questions, feedback been exceptionally pleased by Netop’s to use while blocking others. and reflection during lessons; and stronger excellent customer support and service.

For further information, get in touch with Netop’s UK Distributor on 01926 813500 or [email protected] or visit www.netop.com/edu for a free 30-day trial

teachwire.net PUT THE FUTURE 30 IN THEIR HANDS

One memorable, interactive experience can inspire students to pursue STEM long after the school bell has rung, says Dr Kevin P Stenson

e all know of someone We’ve worked closely with schools over complements the existing in-school who was inspired to the past 50 years to help them provide curriculum, whilst simultaneously taking it pursue a subject or inspirational experiences that get students that one step further. their chosen career to dare to imagine the possibilities of using We also work hard to link schools with path because of one STEM. We offer in-school STEM Days, some of the UK’s top institutions, Wteacher, one class, or one moment during which are mostly free thanks to the support universities, and companies, to take their school years; perhaps you might of sponsors, during which a Smallpeice students’ learning outside of the classroom even be that person yourself. Nowhere educator will come to your school and hold and get them excited about the possibilities are these moments more important an interactive workshop for up to 60 of of finding solutions to real world challenges than when teaching science, technology, your students. using STEM. We have collaborated with engineering, and maths – subjects that everyone from The Stephen Hawking often need a little help to jump off the Providing teachers with the tools Foundation to the National Cyber Security page of a textbook and come alive for We can deliver Think Kits, which contain Centre and our courses have seen students students. When it comes to getting everything you need to start up a STEM engineer Lego robots in Exeter, design students engaged in STEM, The Smallpeice Club for Year 8 and Year 9 students, boats in Strathclyde, and build hydro Trust – of which I am Chief Executive – including week-by-week lesson plans, turbines in Newcastle. recognises that we need to help schools presentations, student handouts, and The enthusiasm for offering unique to keep serving up memorable, interactive project materials. As well as providing STEM experiences for students is clear in experiences alongside the required resources and sessions for schools, we also the uptake we have seen from schools curriculum – and let the students’ curiosity deliver residential and non-residential across the UK – in 2016, we held 600 STEM do the rest. courses for students. Everything we offer Days, reaching over 50,000 students.

teachwire.net

pp 30-31 small piece trust .indd 1 28/07/2017 10:15 CLASSROOM INSPIRATION

With such an appetite amongst schools Engineering at The University of Bradford, for providing inspiring, interactive and eventually secure a job as a Graduate experiences for students using STEM, the Geotechnical Engineer with Van Elle Ltd. +KEY RESOURCE question is, do they work? Can one Alice Thomas was in Year 8 when The memorable experience make a tangible Smallpeice Trust organised and ran a STEM Arckit is a freeform architectural long-term difference in the perception, Day at her school, challenging students to model making system that introduces participation, and pursuit of STEM subjects construct a floating device made entirely students to STEM learning through by young people? Quite simply, yes – and out of straws. Alice’s team won, their prize real-world architectural design. we’ve been fortunate enough to see being a place on the Trust’s engineering inspired students and their curiosity in course at The University of Nottingham, Arckit allows users to physically action, following their experiences with The where representatives from engineering explore designs and bring projects Smallpeice Trust. firms advised them on how to engineer to life. The modular system uses their device using wood, nails and plastic. interconnecting components based Lighting the spark with Inspired by her experience, Alice went on to on modern building techniques, STEM clubs study chemistry at the very same university making it possible to design and where she first experienced STEM subjects Last year, students from Clacton County modify a diverse range of scaled in action with The Smallpeice Trust, and High School in Essex attended an in-school structures. The multi-award winning STEM Day provided by The Smallpeice now works as an Assistant Chemist for Arckit system is used by schools and Trust and were inspired to set up their own EDF Energy. STEM Club. The group used the school year Jonathan and Alice’s experiences are just universities around the world as a to construct a Remotely Operated two examples of the countless stories we classroom tool for teaching STEM underwater Vehicle (ROV) from scratch, hear from the students and schools we’ve concepts, developing fundamental before testing it off the coast of Brighton. worked with. While Alice jumped at the design skills and offering the chance opportunity to mingle with engineering The students’ design incorporated lights to explore hands-on creativity. and laser sensors that allowed them to professionals, saying, “I enjoyed talking to overcome the lack of visibility and explore the representatives from the engineering Find out more at www.arckit.com, or the murky waters of an offshore reef. As companies and finding out what their their ROV sped down to the depths, the careers involved,” Jonathan said, “The email [email protected] team gathered around a screen to steer the Smallpeice Trust broadened my horizons craft using its live on-board camera, and and gave me a taste for the big picture of view the images streamed back from the engineering.” We’re incredibly proud of reef. The school’s STEM Club inspired by stories like this, in which the beginning of 31 The Smallpeice Trust continues this year, professional careers in STEM can be traced with the group aiming to improve their back to an initial experience with the Trust. submersible with newly engineered features. One of the students has also gone Meeting challenges and on to receive a scholarship from the Trust’s making moments sister charity The Arkwright Scholarship We appreciate the challenges that teachers Trust, to support her study of engineering can face when leading STEM subjects. How at A Level. do you find the time and the resources to To see these students enjoy their run an exciting experiment? How do you experience with The Smallpeice Trust and explain complex theories while making then feel inspired to tackle a challenge them relevant to the real world experienced using STEM skills was fantastic. Their by students? And how do you do all of this journey from feeling curious about a while covering the required curriculum? challenge, to identifying how it could be By offering a range of resources aligned solved using STEM, through to engineering with the curriculum and linking schools with a solution and successfully launching it in innovative institutions and companies the real world outside the classroom, is the across the UK, The Smallpeice Trust helps essence of everything we strive to achieve. schools to overcome these challenges. You can get in touch with us via email at info@ Kick-starting STEM careers smallpeicetrust.org.uk to discuss how we We have also seen the beginnings of can help your school deliver STEM promising careers in STEM, following our experiences over the next academic year work with students in schools. that might just kick-start a career. As When The Smallpeice Trust ran an we’ve seen – sometimes one moment is in-school competition challenging students all it takes. to build the paper boat that could be pushed the farthest along a desk by a fan, student Jonathan Wright came along to take on the challenge. His experience at this ABOUT THE AUTHOR competition kick-started a journey that Dr Kevin P Stenson is Chief would see him attend courses with the trust Executive of national in partnership with Corus and Jaguar education charity, The Landrover, study Civil and Structural Smallpeice Trust.

teachwire.net

pp 30-31 small piece trust .indd 2 28/07/2017 10:15 BRING STEM TO LIFE WITH ARCKIT

Introducing students to STEM learning through real-world architectural design. www.arckit.com

Arckit is a freeform architectural model making system that allows you to physically explore designs and bring your projects to life. The modular system uses interconnecting components that are based on modern building techniques, making it possible to design and modify a diverse range of scaled structures. The multi-award winning Arckit system is used by schools and universities around the world as a classroom tool for teaching STEM concepts, developing fundamental design skills and explo- ring hands-on creativity.

Arckit also o ers a complete learning resource for schools. The Arckit Education Programme teaches students how to think creatively, communicate their designs, practice problem solving skills, work collaboratively, engage with technology and deve- lop a better understanding of architectural design through hands-on activities and assessments.

Arckit is compatible with 3D software such as SketchUp and Autodesk Revit. This allows users to seamlessly transition between mediums, bridging the gap between physical and digital design. This easy access to accurate models and experimentation means that physical model making can take a more active role in the design process. ARCKITEXTURE gives you access to These CAD skills can also be used for other STEM learning a digital image library of surface textures and material patterns targets such as exploring spatial analysis, geometric equiva- used by real building material lencies, ordering and composition. companies. This allows you to add detailed and realistic nished to Arckit allows users to build a vast range your structures such as wood of structures, from models inspired by ooring, terracotta tiles, stone iconic buildings to your own freeform walls and shingle aluminium. designs. Arckit uses no glue and is ARCKITEXTURE nishes can be completely modular, so models can be downloaded and printed to the endlessly modied to create dierent ARCKITEXTURE adhesive sheets designs. found in your ARCKIT set.

YOUNGER STUDENT OLDER STUDENTS · Design thinking to create ideas and then articulating · Collaboration and team building in addition to a broad them with physical models range of skills from research, nal documentation to design presentation · Introduction to geometry and scale and use these skills in design development · Develop prociency with 3D printing technology to explo- re, design and integrate 3D printed components with the · The ability to assess, evaluate and modify designs Arckit system · Introduction to Engineering Process from concept · Learning the principles of architecture, engineering and design through prototype development modern construction techniques · Improved psychomotor dexterity by cutting, · Gain competence in CAD by designing and building the measuring and applying adhesives to nish models same structure in both real and digital environments

Email the Arckit Team for further information on learning resources and education discounts available for Arckit products. [email protected] CLASSROOM INSPIRATION Q&A: LONDON INTERNATIONAL PARTNER CONTENT SCIENCE FORUM Richard Myhill, LIYSF director, explains what the forum means for participants

T&I What is LIYSF? colleges. As well as this, sponsors all over RM LIYSF is the London International the world choose to send students to Science Forum which takes place in July the forum as a way in promote science in – August annually. It is a melting pot of their communities. ideas from international science students. In 2017 more than 480 students aged What do students get from LIYSF between 16 and 21 attended the 59th A lot! Firstly, students leave LIYSF with forum. Students attend lectures from top new found information from world class scientists and researchers, visit the class researchers and scientists, often UK’s most prestigious research centers discovering new and exciting fields of What makes LIYSF different? and are given the opportunity to meet science and career paths as a result of their LIYSF is different from many other science like-minded individuals from the world time at the forum. They make like-minded forums as it is non-competitive, which over. LIYSF is as much about cultural friends from every corner of the world. promotes a friendly atmosphere. Students interaction as it is about science! From traditional musical performances, also get the opportunity to engage face lectures, and visits to labs all over the to face with top class scientists and Who attends LIYSF? UK, LIYSF is a truly inspiring experience. researchers. It’s rare to find an event as Students aged 16 -21 are eligible to Students also get the opportunity to culturally rich as LIYSF. It offers a unique attend the forum. Participants come display a project they have been working opportunity for our young participants to from all over the world, hailing all from on in their home country during our meet people from completely different different backgrounds. Some students win project bazaar, which gives them vital backgrounds. It is often said that competitions to earn a place at the forum experience in presenting scientific work participants at LIYSF learn as much about while others are chosen by their schools or in a clear manner. culture as they do about science.

www.liysf.org.uk Call: 020 8295 8295 Email: [email protected] 33

teachwire.net CLASSROOM INSPIRATION PARTNER CONTENT Q&A: ACTIVE ROBOTS Becky Yelling, of Active Robots, talks about the LEGO® Education robotics range

T&I What can the study concepts such as estimating and How easy are the sets of robotics teach students? measuring distance, time and speed. to put together? RM LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education EV3 Pupils design and build programmable robots brings project-based learning to the world What’s special about the LEGO® using high quality motors, sensors, gears, of computer science and STEM, enabling Education robotics range? wheels, axles and other technical components. secondary pupils to improve critical-think- The range of LEGO® Education The sets are very easy to build and build guides ing, problem-solving and collaboration skills. products has everything a teacher are available, however LEGO® MINDSTORMS® As inspiring as it is engaging and creative, needs to engage pupils in an exciting Education EV3 encourages creative building. you can use the EV3 robotics technology computing, technology, engineering straight out of the box and download and maths lesson. With all LEGO® Are you able to guide schools towards the software, curriculum material and Education software, curriculum choosing the robotics resources that e-learning modules for free. The material and teaching support best fit their needs? solution enables pupils to understand now available to download Active Robots Ltd has been in business for over and interpret two-dimensional for free, there is a wealth of 15 years supplying the education sector with all drawings to create three-di- inspiring content and support its robotics requirements. We supply primary mensional models; build, test, across a range of subjects, schools through to universities with relevant troubleshoot and revise including computing and robotics for their stage of learning, from LEGO® designs to improve robot STEM, at your fingertips. Education WeDo2 right through to high end performance; The software contains collaborative robots. We have a specialist team and gain practical, step-by-step lesson plans who can give completely neutral advice on hands-on experience which makes teaching ICT what system will best fit each individual schools using mathematical more fun than ever! requirements and budget.

Visit: www.active-robots.com Call: 01761 234328 Email: [email protected] 34

teachwire.net CLASSROOM INSPIRATION PARTNER CONTENT Q&A: GoCalm Dawn Baker, Head of Innovation at NCFE explains how tech can help reduce exam-related stress

T&I Why is NCFE so concerned help us in our mission to support learners in Every interaction between neurons creates about exam pressure? their journey with us. a miniscule electrical discharge, measurable DB Mental health issues have been a focus by EEG machines. The technology headset in the media lately. These challenges can start How does GoCalm work? is there to pick the electrical discharge up, in childhood and if dealt with on time, there What’s the science behind it? interpret it and transmit it. are slimmer chances for them to escalate into Learners are provided with a simple headset bigger mental health problems. At NCFE, we that is linked to an interactive desktop Can teachers get a taste of what are committed to developing solutions with based app; they are then guided to follow GoCalm could do, before committing our learners in mind and as an educational various calming techniques. They can train to an investment? organisation with a charitable status, exams themselves to improve over time and then Teachers, learners and users can try the first are an area that fits naturally within our scope. use in a matter of minutes whenever they feel module of the solution which is distributed anxious. MyndPlay is the first mind controlled for free to everyone and consists of two short Why has the charity partnered with media player and platform which painlessly videos on TFT - Thought Field Therapy (tinyurl. MyndPlay to develop GoCalm? connects a user’s’ computer to their mind com/tryTFT) and mindfulness (tinyurl.com/ The BrainWave technology used by MyndPlay with dry sensor EEG BrainWave technology. trymindfulness). For them to understand how is able to read the mind’s electrical discharges the headset works, they will need to purchase and feed it back to the screen for visible focus it. However, we will be running demos at and relaxation levels. This technology is simple various trade shows over the coming months. to use; it’s wearable tech that doesn’t require We are also filming real case studies so that an expert to be on hand to set it up. When they can see how it’s been used elsewhere we were introduced to the technology that before they commit to buy – we will be MyndPlay uses, we understood that this will posting these on ncfe.org.uk/gocalm.

Visit: ncfe.org.uk/gocalm Call: 0191 239 8037 Email: [email protected] 35

teachwire.net CLASSROOM INSPIRATION

Choose your REALITY Robots aren’t going to replace teachers, says Terry Freedman – but the rise of artificial intelligence could make educators’ lives a good deal easier...

36

teachwire.net TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION: IN ASSOCIATION WITH

he science fiction writer Isaac something is balancing the requirement will be the merging of these Asimov wrote a story set in for lots of evidence with the need to different approaches. the year 2157, in which a boy reduce workload. Detectives have a similar Work is already under way here. For discovers a ‘real’ book. In it, he conundrum when faced with a crime scene: example, a Holocaust survivor has been learns that in the 20th century, which aspects of it are significant? Are filmed in ‘3D video’ answering 1800 Tkids weren’t taught by a robot but by a there similarities between this crime scene questions. Imbued with AI, the resulting real person in a place called ‘school’. He and others that have been recorded? Enter ‘hologram’ can answer questions from and his friend muse on the fun those long an AI project called VALCRI, in which the students appropriately, by working out ago children must have had. So, how far computer can carry out the equivalent of what it has been asked (see for yourself at off was Asimov in his prediction – and 73 searches through the evidence in one http://bit.ly/TS3dvid). should we take heart from the observation click of the mouse, and even knows that Meanwhile, Pearson is developing by Arthur C. Clarke, that any teacher who words such as ‘scruffy’ and ‘dishevelled’ a holographic nurse that will be both could be replaced by a machine probably mean pretty much the same thing. artificially and emotionally intelligent, to be should be? Perhaps in the future similar systems viewed through Microsoft’s Hololens (this An insight from a recent McKinsey will be available in education. Imagine is a headset that projects 3D images to a report is useful. In ‘Harnessing automation being able to present the computer with space in the room you’re in, meaning that for a future that works’ (see http://bit. a pupil’s e-portfolio, essays, project notes you can walk around them). The idea is that ly/TSMcReport), the blog post about the and annotated programs, and be rewarded the Pearson nurse will be able to respond to report makes the point that: “The effects with an instant analysis of her ‘computing questions just like a real one. of automation might be slow at a macro capability’. At the very least, AI could be It’s all very exciting; but it’s worth level, within entire sectors or economies, used to suggest the student’s weak and considering whether the biggest challenge for example, but they could be quite fast strong points - of course, how to convey facing educationalists might now be how at a micro level, for individual workers that to the student and scaffold appropriate to ensure that the technology works for whose activities are automated or for learning activities would still be up to you, us, and with our full knowledge. What we companies whose industries are disrupted the teacher. probably need is an education by competitors using automation.” ethics committee. That’s a profound statement. It is highly On hand to help unlikely that when you return to school At Georgia Tech – a public research 37 from the summer brto eak you’ll be handed university in Atlanta, Georgia – one of your P45 on the grounds that a robot has the teaching assistants the students find taken your place. But what we are likely to very helpful is Jill Watson. She is always in find is that some of the jobs teachers do are the online forums, and answers students’ THINKING MACHINES taken out of their hands, either completely questions quickly and accurately. What the Artificial intelligence continues to develop by or partially. Let’s consider a few possibilities. students are not told during their course, leaps and bounds. What makes it very different however, is that Jill Watson is a ‘bot’: a piece from – and much more exciting than – early Automatic marking of AI software. Imagine having your own Jill attempts at creating computers that think is To reduce the workload arising from Watson in school, to answer parents’ and what has come to be known as ‘deep learning’. marking, many teachers set tests that mark students’ ‘low level’ questions, freeing up Whereas before, programmers would have to themselves. There is nothing artificially the admin staff to deal with more serious load the computer with every possible scenario intelligent about this usually, but it’s worth matters. (See http://bit.ly/TSWatson). they could think of, software developments considering two things. First, by using Another interesting area of research have led to computers learning on their own. self-marking tests you are showing your was reported in article in the Guardian In a very small nutshell, simply by exposing it willingness to hand over decisions to a newspaper in May 2017, which described to a situation, such as driving along a road or computer. True, you’re the one who set the the development of a ‘bot’ that could playing a game, the computer can figure out test and told the software what the correct respond to statements in different modes, the rules by itself. And what this means is that answers are, but as a matter of principle such as liking or disgust. Could such a piece it can handle a situation that wasn’t foreseen, you have taken that first step. of software eventually find its way into and therefore not included in the program. Secondly, experts in this field are support lines, to give initial advice, at least, confident that computers can be taught to help a child in distress? (Find out more at to mark essays and creative writing. To http://bit.ly/TSGuard). do so someone would have to ‘show’ the computer hundreds of essays marked by A mixed reality? teachers. It will then be able to work out for There are apps that can bring to life ABOUT THE AUTHOR itself what to look for, and could then mark subjects like astronomy and chemistry Terry Freedman is a essays unaided (to investigate further, see (Augmented Reality), while Virtual Reality freelance writer, speaker http://bit.ly/TSmarking). can put a student right in the centre of a and trainer, and publishes different experience. Is one better than the ICT & Computing in Assessment: the bigger picture the other, and more likely to gain traction Education website at One of the challenges teachers face when in education? Well, perhaps the most www.ictineducation.org. trying to work out whether a pupil knows intriguing development, and the most likely,

teachwire.net Looking for something to provide your students with a fresh and engaging way to support their maths learning?

Developed specifically for secondary age students, Mathletics greatly encourages independent learning, effectively supports transitioning and offers comprehensive curriculum coverage to help students consolidate their knowledge. Mathletics can be used at school and at home, on both tablet devices and PCs. All new Secondary Mathletics is built around three key areas... Learn Play Review Gives students access to Get students excited Here students access teacher- curriculum aligned activites, with the world famous assigned assessments from videos and interactives all Live Mathletics. home or at school. in one place. Get your class highly These assess learning in relation to the new With over 800 activities, engaged in a fast-paced programme of study for students can find all competitive race to KS3 and subject content for relevant resources test their maths knowledge GCSE and have been written for their topics quickly and build their mental specifically for the new and easily. maths skills. curriculum.

What Secondary teachers are saying about Mathletics...

“I would definitely recommend Mathletics to any other school. Students can do as much maths as they want to do, at the speed they want to do it at. The ease of assessment is there, the instant feedback is there and out of all the online products I’ve seen, Mathletics works the best. Peter Manns, Head of Maths and Assistant Head Teacher

I would recommend Mathletics. We use it to augment, support and reinforce classroom learning. And because there’s that “we want to do this...”, they don’t notice that they are still reinforcing their learning and still practising. For the engagement with the students, it’s been fantastic.” Malcolm Ward, Head of Maths

Visit www.mathletics.com for a FREE trial

Tel +44 117 370 1990 Email [email protected] CLASSROOM INSPIRATION REVIEW REVIEW: ONLINE MATHS RESOURCES MATHLETICS www.mathletics.co.uk Reviewed by John Dabell

Mathletics – the multi-award winning online a recommended work plan and activities for maths resource for students aged 5-18 – is students to try targeting specific curriculum currently used by more than 5,000 schools outcomes. This makes it easy to benchmark across the UK and millions of students or track improvement and create individual worldwide. Its aim is to develop mathematical learning pathways. Reports on Mathletics are fluency, problem solving and reasoning given in real time and skills and it does this by offering subscribers are highly detailed too so you can see a wealth of digital delights. I first started exactly what was done and where more using Mathletics in 2010 and since then it help is needed. has super-evolved to include a whole pile of I think a major appeal of Mathletics is improvements and updates. For example, its flexibility and meticulous approach to it is now fully hosted in the cloud and there differentiated learning. As a teacher you are considerably more curriculum activities retain a lot of control and have the capacity to to access. Real world videos help students modify work to suit individual needs by ‘secret understand the maths beyond the classroom; setting’. This allows you to give lower ability there is a ground-breaking new interactive pupils work from an area below their peers graphing calculator available; there are new without the student being aware of it, which student background themes; and a new obviously removes any confidence denting. Reports area has been launched. What is also great about the teacher logins is that you can see on-screen if students finish Teachers’ view their work and then re-set tasks accordingly. Young people generally enjoy the games The new-look site is divided into two main and the built-in motivation works a treat. 39 areas: for Teachers and Learners, each of Challenge and explore The range of activities and challenges is which can be accessed via specific logins. The Learners’ area of Mathletics contains enormous and will undoubtedly help to Logging in as a teacher opens up a neat and an extensive range of different sections that improve fluency in core competencies. tidy workspace where you will find areas are designed to support the teaching and In terms of room for even further devoted to classes, courses, results, reports, learning of mathematical tasks, including improvement, I would suggest (as a fan) lessons, eBooks, demonstrations, a toolkit live Maths challenges against other learners that some activities lack appropriate and assessments. Easy to access and even from other parts of the world, targeted demonstrations about what to do and this easier to use, each area is a vast improvement curriculum problems, support material, can lead to confusion – for example, some on what was available before. Everything is demonstrations and games. The general gist of the worksheets could do with more geared towards getting the most out of the of Mathletics is to motivate learners to take explanation, and more videos for each lesson resource without creating any extra work and part in challenges and curriculum learning would be welcome. The videos are spoken in you’ll find a wide variety of tools which can to gain credits which can be turned into Australian English and occasionally I have had be used to control the access of classes, certificates, awards and the ability to spend students complain of not being able to ‘tune whole cohorts and individual learners to credits to update their ‘avatar’. The My Study into’ the way certain words are pronounced. particular areas. section of this area mirrors what you will find Overall though, the positives outweigh Mathletics claims seven key elements in the Teachers’ section in terms of activities, the gripes and when used creatively to its approach: engage, target, diagnose, eBooks, interactives and videos with the aim and strategically Mathletics is a tested, assess, report, fluency and mobile. Well, of earning medals along the way. Rather verified and proven resource that can it certainly engages because the design brilliantly, students can now use a free mobile have a significant impact on the results of of the site is fresh, clear, fun and friendly. app to take their account settings with them, schools; indeed, my experience has shown The use of rewards and certificates and including homework. that students get the most benefit out of the mathematical gaming element mean As with all systems there are pros and engaging with Mathletics when used over a students are kept on track, entertained, cons. On the plus side, the interactive format number of years. educated and motivated. In terms of combined with the competitive points system targeting, there are plenty of adaptive can engage and motivate students. The activities to access as you can choose from program is in line with the National Curriculum, VERDICT 1300 of them, each with pre and post testing. teachers have full control over what challenges + It all adds up You can easily assign an assessment to a students complete, and it supports assessment Mathletics is an intuitive and engaging student and look at a full diagnostic analysis in wonderfully. It’s great that you are able to resource, bound to improve learners’ the teacher console, which allows you to see repeat lessons until students have mastered skills, knowledge and ability in maths, where a student is in terms of progress and a concept and earned a score of 100% along especially in numerical skills and speed. how you can help them improve – including with the corresponding reward.

teachwire.net A DIFFERENT PLATFORM When it comes to education apps, it’s essential that teachers are able to separate the wheat from the chaff, says Charles Wiles

ducation technology isn’t just What schools could especially benefit Data and algorithms have the power to about making learning more from – in order to access and incorporate really transform learning; the job of such fun and more efficient. It’s the best of edtech into teaching cost technology is not to replace teachers, employing new developments effectively, while separating the wheat but instead, in a sense, to provide them in order to radically optimise from the chaff – is a platform whereby with their very own virtual teaching Ethe time and efficiency of a teacher. There they would be able to buy one annual assistant. Such an assistant can help the are about 200,000 e-learning apps on subscription to use many different apps: teacher know each student intimately, the market; isolating the best ones for a ‘Spotify for education’, if you will. This make recommendations for them, and classroom gameplay is a minefield to would allow the use of many niche edtech personalise their teaching individually. the time-pressed educator. And despite apps in classrooms that specialise in Adaptive algorithms in their own right the sheer vastness of choice, a core failing teaching one specific aspect of a subject, are an exciting area of progress here. of the majority of these apps is that they such as Touch Long Division. These apps Algorithms based on a technique called don’t contain enough relevant curriculum would be mapped to the curriculum, come ‘spaced repetition’ aim to select the content. Plus, they often do not collect with data on their efficacy, and be instantly optimal time to retest students so that

40 data on student performance or provide classroom-ready. Crucially, this simplifies they memorise and retain knowledge as meaningful, actionable insights in order to the purchasing decisions made within the quickly as possible. Lingvist, for example, optimise learning. existing rigid framework. It’s exactly this which focuses on helping students learn kind of technology that we’re pioneering vocabulary for foreign languages, claims Money matters here with our own ‘teacher dashboards’. Budgetary constraints have obviously been a blocker to progression. Primary Serious games and secondary schools in the US alone Teachers could also benefit from choosing spend $11bn on educational technology the best apps that give them access to annually which, while growing at 20% valuable real-time data and insight into year-on-year, is still only a tiny fraction the classroom. In the past, teachers would (1.4%) of the $800bn spent on schools. Plus test their students at the end of a term or a school may blow its entire designated topic and only at that point would they annual budget (usually £500) on a single discover what students really knew – by edtech app, restricting variety and – once which time it was too late to do anything embedded in the teaching programme – about any learning gaps students might discouraging replacement. have. Now teachers are able to get this All the while the current quality of insight instantly in every class and change software used by schools remains their teaching immediately to address any extremely poor compared to what it issues and ensure pupils achieve mastery of could be. For example, there are ten year curriculum-mapped learning objectives. old products out there – some of which For example, three science teachers at have had little to no investment over that Chisholm Trail Middle School in Texas have time – that schools are still widely using, been using formative assessment tools like simply because identifying, learning and Quizalize for the last six months to help embedding a suitable replacement app prepare students for the District Common into teaching is both cumbersome and Assessments (DCA). The results reported time-consuming. have been quite outstanding, with students scoring an average of 8 – 10% more in A ‘Spotify for education’ tests compared to last year, where edtech So what do teachers really need to know formative assessment apps were not used in order to understand and select the best in teaching, nor were they deployed as part apps for teaching and learning? of homework.

teachwire.net

pp 40-41 zzish .indd 1 28/07/2017 09:34 CLASSROOM INSPIRATION

that students can learn a language ten domain show how it can dramatically preparation; it’s intuitive and drives times faster using their software when improve student performance. But while mastery on a bespoke and individual level. compared to traditional methods. that intense level of teaching is generally Peer endorsed apps will naturally hold Choosing apps that incorporate neither practical nor viable due to lack of sway and appeal, so visit renowned gamification into innovation is also funding and resources, edtech can simulate edtech platforms with market places important. Gamification is not this dynamic to give every child their own where teachers may rate or slate with fundamentally about turning learning into personal virtual tutor, using big data and no biases. games, but rather, applying the science of adaptive algorithms to deliver an optimal motivation to help students stay focused teaching and learning experience. Plus a and motivated. In fact today’s leading virtual tutor will never lose patience, will games, whether it’s Candy Crush or Clash never tire and can always be there, 24/7. of Clans, use the science of motivation to And it can work out exactly the right thing keep players playing for longer. Setting and to motivate each and every student. achieving small achievable and measurable Ultimately, this is what makes edtech goals and using social levers such as apps so exciting. The potential for such ABOUT THE AUTHOR competition and collaboration are known technology to democratise quality Charles Wiles is CEO of to be key drivers to motivation. These education and transcend the edtech venture Zzish drivers can be hard to apply in a normal socio-economic barriers to progress is (www.zzish.com), a school setting, but, when it comes to incredibly promising. software company that software, they become simple and natural Choosing the right app needn’t be a specialises in transforming features that drive usage, engagement minefield so long as the basis for all e-learning apps into classroom- and improvement. purchasing decisions lies on these core ready tools and gives real time functions: it’s truly engaging to use; it analytical insight on student and Personal tuition provides real time data on performance class performance. Nothing, of course, can replace one-to-one and spots learning gaps; it radically saves learning. Numerous studies in the public time on assessment and lesson

41

teachwire.net

pp 40-41 zzish .indd 2 28/07/2017 09:34

CLASSROOM INSPIRATION PARTNER CONTENT Q&A: APPS FOR EDUCATION Zzish Charles Wiles, CEO, explains how Zzish can help teachers get the most out of e-learning apps – and more...

T&I How can ‘gamification’ of However, the Zzish ‘teacher dahboards’ learning improve students’ offers schools a unique ‘Spotify for overall outcomes? educational apps’ where teachers can pay CW Choosing educational technology an annual subscription to access various which combines gamification and high-quality academic apps. innovation is important. Gamification is Each app is designed to target specific not fundamentally about turning learning subject content, for example long division, into games, but applies the science of and is mapped to the curriculum so it is motivation to help students engage in instantly classroom-ready. Moreover, the learning activities. Today’s leading games, efficacy of each app is also displayed, to including Candy Crush or Clash of Clans, simplify the process of searching for good use the science of motivation to retain quality apps which coincide with rigid players’ attention for longer. Setting educational frameworks. and achieving small goals alongside social levers, such as competition and “Zzish has significantly collaboration, increase motivation. It is contributed to improves student motivation in KS3 hard to apply this concept within a school classrooms, and augments a positive setting but educational technology can improving standards classroom learning environment.

make it simpler, and drive engagement as Additionally, the Quizalize marketplace is 43 well as improvement. of teaching and the world's first online store for teachers, learning at KS3” which offersinteractive educational What does Zzish contribute content and curriculum-based to the process? How can your teacher dashboards assessments for KS2, KS3 and KS4 which The best of edtech fundamentally speaks improve learners’ progress? can be individually created, shared, in the language that children understand: Zzish has significantly contributed to and bought. gameplay, colour, interactivity and friendly improving standards of teaching and competition. Zzish is best known for its learning at KS3 through its real-time How do you see Zzish developing gamified formative assessment tools and teacher dashboards. Zzish offers over the next few years? real-time ‘teacher dashboards’. Teachers teachers instant insight into student Zzish is currently used by 80,000 set quiz assignments in class either by learning gaps, to encourage increasingly teachers from 110 countries and over a creating their own quizzes or selecting one personalised and student-centered million students. Zzish was also a finalist of over 150 curriculum-mapped quizzes learning opportunities. Laptops, tablets in the Teach Secondary’s Technology & available on the Zzish marketplace. An and even smartphones in the classroom Innovation Awards 2016 for its role in interactive basketball game called HOOPS enable teachers to actively engage with improving standards of teaching and is integrated into the platform, so class students and highlight specific areas for learning at Key Stages 3 and 4. In a teams or individuals can play against improvement which can be actioned profession where marking significantly the computer. HOOPS complements immediately. Teachers can identify certain contributes to a teacher’s unsustainable Zzish’s existing range of features by subject individual students are struggling workload, Zzish provides a ‘virtual driving engagement, increasing student with as well as misunderstanding teaching assistant’ which radically motivation, optimising memorisation and among the whole class. The Zzish reduces marking requirements and developing mastery. teacher dashboards are a breakthrough encourages personalised classroom technology which turns simple apps into teaching. Zzish allows children to engage How do you quality control the valuable classroom tools. in unique digital learning experiences and apps that you share with teachers? has the potential to endorse equality in Accessing and incorporating the best Tell us about Quizalize... education and transcend socio-economic edtech into classroom teaching so it Quizalize is Zzish's own showcase app barriers. The technology uses analytics enhances student knowledge and is cost - which turns dull assessments into and intelligent algorithms to make effective can be challenging for schools. fun whole class quiz games. Quizalize teaching more informed and effective.

Visit: www.zzish.com Email: [email protected]

teachwire.net Explore. Build. Learn Second Generation Dremel 3D40 Idea Builder.

Expand your creativity with the second generation 3D40 Idea Builder from Dremel. Science, technology, engineering, and maths can now be more interactive and engaging. With hands- on learning, students can now be involved in the design, creation, and testing.

Key features include: • Touch Screen Operation • WiFi Connectivity • Larger build platform • Self-levelling • Anti-clog filter • 10 curriculum based lesson plans* • Coloured filament*

For more information and stockists details visit www.dremel3d.co.uk *available to download separately, cost may apply CLASSROOM INSPIRATION PARTNER CONTENT The engine of innovation Andrew Cluney discusses how 3D printing is bringing learning to life in schools around the globe...

If a traditional printer is a ‘tool’ in the same way a hammer is a tool, then a 3D printer is something else entirely. It's more like an engine - a driving force that allows students to break down the boundaries of their own imagination and put their insights to use in real-world applications. Teachers have known for generations that students learn best by doing something, whether it is hands-on problem solving or a science lab exercise. The experience itself helps to make knowledge stick. We retain only 5% of what we hear, but 75% of what we do, which means experiential learning is a more effective way to gain understanding of materials than lecture-based discussions. The world of 3D is bringing concepts to life in manufacturing and retail, and educators are taking notice. In forward thinking schools around the globe, 45 administrators are employing 3D printers to make abstract concepts from physics, algebra and chemistry. Gamification of learning 3D printing as an enabler Bringing concepts to life Schoolchildren eat up 3D technology With the advent of 3D printing, experiential In past generations, STEM fields might for one reason: they have already been learning can be extended to other fields. not have been able to engage students as introduced to the technology at home. We can all picture models of the atom much as, say, football. The ‘x's and ‘o's on One of the most popular types of games, or skeletons hanging in the science lab, the coach's blackboard came to life on the the first-person shooter, is basically a 3D but imagine if we could make any shape field every week, while the algebra on the rendering of an environment. In the latest quickly in the classroom. paper in class just sat there. generation of gaming consoles, kids get Instead of just looking at a plastic skull, Today, 3D printing is inspiring the same to engage these worlds even more closely we could make alternate versions to sort of wonder in STEM fields as some through virtual reality, making the 3D handle, rotate, measure and test to better have for the field of athletics. Students world even more immediate. This ‘training’ understand why our heads are shaped the are printing designs for cooking tools, creates a natural camaraderie between the way they are. Instead of just working with inhabiting planets and even inventing modern student and 3D technology. When the equations that calculate the strength of new animals. 3D printing was introduced to elementary different shaped beams in a bridge, we can and junior high school students, they were make them to any specification that we The prototype quickly printing out prototypes and creating want and measure how strong or flexible When algebra and chemistry are on paper, new versions of examples — they had been they are. many educators think that students close doing this for years on the insanely popular their minds to them because of the fear of building game Minecraft. failure. A wrong answer means red marks all over the page and lower grades. With Starting early the new generation of 3D printing and Administrators in many schools note ABOUT THE AUTHOR computer modelling, the ability to create that students who see the results of their physical prototypes brings equations to life. equations and work in 3D physical form tend Andrew Cluney is Students can see first-hand the anomalies to take a much more serious view of STEM regional brand manager that incorrect equations cause, and they fields. They want to learn the ancillary skills at Dremel UK For more can fix them by a trial and error process to make their prototypes, so they take to information about 3D that is much more fun than the right/ algebra and other mathematical disciplines printing in the classroom, see wrong dichotomy of the page. much more readily. Dremel’s videos on YouTube.

teachwire.net The Robot Revolution

Not only can we do robotics in D&T - we have to, argues Andy Mitchell...

esigning and making robots in design and technology schools is nothing new. In fact, the inclusion of associated technologies – electronics, Dstructures and mechanics – dates back to the 1960s. This, of course, was before the personal computer revolution and the ubiquitous use of microprocessor control that now permeates our lives. Robotics is all about building control and a degree of autonomy (intelligence) into useful devices. Devices that can react predictably to 46 changes as they occur. Back then and still now, products typically included models of fairground rides and level crossings. Who would have thought, with the introduction of the English National Curriculum design and technology programmes of study back in 1999, that within a few more years, the updated content would require all young people by the age of 14 to: apply computing and use electronics to embed intelligence in products that respond to inputs [for example, sensors] and control outputs [for example, actuators] using programmable components [for example, microcontrollers]? The National Curriculum in England: design and technology programmes of study (2013) Moreover, this needs to be taught when designing and making. If we are honest, it is this aspect of D&T in most schools that remains least developed and most under resourced. Unless schools and their D&T departments embrace the digital revolution and what that means beyond using computer aided design and computer aided manufacture, then they are failing to provide fundamental aspects of a technological education for all young people. The world that they will occupy will become increasingly dependent on robotics. With artificial intelligence pervading if not replacing more and more current jobs – and that includes the

teachwire.net

pp 46-47robotics .indd 1 28/07/2017 10:35 CLASSROOM INSPIRATION

professions such as law and medicine – it Secondly I attended an event at Finham reusable by the next class. We need is incumbent on us to make sure that the Park School, in Coventry. The D&T to rethink the nature of some of the technological education we provide reflects Association has been working to support activity we include and rethink how we this. As a nation, we will however still need the development of D&T in schools spend the shrinking financial resources human beings to undertake the intellectual in Shanghai and this has included the we are allocated. and fulfil the practical and technological use of control technology. The same The new simple to use and low cost roles associated with constantly improving animatronics project (available from the programmable resources now available it and keeping the technology running. D&T Association) was undertaken by are opening up a world that in the past That is why providing through D&T activity, schools in both countries and they met has been the prerogative of ‘techies’. Now an insight into the emerging career up at Finham Park to present what they everyone can engage, and it’s vital that in opportunities is so important. had done. The schools had been given schools we provide that opportunity. training in how to use the very accessible Getting started in schools Crumble micro controllers available from So if you are in a school that currently does www.mindsets.co.uk and peripherals used little in this area, what should you be doing? in robotics such as servomotors, switches Well the first thing your department needs and LEDs. Some of the outcomes also WHAT YOU SHOULD to be doing is developing a vision for what used the flexible robotics system available BE CONSIDERING IN robotics and control could look like in your from www.vexrobotics.com. The results school. Importantly, in order to fulfil that were outstanding and the event provided YOUR SCHOOL: vision, you should consider what needs rich opportunities for cultural exchange. 1. Look to build in at least one to be done, who needs to be convinced, One can’t help thinking that if the Chinese systems and control based project in what investments need to be made, what are developing D&T education in their each year at KS3. CPD will be necessary and how you might schools, taking as their starting point the 2. With advice, investigate which attract and secure the resource to enable use of high tech resources, then maybe we micro controller system to invest in. it. It will need to happen in a gradual, should sit up and listen. Further work will 3. Develop a short, medium and sustained way – but you can’t hang about! follow, that involves online collaboration longer term plan for building So, where is the expertise in your school between schools through the use of video robotics and control into your already? Can your IT colleagues help? What conferencing and social media. schemes of work. do you know about systems out there that 4. Look at the requirements in the could be used to get you started – their Reusable resources new single title D&T GCSE relating 47 ease of use, accompanying support and Of course you can’t do this type of activity to programmable control and use of course, price? Could you prioritise this without the kit, and lack of resources these to inform your KS3 planning. as an area for departmental professional is often the reason put forward for not development? Have you engaged with adopting developments. But this can be a the Design and Technology Association lame excuse and often hides other issues; and taken advantage of the advice and most notably, confidence and experience. support it provides to members? Recently I But ignoring the need for this kind of have attended two school robotics events. education is not an option, and teachers ABOUT THE AUTHOR The first was the FIRST LEGO league should be aware that there is support out Andy Mitchell is the deputy international finals held at Bath University. there. D&T has to move on if it is to have a chief executive at the Design It was attended by a staggering 1000 future in the UK, and not be overtaken by and Technology Association young people, some from as far away as innovative work in other countries. Perhaps www.data.org.uk Brazil. There were UK teams too, and it all for too long, we have tended to define the served to prove how animated, creative subject as being concerned predominantly and involved young people can get when with making things that result in artefacts provided with challenges and robotics to take home. I suggest that we can equipment to explore. Should you wish to no longer afford to do this all the time. explore the LEGO route, free support and Whereas I fully agree that part of a pupil’s advice can be accessed through experience should be about manufacturing www.education.lego.com. high quality crafted designs, some of which may go home, this is restricting practice. The £250 investment in microcontrollers etc made to enable each school to undertake the animatronics challenge was capital not consumable investment. Most component parts other than those laser cut from plywood and acrylic or 3D printed are

teachwire.net

pp 46-47robotics .indd 2 28/07/2017 10:35 Is CAD/CAM working for your school? Computer Aided Design / Computer Aided Manufacture Reprographics / Signage and Display Save money for your school by producing your own signage and displays using CAD/CAM

Knife Cutter Knife Cutter

Print and Cut

Student Business Enterprise Projects Let your students experience the real world of business using CAD/CAM

Sublimation Pack

Laser Cutter School Play Merchandise Items to Sell at the School Fair

Curriculum Resources Design and Technology CAD/CAM is used in the teaching of Design and Technology from Key Stage 2 to A Level: National Curriculum Key Stage 3 “develop and communicate design ideas using ... computer-based tools” “select from and use specialist tools, techniques, processes, equipment and machinery precisely, including computer-aided manufacture” GCSE (OCR) to start September 2017: “Digital design and manufacture must be used either throughout the development of the final design solution or when making the final prototype(s)” AQA A Level September 2017: “Development of design proposals: The use of CAD is encouraged” “Development of design prototypes: The use of CAM is encouraged” For more information see www.techsoft.co.uk Telephone 01746 535007 or email [email protected] to request a Product Guide

TechSoft UK Ltd., Falcon House, Royal Welch Avenue, The Educational CAD/CAM Specialists Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, LL18 5TQ.

TechnologyInnovationMagazineAdvert.indd 2 25/07/2017 14:44:11 New D&T Curriculum Integrating Textiles Sewing Embroidery The Brother Innov-is range Embroidered designs can be added to a variety of of sewing machines are fabrics including those with a pile such as fleece affordable, user friendly and or towelling. Lace effects look stunning when come with a 3 year warranty. stitched out on dissolvable stabiliser fabric. We generally recommend Develop ideas in 2D Design and export the Innov-is 35 as the them into the best all-rounder for PE Design Next schools, but the full software for stitch range of Brother conversion. models are available.

Sewing Machines ex VAT Embroidery Machines ex VAT Innov-is 15 ...... £177 Innov-is F440E ...... £637 Innov-is 35 ...... £283 Innov-is 800E ...... £921 Innov-is 55FE ...... £319 PR-655 ...... £4,250

Knife Cutting Sublimation Knife cutters are perfect for Sublimation is the ideal system for creating original printed combining sublimation printing textiles and for applying digital images onto existing textile with cutting, for example products including bags, clothing and accessories. A great way when cutting nets to make up to customise ready-made garments. textile containers or lanterns. They can also be used to cut out heat applied media such as vinyl.

Knife Cutters ex VAT Sublimation ex VAT CAMM 1 GS-24E ...... £1,195 Textiles Starter Pack A4 ..... £1,120

Laser Cutting Software Laser cutters can be used to good For colourful textile print or embroidery designs, technical effect to cut and engrave many drawings of textile products or graphical presentations, 2D materials used in Textiles. Custom Design V2 has been developed to give you all the tools you plywood buttons, too, can add need and in one place. For embroidery use PE Design Next for that little extra. stitch conversion. Simple designs can have a dramatic effect on the finished garment as shown below. PE Design Next 2D Design

Software ex VAT Laser Cutters ex VAT 2D Design V2 site licence ...... £695 LaserCAM A2+ ...... £13,995 PE Design Next Set of 3 ...... £250

For more information see www.techsoft.co.uk/products/textiles Telephone 01746 535007 or email [email protected] to request a Product Guide

TechSoft UK Ltd., Falcon House, Royal Welch Avenue, The Educational CAD/CAM Specialists Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, LL18 5TQ.

TechnologyInnovationMagazineAdvert.indd 1 25/07/2017 14:44:00 13-15 OCTOBER, 2017 BUSINESS DESIGN CENTRE EUROPE S • Inspirational Seminars • Meet Recruiters LEADING ANNUAL • Latest Language Products • Careers Advice EVENT FOR • Networking Opportunities • 160 Exhibitors LANGUAGES LANGUAGESHOWLIVE.CO.UK

Gain access to over 50 fully CPD accredited seminars and 45 renowned speakers from as little as £10 when you buy online! CLASSROOM INSPIRATION PARTNER CONTENT Hodder Education’s new resources will inspire Elevator your students to achieve the best possible grades PITCH GCSE Computer Cambridge Nationals 1 Science: My 3Level 1 - 2 in IT Revision Notes Build your students’ Target success in AQA, understanding of data, develop Edexcel or OCR GCSE their transferable skills and Computer Science with this knowledge to become confident proven formula for effective, users of technology and help structured revision; key them prepare for the external content coverage is combined assessment, with this essential with exam style tasks and classroom resource, written for practical tips. the new qualification.

AQA Technical Cambridge Technicals 2 Award in IT 4Level 3 IT Develop creative, confident Our print and digital materials, students who can progress developed in partnership with successfully through the new OCR, cover each specialist AQA Technical Award in IT; pathway and are matched the Student Book and digital exactly to the new specification. resources have been carefully Ensure your ability to deliver crafted to support both the a flexible course that is both theoretical and practical vocationally focused and aspects of the subject content. academically thorough.

Find out more about these resources at www.hoddereducation.co.uk/ComputerScience or by contacting our team on 01235 827827 or by emailing [email protected] 51

teachwire.net Let’s make it HAPPEN! Yes, there are barriers to innovating with 3D printing technology in schools, says Paul Croft – but there are ways to break them down, too...

52

teachwire.net

pp 52 - 53 3d print.indd 1 28/07/2017 13:02 CLASSROOM INSPIRATION

hen I asked my parents discovery and innovation explicit. why they wanted to be The A of ‘arts’ Education is always a hot topic, and as teachers they didn’t refer other countries have clear skills strategies to attainment targets or should be the challenging political environment league tables. Instead endangers the UK in international terms. Wthey talked about seeing the pupils’ eyes added to STEM Uncertainty and a lack of stability are a light up and getting a sense of satisfaction distraction from the primary purpose of from students learning new things. There The open-source CREATE Education education: to share knowledge and inspire has never been a time when teachers have Project has built a platform to give people lifelong learning. Whilst policies may had so much technology at the fingertips access to a 3D printing community, enable change, the technological shift that society to achieve these aims, yet classrooms peer to peer learning, share best practice is undergoing is inevitable and our students across the country are only just embracing and provide resources including practical must be given access and support as soon the learning benefits on offer. Whilst most classroom resources, professional as possible. people assume budget is the main barrier, development and technical support. Happily, lots of people have already others are staff confidence, and time. begun to see their students’ eyes light up Teacher time has been squeezed to the The skills they’ll need and are getting that sense of satisfaction limit in recent years, which equates to a lot Many of our industry users are now sharing from young people learning new things by of talented and dedicated teachers simply case studies that provide the social proof of using 3D printing to enable STEM skills to not having the capacity to incorporate these technologies being incorporated into be developed. Maybe my parents retired new technology into the classroom as the workplace, placing further emphasis on too soon.... much as they would like. When the time how relevant 3D printing is in the 21st can be found and the passion is there, century and how significant it will be in utilising technology still requires new skills years to come. 5 WAYS TO and confidence in the outcome. Thus, Whilst the addition of the requirement MAXIMISE YOUR even where schools have invested in new for students to understand new technology, it is often not embraced and manufacturing technologies in the new 3D PRINTER utilised to its full potential. Design and Technology GCSE is welcome, it INVESTMENT is equally disappointing that more 1. emphasis has not been placed on Search for support Enhance your extra-curricular The support and professional development developing the required skills for additive STEM provision and engagement teachers require can be lacking due to manufacturing. Industry has an increasing by incorporating 3D printing 53 budget pressures and with some new requirement for 3D CAD and 3D printing into STEM projects or set up a technologies, lack of opportunities. Take 3D skills to fill present and future jobs. Schools makerspace for students and/ printing for example; currently there is very that put more emphasis on developing or the wider community to little face-to-face professional development these vital skills will be preparing their experience craft based technology. available that allows teachers and students for the wealth of opportunities 2. technicians to get hands-on with the available to them in additive manufacturing Print your own classroom technology in order to develop their skills. across many different sectors including resources to save money With 3D printing technology, technical engineering, architecture, medicine, e.g. maths manipulatives, expertise in the hardware and software is biotechnologies and so on. science models. required – but teachers also need to Working with Design and Technology 3. understand the design aspects of 3D teachers across the UK, the CREATE Bring history to life by 3D printing printing, CAD software, the 3D printing education project has produced a 3D real artifacts from museum scans. process and how to manage 3D printing printing in GCSE Design Technology Guide 4. workflow in the classroom. In order to truly to help teachers to maximise the Run a business enterprise maximise the benefits of the technology opportunities for developing 3D design and project where students design, investment, teachers also need to production skills within their GCSE courses, manufacture and sell 3D printed understand how 3D printing can be used along with publishing a wide variety of products, raising money for the right across the curriculum. practical project resources, free for school in the process. How can these barriers be addressed? everyone to download. 5. The internet provides opportunities for Attract new students by using addressing some of them, by providing free STEAMing ahead the WOW factor of a 3D printer at professional development and support, Many of our more forward thinking school open evenings. accessible at the point of need. For educational institutions are already example, YouTube provides video tutorials incorporating 3D printing into most in the use of the technology and file sharing subjects. 3D printing can be a catalyst for so platforms allow access to 3D models that many amazing STEM projects. Students are can be downloaded to print or remixed and combining code and CAD to make product adapted by students for project work. Many prototypes; robotics and computer ABOUT THE AUTHOR open-source CAD software programs are programming are now participatory available for 3D design and these also activities rather than theory lessons. Paul Croft is the founder provide tutorials, example files and help Moreover, some people contest that the A of The CREATE Education to enable teachers and students to learn of ‘arts’ should be added to STEM, making Project (createeducation.com) the software. the importance of creativity as part of

teachwire.net

pp 52 - 53 3d print.indd 2 28/07/2017 13:02

CLASSROOM INSPIRATION PARTNER CONTENT The CREATE Education Project Thanks to this brilliant, open source community platform, every school can join the 3D printing revolution…

The CREATE Education Project is an open source community platform providing inspiration and support to schools who wish to benefit from 3D printing technology. The website contains a wealth of ideas and resources for embedding 3D printing across the curriculum at all levels as well as providing case studies, professional development materials and a platform for connecting and sharing.

What does the community offer? The CREATE Education community consists of a network of industry partners, experienced hub schools, inspirational education ambassadors, creative guides for CAD software, STEM, science, organisations and teachers who are mathematics, humanities and the arts. In passionate about 3D printing, all sharing addition, the website is regularly updated their ideas and experiences to benefit the with new projects, activities and ideas. wider community. Any teacher can become a member of the community by registering How does the 3D printer loan 55 on the website, joining the community scheme work? allows you instant access to all the If you do not have access to a 3D printer or downloadable resources on the website. you want to try one out before committing to investing in one, you can borrow a 3D What is available on the website? printer for a period of up to four weeks The website contains a variety of FREE in order to run a specific project. The resources to help educators across all CREATE Education Hub and access the free loan scheme is free of charge, all that’s sectors and subject areas to understand 3D 3D printer loan scheme. required is that you register on the CREATE printing technology and use it as a tool to education website, and at the end of increase pupil engagement and attainment What’s new and coming up in the the loan period, you share the details of - resources include: Autumn term? your project and experiences with the September will see the launch of a new community. You can choose to either share + 3D Printing Projects – including planning guide - 3D Printing in the new GCSE Design your project resources (lesson plans etc) documents, teacher guides, classroom Technology Curriculum. This will provide or you can write a case study for the blog. presentations, tutorials and student details of how 3D printing technology This way the whole community will benefit worksheets. maps to the various new GCSE Exam Board from your experience. Of course anything + Professional Development Resources – Specifications along with lots of project and you share will be credited to yourself and including tutorials, videos, tips and tricks activity ideas contributed by D&T teachers your school. and curriculum guides. across the UK. Many of the projects + Getting Started and referenced in the guide will also be available What does it cost? Troubleshooting Guides. on the website along with downloadable Everything on the website is free to access + 3D Printer Funding - ideas and project resources. and download. There is a charge for information about available grants. In October the next curriculum guide in face-to-face professional development + Case studies, ideas and inspiration in the series will be published - 3D Printing workshops and technical training. A range the blog. in the Computing Curriculum, produced in of 3D printers, filament and accessories collaboration with a number of regional are also available to purchase; current You can also access face-to-face CAS ambassadors and hub leaders. prices are listed in the products section of professional development workshops and Further curriculum guides will follow the website. Free technical support is also technical training; locate your nearest throughout this academic year including available to all customers.

Visit ​www.createeducation.com Email: ​[email protected] Twitter: @UltimakerCREATE Facebook: /createeducationproject

teachwire.net 21ST CENTURY

56 MUSICIANS

Nik Preston considers how to ensure music provision is meeting the needs of today’s students – whether inclined to the classical or the contemporary...

ll too often, I come across certain areas there is a natural divergence classically trained educators necessary, which is based on particular who are seeing diminishing idiomatic requirements. returns in student enrolment, engagement and retention Composition and assimilation Afrom classical music provision and are When I ask students and even teachers to looking at diversifying into the obvious articulate the differences in role between a growth areas: contemporary music and ‘classical’ and a ‘contemporary’ musician, music production. you’ll often hear responses which include: Marking a clear delineation between “Contemporary musicians improvise, where one genre starts and another begins classical musicians don’t.” “Classical can be an almost impossible and often musicians sight read, not all contemporary fruitless task in the main and as you have musicians do.” “Contemporary musicians heard in various political rhetoric in recent have better ears.” And so on… times, “there is more that unites us than In individual instances, there may be that which divides us.” The same is true truth to these assertions, but the roles for musicians. fundamentally distinguish themselves in The vast majority of music’s as much as a contemporary musician is fundamentals transcend genre, but at predominantly responsible for creating her

teachwire.net

pp 56-57 rockschool.indd 1 28/07/2017 09:32 CLASSROOM INSPIRATION

own instrument or vocal parts, whereas exclusion of others, is folly and potentially The ability to hear, play and articulate her classical counterpart is responsible for places the student’s development at a intervals relative to chords is vital if a performing parts composed by others. disadvantage. To my mind, this is a huge contemporary musician is to amass a In order for the contemporary musician factor in why so many children choose working vocabulary and in a relatively to accomplish this feat, it is necessary to cease learning instruments and indeed small time any musician can gain a to imitate, assimilate and analyse the sometimes don’t manage to achieve their comprehensive knowledge of all intervals performances of their chosen exemplars. potential in academic subjects: not having and chord types, in all keys. I truly believe, been introduced to enough approaches to were more musicians subjected to this Different requirements learning and development. essential concept at an earlier age, If we use the role of a professional musician retention and attainment would improve to inform the pedagogy that precedes Intervals and chord types at an astonishing rate and the student’s the attainment of such advanced levels We at RSL believe strongly that all skills ultimate ability to create music (one of it becomes clear that the contemporary necessary to perform music, of any genre, the strongest selling propositions of their musician must have a stylistic awareness are crucial to ensure engagement and contemporary music exemplars), could which transcends that of her own discipline retention of 21st century musicians, this continue uninhibited. in order to create and perform idiomatically includes: technique, analysis & stylistic appropriate parts. Stylistic awareness is awareness, aural development, sight the sum total of our harmonic, rhythmic reading, composition, arrangement, and melodic understanding, in addition theory, harmony, improvisation and ABOUT THE AUTHOR to our understanding of appropriate music production. production values. (A modern bass player Whilst it is beyond the scope of this Nik Preston is a renowned needs to have an innate awareness of the article to investigate teaching methods for educator having tutored role of the drummer in order to augment each of these I can highlight a fundamental members of: Lawson, Ed the ensemble suitably, in addition to often found missing (understandably) Sheeran, Jeff Beck’s band, understanding the role of the harmony from classical music pedagogy in the Jess Glynn’s band, The Pet instruments and the harmonic, melodic UK for school age children and is vital Shop Boys, The National and rhythmic nuance inherent in the for the attainment of the aspiring Youth Jazz Orchestra and composition. All of this whilst also having contemporary musician - the knowledge Camilla Kerslake. a fundamental understanding of suitable of intervals relative to chord types. This is a He is currently director of equipment choices and production values). fundamental that will inform and support Academic and Publishing The classical musician, however, may the development of each of the other areas at RSL. well need an in-depth knowledge of the listed above, but is sadly lacking in the UK. 57 physical performance aspects of particular repertoire and the notational understanding which allows for the accurate recreation of the parts without the need for transcription.

Performance first The role of music education is ultimately to endow students with the skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to create and perform at the highest level possible – based on the student’s ambition. In the contemporary world this requires a more comprehensive and relevant understanding of contemporary theory and harmony than that currently purveying the classrooms of many school music teachers. With that said, we learn to speak our native language first and then learn to comprehend the written aspects of said language afterwards. There is a great deal to be said for employing similar approaches to contemporary music pedagogy i.e. learn to perform first and then subsequently become acquainted with the stave. This is a tradition that you often see employed in many of the vast genres which form the ‘world music’ idiom and can lead musicians to be able to express themselves musically earlier than those who were introduced to the stave as the primary stimulus for playing one’s instrument. But, to adopt only one approach, at the

teachwire.net

pp 56-57 rockschool.indd 2 28/07/2017 09:32 THE FUTURE OF STEAM EDUCATION

pi-top started with the vision to change the face of STEAM education creating makerspaces into every classroom. The team have designed and manufacture two affordable and engaging Raspberry Pi powered devices, the pi-top, a build-it-yourself laptop and pi-topCEED, the modular desktop. With the OCR endorsed pi-topOS and pi-topCODER, both devices are easily deployed and are a fully customisable ecosystem focusing on project-based learning for CS classrooms. It’s been a hit with teachers. Learn, play and create with: www.pi-top.com

The only maker The modular The modular all-in-one product endorsed build-it-yourself Raspberry by OCR - a leading Raspberry Pi powered UK awarding body Pi powered laptop desktop

Colors: green or gray Colors: green or gray Includes Raspberry Pi Includes Raspberry Pi

10 Hour 13.3” Modular Adjustable 14” Modular Battery Life HD Screen Components Viewing Angles HD Screen Components

NEW

Available from our distributors: CLASSROOM INSPIRATION PARTNER CONTENT A mission to inspire Discover how pi-top is changing classrooms through the introduction of STEAM technology...

Launched in 2014, pi-top’s ​mission is to change the face of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) education.​ They are formally endorsed by OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA) for teaching computer science, and winner of the BETT 2017 EdTech Startup Company Award. pi-top​ makes it possible for any school to deliver computer science and STEAM curricula in a simple and engaging manner. pi-top provides an affordable, education-focused platform for students to learn how to code and how to engage with physical computing projects. With pi-top’s broad hardware and software applications, the ecosystem takes the best of the fun and engaging aspects of the ‘maker world’ and applies them to school learning in a way that no other STEAM product has done before.

“pi-top seems to be the only thing the children have been talking about since 59 they got their hands on building them.” Kevin Chung, teacher (House Schools Group) Since 2014, pi-top now delivers to education customers in over 80 countries worldwide. They have built a strong community of teachers and makers who help shape the products and services - making pi-top a world leading teacher learning platform. Part of that, is creating affordable, quality hardware. There are two staple hardware products: the pi-top, regardless of their computer literacy, to has hundreds of hours of lesson plans to build it yourself laptop; and pi-topCEED, deliver fun and engaging lessons. The support delivery in the classroom. You the modular desktop, both powered by operating system boots into the ​pi-top​ can also use pi-topOS for standard tasks the Raspberry Pi. Accessories such as the DASHBOARD, which includes ​pi-top​CODER such as: to browse the web, check emails, pi-topSPEAKER and pi-topPROTO allow for and pi-top​CLASSROOM.​ ​pi-top​CODER ​ create and edit text documents or playing more classroom activities. The pi-topPULSE is the innovative interface that allows games. Furthermore, ​pi-top has developed was launched recently as an accessory to you to access worksheets and pre-built an educational game, CEEDUniverse, help you build projects with lights, music lesson plans. It’s the easiest way to deliver which teaches coding in a world of fantasy and is even integrated with Alexa Amazon! lessons providing step-by-step guides for grounded in computing reality by taking Furthermore, pi-top provides access to computer science and STEAM worksheets. science fiction and transforming it to science. world-class educational resources for the You can then track and monitor your Using ​pi-top​ in your classroom opens a new computer science and STEAM curricula, students’ progress through all pi-topCODER world of engaging maker and game-based designed with effective learning in mind. worksheets with ​pi-top​CLASSROOM. ​ technology to use in your school. Based in London, ​pi-top​ is designed and built by a Teach computing with ease An integrated environment passionate team of engineers and creatives. ​ pi-top ​focuses on teaching individuals ​Together, all this creates an all-in-one As pi-top​’s co-founder Jesse Lozano says, ​ computing through project-based learning development and lesson plan environment, “We want people to have fun when learning goals supported by industry leading which teaches students how to code and and use pi-top as an empowering tool software, ​pi-top​OS. The pi-topOS software allows educators to build customised lesson to inspire the next generation in this new suite makes it possible for any teacher, plans for their classroom. ​Pi-top​CODER digital age.”

Visit ​www.pi-top.com Email: [email protected]

teachwire.net HD Pro Classroom camera and visualiser only £44.95 + VAT

DIGITAL STORY TELLING RECORDING VISUALISER COLLABORATION WHITEBOARD DRAWING MAGNIFY MAC OS X TRY 21ST CENTURY SKILLS LEARNING COMMUNICATION EXPERIMENTS POE GEOGRAPHY YOUTUBE SCIENCE ILLUMINATE IMAGE IMAGINATION SNAPSHOT FACETIME LANGUAGES ART SKYPE SHARINGENGAGING

TIMELAPSEHISTORY ICT VIDEO CREATUBBLES

MATHS TECHNOLOGY

CAMERAENT DEMONSTRATIONS ENGLISH FLIPPED CLASSROOM DOCUM TECHNOLOGY SOUND

CREATIVITY CPDTEACH WAGOLL DESIGN

What will you do with yours?

www.huehd.com [email protected]

SCHOOL SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION: IN ASSOCIATION WITH School solutions Innovations that reach into every learning space

ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS Digital technology is redefining almost every aspect of our lives, from financial businesses to hailing a taxi, from managing a long-term health condition to scientific discoveries, to helping us socialise or entertaining us. Schools have not been isolated from this change and digital technology has begun to make its way into classrooms across the UK. There is, however, scope to make this more effective as we build up evidence of what works and what doesn’t.

To ensure schools benefit and can take advantage of new technologies and products, it’s helpful to understand how technologies can support schools, their 61 teachers and students. We think about this Toolkit. It is this variation in impact which without any support or training about how in three ways: school management and causes concern among educationalists. it could be used to support learning or infrastructure; subject specialism – such as What we know is that technology is not a reduce teachers’ time. computing; and learning technologies. panacea for schools, neither is it a solution Tech companies have strong expertise in its own right. It is about how it is used, by in sales and marketing but teachers Variable impact whom and for what purpose. If all this has and students are critical consumers. There is no doubt that digital technologies been considered, it can be highly effective. Increasingly, they are demanding to know have had a profound impact on school what impact this product has and what management from electronic registers, Critical consumers evidence there is to support these claims cashless catering, student monitoring Schools are places of educational expertise beyond a simple quote from another and school data. There have been huge and this needs to be at the forefront school. Schools are changes in the curriculum with the of choices about digital technologies, talking more about introduction of computing and new whether that is in the classroom, engaging learning rather products and initiatives such as Scratch, with parents or managing reporting. than it being about Bee-bot, Code Club, Apps for Good and Teaching and learning goals should drive the tech – and Technology Will Save Us. Yet, whilst studies the effective use of technology. What that’s a good thing. consistently find that digital technology doesn’t work is simply buying a bunch is associated with moderate learning of laptops and expecting an increase in Amy Solder, gains – on average four months – there is student attainment. Neither does expecting project lead, considerable variation in impact, as shown teachers to just use digital technologies education, Nesta by the Education Endowment Foundation

T&I RECOMMENDS Thrive: Schools within environment, technology, and reinvented for the real human evolution – and presents new 43% challenges we face is ideas about what young people need a new book by Valerie to learn if they are to flourish in this of parents are concerned Hannon, co-founder of emerging world, sharing examples of their child won’t be the not-for-profit social schools from around the world who prepared for the enterprise Innovation are using innovative approaches that Unit. It takes a deep look at the nature help children to thrive. It makes for future workforce of the change around us – particularly fascinating, and inspiring, reading. Source: Tech Will Save Us

teachwire.net GCSEPod TI Advert - season 1 v3 AW.pdf 1 03/07/2017 14:50

DRIVING PROGRESS WITH WORLD-LEADING ONLINE SUBJECT KNOWLEDGE

“In these trying financial times, we took the decision to renew our subscription to GCSEPod – because of the impact it has had and continues to have. It has been easy to gauge its impact on the students. In a time of constant change, GCSEPod has provided a consistent port-of-call for both teachers and students.” Jonathan Rowlands, Assistant Headteacher Mayflower High School

VALUE C

M One resource for everyone from pupil premium to high attainers. Y MEASURABLE IMPACT £ (It’s also great for non-specialist teachers) CM With our measuring and

MY monitoring tools, we can £ evidence a clear correlation of CY Progress 8 scores v Pods watched CURRICULUM REFORMS

CMY We constantly update K content to deliver the latest specifications and Progress 8 compliant curriculum

1 in 4 English and 1 in 5 Welsh secondary schools now use GCSEPod. Is your school missing out?

Subject Exam Board Exam Current & Community Assignment Automated iPhone and Setup & Advanced Knowledge Filtering Specific new specs Question Setting Intervention Android Support Usage Playlists Bank Apps Reporting

0191 338 7830

Quote TIAutumn2017 when subscribing and receive your setup free of charge (usually £250) SCHOOL SOLUTIONS PARTNER CONTENT What Students Want: teaching the YouTube generation Once upon a time, study guides and textbooks were as linear as terrestrial TV programming – but for Generation Z, learning aids must be as flexible as their favourite streaming services

Engaging digital natives is harder than ever. From Facebook and Instagram to YouTube and Netflix, the age group known as Generation Z expects immediate access to content of choice across an array of technical devices. The sheer volume and convenience of content at a student’s disposal today means that educational resources must work harder than ever to meet their incredibly high expectations. Publishers must change the way they think or, as some have already, see their market share fall dramatically... It is no longer acceptable to control how content is drip-fed to audiences; instead, the audience want complete autonomy to watch, read and 63 listen as they choose.

Impressive uptake For companies taking the trouble to understand how students are using digital tools, the rewards for both them and working lives of teachers, to reduce their staggering 170,916 downloads in a their clients are plain to see. GCSEPod, a workload and make them more effective single day, nearly double that of the digital education publisher, has seen usage in monitoring their students and then in previous year. amongst subscribing schools rocket in the providing more customised feedback. I’m past twelve months. It publishes content in a really impressed.” Meeting new challenges unique ‘Pod’ video format that breaks learning This next academic year will be a down into 3-5-minute accessible chunks.They An all-year resource particularly challenging one for Year 11s and can be viewed on any platform, on or offline. It is fascinating to see how GCSEPod their teachers. They're the first cohort to In 2016/17, nearly 7.5m Pods were viewed usage has grown and shifted since it face new exams and a brand-new grading by students in subscribing schools – that’s was first introduced as a revision resource system across so many new GCSE subject a 50% uplift from already impressive seven years ago. specifications. GCSEPod’s digital approach usage the year before! GCSEPod is now used year-round as means that for the price of a typical set of Behind GCSEPod sits a reporting system a classroom and independent learning traditional textbooks, subscribing schools which gives the team unprecedented access resource, helping to consolidate get access to coverage of new specs across to big data about student learning habits. knowledge and provide students with a all exam boards for 20 subjects. Traditional This informs ongoing product development. deeper understanding of topics they have publishers simply can’t match that. The same data is accessible to senior covered in class. With such compelling evidence that leaders and teachers for their own schools However, it is still used particularly heavily GCSEPod meets the needs of our or MATs, enabling them to analyse learning during exam periods as a way of plugging ‘YouTube generation’, is now the time for behaviours on a detailed level, identify knowledge gaps and for accessing bursts your school to make the move? knowledge gaps, and provide the very best of high-quality revision content. During the support to specific learning groups and summer exam period alone, more than 2.7 individuals. million ‘Pods’ were streamed nationwide. As Geoff Barton, General Secretary The company recorded its highest ever of ASCL says: “GCSEPod could be a very usage directly before the summer’s closed significant step in helping to declutter the textbook English Literature exam – with a

Call: 0191 338 7830 Email: [email protected]

teachwire.net SCHOOL SOLUTIONS

64 “A VIRTUAL DUCK HELPED MAKE US BETTER TEACHERS” Gurpal Thiara explains how a trial with AI technology has completely changed D&T teaching and learning at Seven Kings School, Ilford

esign and Technology by classroom, we were keen to take part. The there it was straightforward to access over nature is a subject that technology, FormativeAssess, is a web the internet. needs a reflective approach. application that uses machine learning to It requires opportunities to provide live feedback to students, in the Immediate positive response broaden thinking by analysing form of an avatar. In our case, the avatar It had an immediate positive response Dwhat you have done well and how to was a duck. from the students across different year improve. It consistently evolves. We have It began with a meeting with tech groups. They are so tech-savvy that it was always been interested in cutting-edge company Digital Assess, Goldsmiths, instinctive for them to understand and technology and new strategies that University of London, and the academics take to it immediately. The open questions will enhance and improve the learning behind the technology. We discussed the it asked them as they engaged with it experience for our D&T students. questions that the technology would ask made them think of the brief in a broader So, when we were approached about the pupils, and how we would implement context. By challenging their perception a Government-backed trial to realise the it. FormativeAssess was then set up on our of what the problem was, they thought benefits of Artificial Intelligence in the existing computer hardware, and from harder about the solutions.

teachwire.net TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION: IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Another observation was that it helped the students become more independent, as they realised that they held the answers In summary: 5 things themselves. The technology helped to our experience shake up their thought processes, but the ideas actually came from them. The taught us about AI psychology behind the questions meant that students were focused, rather than 1. It encourages independence just opting to stay in their comfort zone – In a subject like design and technology, which places huge importance on continuous they started to become more adventurous improvement, it’s key that students are encouraged to think imaginatively and and trusted themselves to come up with autonomously. The technology doesn’t give them the answers, but helps them the right answer. develop a solution themselves. This type of independence is so important because of the way that the 2. Creative questioning is key current education system focuses on The key to success lies in the open questioning the machine learning uses. My academia – seeming only to care about suggestion would be to make the “what stage are you at in your project?” question the outcome, not the journey. It stifles more focused, to challenge pupils right at the start so they can begin to think more creativity rather than empowering it. creatively. For example, the question that asks pupils to “imagine your product was Most “education technology” that we’ve made out of custard”, empowers them to think completely differently – more laterally seen over the years only enables to – throughout the task. regurgitate knowledge. Teachers need to become a beacon for 3. There’s nothing to fear the empowerment of students by taking Teachers don’t need to be afraid of the onset of this new technology. It cannot replace up these tools and pushing for change. teaching, but if used properly it can be a useful resource. The students are already so technologically savvy that they can pick it up and run with it, and we should be embracing the benefits rather than avoiding it. More time to teach

Time is so precious in the classroom, but 4. It’s not complicated teachers need to have discussions to This technology is easy to implement provided the school already has the IT 65 inspire and challenge. This is especially true infrastructure. At Seven Kings School, we have laptop trolleys and internet access, so at the start of an open-briefed project, it was very straightforward for the pupils to log on and access the programme online. where the kind of questions asked are Apart from a few minor issues at the start of turning on the machine learning, which designed to give a much broader were quickly resolved by the company, the trial ran smoothly. perspective. However, it can also be just as important in the middle or end, and one of 5. It frees teachers to teach the things the avatar asked was “where are Artificial intelligence can lead to a valuable increase in differentiation time for you in the project?” It then differentiated teachers. Whilst the technology gives each student a form of tutoring, helping them to the follow-up questions based on the generate solutions to the tasks given them, teachers can focus on the pupils that are answers it received. From a teacher’s struggling or need extra assistance face-to-face. perspective, the technology gave me more time to spend with pupils that really needed it. We hear a lot of talk about robots replacing jobs, but this example of AI in the classroom achieves the opposite. It’s a tool If this type of AI technology could be to help teachers scale good practice, and if integrated into classrooms on a wider scale, used correctly will make the teacher a I believe it would have a massive impact. better practitioner. We should be Students and schools would really benefit, embracing technology that aids us to especially for project-based tasks. enhance the learning process, rather than Ultimately, if it adds to the whole student fearing it. learning experience, then why not? The overall outcome was that the AI changed the thinking of the students. Most of those taking part produced work that was more creative, explorative and experimental. The students were empowered through FormativeAssess and ABOUT THE AUTHOR the focus on the process, rather than a Gurpal Thiara is learning grade at the end. Attitudes changed, and leader of design technology they believed that they could succeed. at Seven Kings School. Breaking through that psychological barrier really opened up the learning.

teachwire.net SCHOOL SOLUTIONS PARTNER CONTENT Take two minutes to explore brilliant resources from Mindsets Elevator

Energymeter ideas, tutorials and more PITCH 1 The SEP Energymeter was information see: designed to meet the needs www.crumble.tech of the science curriculum, aiding progression through Smart Materials the concepts of power, energy, 3 Mindsets have built-up an voltage and current. This extensive range of interesting latest version also has the Smart Materials. Our reactive ability to log measurements, materials can be used to add which can be read over “smarts” to your projects, for USB using Mindsets’ free example, make a thermally datalogger software. reactive cup (pictured).

The Crumble Kits 2 Controller 4 We believe that providing The Crumble Controller a hands-on experience is is quietly revolutionising essential part of a good accessibility to physical education. At Mindsets, we computing and electronics. strive to provide kits that are We have seen the Crumble exceptional value for money, used effectively at KS1 and enabling the maximum number up, in Computing, DT and of students to build and keep performance arts. For project something that actually works!

For further information, visit www.mindsetsonline.co.uk, email [email protected] or call 01992 716052 66

teachwire.net SCHOOL SOLUTIONS Q&A: METRO SECURITY PARTNER CONTENT Trevor Wallace, Metro Security’s MD, discusses education risk management

T&I What types of risk are maintaining cost-effective fire, security and systems provide typically posed to other building management solutions. As additional educational facilities? a NSI Gold-certificated supplier, complying reassuring safety TW Pupils, students and staff potentially with all relevant standards, we can also back-up against face a wide range of personal safety monitor education sites out-of-hours from flammable and threats from site intruders, for example, our in-house centre. As a two-time Havering smoke-related risks. while the on-site facilities they use are Business Awards winner, we’re also a also vulnerable to a variety of risks runner-up in Teach Secondary magazine’s What additional benefits does including criminal damage, thefts and Technology & Innovation Awards. new technology offer? arson. Specific localised issues must Advancing technological capabilities, also be considered – to ensure eg that a How exactly can education increasing cost-effectiveness and school can be locked down in the event sites be protected? integration potential means, for example, of an incident – and that fire and security Starting at the site boundary, layered that IP-addressable surveillance cameras safeguarding measures are both custom physical protection including perimeter can be redeployed around a site quickly, designed and appropriate to each setting. fencing and detector-activated lighting easily and inexpensively to suit changing can be complemented by electronic requirements, site configuration changes What makes Metro Security stand security measures such as access control and evolving security threats. IP-enabled out from the crowd? and visitor management systems, CCTV CCTV systems can also incorporate older, Our 40-year operational track record surveillance cameras, remote visual analogue cameras and other digital provides education managers with verification and automated number plate units, meaning equipment that remains experience, reliability and flexibility in vehicle recognition alerts. Meanwhile, fire operationally effective can continue designing, specifying, installing and monitoring, detection and extinguishing playing a meaningful role.

Visit www.metrosecurity.co.uk Call: 0843 382 4999 Email: [email protected] 67

teachwire.net GET THEM INVOLVED What is experiential learning – and how can it benefit your STEM classroom? Christo Dreyer digs deeper…

ver a hundred years ago It accelerates and It stimulates curiosity and helps the ‘learning curve’, which enhances learning develop critical thinking describes the relationship Repetitive learning or ‘staring at a Children are curious by nature. Stimulating between memory and time textbook’ is rapidly being replaced by their curiosity by involving them and by was formulated by a man ‘learning by doing’. Experiential learning encouraging them to ask questions and Ocalled Hermann Ebbinghaus. In short, it uses critical thinking, problem solving and then allowing them to explore the different states that, during a lecture, assuming decision making to deliver information in outcomes helps them to develop new and your information absorption rate is at a ‘real life’ way. It also has a much better different thought processes. 100% on day one, there will be between a knowledge retention rate than traditional 50-80% loss of learning from the second learning methods. day onwards, which steadily reduces even further to a retention rate of a mere 2-3% It gives students at the end of 30 days. This theory is even more relevant in the opportunity to today’s world where attention spans are be creative and under constant threat from social media to explore and our children are bombarded with Experiential learning urges more information in a week than our students to explore and 68 parents were exposed to in a year whilst use different parts of their they were growing up. brains whilst trying to find Our children are growing up in a vastly a solution to a problem. It different world from the one we or our also helps them to discover parents experienced. True as that may that there might be different be, however, human beings have actually solutions to the same problem. been learning the same way for centuries. This creativity, and the variety of We learn better by doing and by getting the results it produces, involved, than by merely listening, reading enriches the classroom or watching. – and society – As the ancient Chinese proverb puts it: as a whole. “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn”.

What is experiential learning? Experiential learning is in essence learning by doing. Wikipedia defines it as: “the process of learning through experience” and, more specifically, “learning through reflection on doing”. The general concept of learning through experience is ancient though. Around 350 BC, Aristotle wrote in the Nichomachean Ethics, “for the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them”. The process of experiential learning involves both self-initiative and self-assessment, as well as hands-on activity. So, what are its specific benefits in the STEM classroom?

teachwire.net SCHOOL SOLUTIONS

It bridges the gap between It creates an opportunity knowledge and skills. When students see theory and practice for reflection on outcomes the concrete fruits of their labour, they Moving beyond theory to the realm of Reflection is an integral part of the experience greater gratification and pride, ‘learning by doing’, gives the student first experiential learning process. By combining thus enhancing their enthusiasm for hand experience of practising what has concrete experiences with abstract continued learning. been taught. This plays a crucial role in concepts and then reflecting on the retaining knowledge of concepts and ideas. outcome, students engage more regions It develops leadership skills and of their brain and make true, personal promotes teamwork It gives students a ‘real world’ connections with the material. They can Most experiential learning activities have experience within a totally then analyse how their actions affected students working together in groups safe environment the outcome and how their own outcome at times. Through these team projects, may have varied from other students’. This students learn how to work more Experiential learning uses data and analysis helps them better understand how effectively together, developing a plan of abstract concepts and makes them ‘real’ the concepts learned can be applied to action and utilising the unique qualities of for students by applying it to hands-on other varied circumstances. each team member. In turn, students also tasks, with real results. Each student’s gain real-life leadership skills and learn learning experience will be different from how to apply critical thinking and adapt to the next and guided by their own unique Mistakes become valuable changing circumstances. past experiences, each will interact with the learning tools information and the task in different ways As students engage in hands-on tasks, – and with different results. This makes they find that some approaches work It delivers an exceptional return the experiential classroom very much better than others. They learn to discard on investment (ROI) like ‘real’ society. It is only natural that the methods that don’t work. The mere act Experiential learning is both personal

mistakes will happen during the course of trying something and then abandoning and effective in nature, influencing 69 of learning and experimenting but it – ordinarily considered a ‘mistake’ – both feelings and emotions as well as using simulations within a safe learning actually becomes a valuable part of the enhancing knowledge and skills. It goes environment gives the students vital learning process. way beyond traditional textbook learning ‘real life’ experience and ensures that there is a high level of which will serve It increases engagement levels retention, thereby delivering exceptional them well A high focus on collaboration and learning ROI over a traditional learning program. in future. from each other benefits every student Most experiential learning projects are and also increases engagement in the career orientated and through these, classroom. Since the student is immediately students discover and develop their own involved in the problem solving activity skills, aptitudes and passions which in or event, the level of ownership of the turn help them to define their college outcome is high. and/or career paths.

It improves attitudes In short, experiential learning works! towards learning Its benefits have been well documented over centuries. We really don’t need to The act of practising a skill strengthens re-invent the wheel to revive hands-on the neural connections in our brain, STEM. We just need to pump it up a little making us, in effect ‘smarter’. bit; ultimately, if children don’t learn the Hands-on activities require way we teach, then we should teach the practice and therefore develop way they learn. problem-solving and decision- making abilities. As student engagement increases through these processes, learning accelerates and ABOUT THE AUTHOR knowledge retention rates Christo Dreyer is an improve. The personal entrepreneur and a nature of experiential director of Seebox UK learning engages the LTD, which distributes students’ emotions as Seebox in the UK, Europe and Asia well as enhances their

teachwire.net changing the way students are taught STEM in schools.

Can we afford to spend an average £10-15 per student*, per year to give our children a brighter future and an ‘unfair’ advantage? “Seebox has the potential to The question should rather be: can we afford NOT to? change the way electronics, Seebox is the revolutionary, award winning educational game engineering and science are console that teaches children science, electricity and electronics in taught in school” a fun and practical way! Independent Reviewer • It’s also a sophisticated professional test and measuring instrument that combines video animation with hands-on learning via step by step experiments. • Comes complete with its own whole curriculum suitable for Year 7 up to university level with no specialist teacher requirement. • Saving schools and colleges money on costly lab equipment. • Makes cutting edge, hands on STEM tuition affordable and accessible for every student in any school/college. •Teaches engineering, science and coding/programming.

‘Learning to be an Engineer’, the latest report from the Royal Academy of Engineering, recommends that there needs to be extensive promotion of engineering habits of mind in order to improve the science capital of young people. It also observes that more resources are needed to help Approved supplier teachers promote playful experimentation and equip them with the technology skills they need. Seebox fulfil all the above criteria and more!

Contact us to find out more about our tailor made, affordable rental options and/ or request a free, no obligation workshop at your school, UTC or college. E-mail: [email protected] www.seebox.co.uk

*Calculations are based on an average size school and an initial 3 year rental period. With an extended rental period the price per student becomes less every additional year. SCHOOL SOLUTIONS REVIEW

TECHNOLOGY Seebox A pioneering educational game console that teaches science, electricity and electronics in a fun and practical way!

AT A GLANCE

l A sophisticated professional test and measurement instrument l Cultivates an engineering growth mindset and real life skills l Comes with a whole curriculum l Suitable for Year 7+, no teacher required

REVIEW BY JOHN DABELL

71 ‘Learning to be an Engineer’, the latest and absorbing, with a highly engaging report from the Royal Academy of spaceship themed storyline that builds up in Engineering, recommends that there needs complexity over the course. to be extensive promotion of engineering The journey students take through habits of mind in order to improve the game involves performing actual the science capital of young people. It experiments with electronics using PC VERDICT also observes that more resources are boards and components to aid deep needed to help teachers promote playful understanding. Each ‘playboard’ contains experimentation and equip them with the the curriculum material and when ✔ Physical, tangible and 100% technology skills they need. connected to the Seebox it is unlocked. Each interactive fun Systems thinking, adapting, student has their own ID Tag and fingerprint ✔ Develops decision-making skills and problem-finding, creative problem scanner, and the Seebox keeps a close eye promotes technical expertise solving, visualising, and improving can all on their progress. It acts as a gatekeeper ✔ Supports tinkering and learning flourish using Seebox, a professional test because students can only progress by from mistakes instrument that fully engages students with watching every video, answering every ✔ Boosts confidence as independent engineering and helps them see its vast question and completing every experiment. learners and team players and rich potential as a career. Seebox records the hours spent using it, the The futuristic-looking Seebox console is videos watched and which concepts have UPGRADE IF... very clever and contains a whole ecosystem been mastered. Students can use Seebox of learning content inside and allows at their own pace and the immediate You are looking to promote students to learn by doing experiments on feedback they get enables them to learn via tech-savvy experiential learning, real quality electronic hardware combined experimentation without pressure. engender engineering habits of mind, with game software. Students watch Seebox has the potential to change the nurture creative problem solving and animated videos that explain concepts way electronics, engineering and science improve abstract thinking. associated with electronics, electricity and are taught in school. A premium product science in a fun way and then straight at £599+VAT, but the innovation and “Seebox has the potential to away get down to business and apply what capabilities are second to none; and with they have learned to progress through a affordable rental options available, this is change the way STEM subjects game. The videos are deliberately short great value. are taught in school”

www.seebox.co.uk

teachwire.net The Complete Interactive Classroom Solution

Add some SPARK to your lessons with Genee’s Interactive Touchscreens. Use our SPARK or Project Flow software to enhance classroom presentations.

G-TOUCH SPARK

For presentations that are only Screens to suit your classroom limited by your imagination

PROJECT FLOW TRAINING

Sharing and collaboration Become an expert with Genee’s between Teacher and Student bespoke training programmes

Call the Genee Team on 01902 390878 today, quoting TI to book your FREE demonstration!

01902 390878 [email protected] www.geneeworld.com SCHOOL SOLUTIONS PARTNER CONTENT Q&A: INTERACTIVE TOUCHSCREENS Genee World Ranjit Singh, Genee World CEO, sings the praises of touchscreens for collaborative learning...

you could incorporate Microsoft Excel, Word or Powerpoint into your lesson. However, an even greater benefit of Genee’s screens is the access they provide to the Genee App Store, where teachers can use Genee Credits to download a variety of education-specific apps. We’ve taken all the hard work away and teachers can trust that we will only allow apps onto our store once they have been vetted by our specialist Education team.

Tell us about the 4K screens... All G-Touch screens provide teachers with T&I How long has Genee worked that will help everyone to feel completely the latest interactive technology and are with the education sector? comfortable with the new technology. designed to empower lessons. The 4K screens take presentation technology to RS Genee World is based in the limit of what is possible – the crisp Wolverhampton – and has been built on Why are your touchscreens 73 a foundation of creating and delivering especially suitable for schools? images bring videos and pictures to life in interactive solutions for the education Many members of the Genee team have ways that were not previously possible. As sector. Founded by former teaching been teachers, or involved with education, the amount of content that is produced in professionals, in 2005, our ethos is to in their earlier careers. This experience 4K increases, it will become increasingly provide the tools for teachers to deliver directly translates into our ability to design important to be using screens capable exciting and informative lessons, that touchscreens and educational software of displaying that content to maximum engage and enthuse their students. Initially that specifically answer teachers’ needs in effect. Increasingly the future is 4K; schools focusing on the Genee Vision range of the classroom. Genee SPARK is extremely will be able to future proof their classroom visualisers, the portfolio soon extended powerful and versatile software that by selecting this technology now. to include audience response systems, provides a teacher with an infinite canvas interactive whiteboards and more recently area. As well as importing documents and What do you offer schools by way interactive touchscreens. images from local files or the internet this of after-sales support? software will run over the top of other Genee staff will be on hand to support Are schools currently making the applications allowing you to annotate, the school before purchase, during most of touchscreen technology? highlight and manipulate objects. installation and afterwards. We will run We are seeing increased demand Meanwhile, Project Flow makes it faster on-site pre-sale demonstrations to ensure year-on-year for interactive touchscreens, and easier to extend instructional content that everyone understands the benefits so we know that schools up and down the of all kinds in a multi-device learning that interactive touchscreens can bring to country have identified the benefits that environment. Sharing content with teachers and students alike. Once installed, they can bring. We find that our interactive individuals, groups, the full class, or even we offer initial Get Going Training to screens are ideal for modern classrooms remote locations allows teachers to devise familiarise customers with the screens, but as they can enhance collaboration and interactive learning activities and benefit we also offer a variety of in-depth training sharing between students and teachers, from collaborative participation. programmes that will provide detailed resulting in improved learning outcomes. knowledge on the software. Our screens For schools where the teachers are Can they be used with are sold complete with full warranty but unfamiliar with the technology, or who any software? we are proud to offer a technical support want to get even more out of the screens, Yes. Genee’s Interactive touchscreens can service that is second to none, including we offer a number of training courses be used with any software, for example on-site assistance, where necessary.

To find out more, call 01902 390 878 | email [email protected] www.geneeworld.com

teachwire.net 5 REASONS TO VISIT TEACHWIRE.NET THIS MONTH For the latest in education news, opinions, ideas and resources, there’s really only one online destination you need…

Got a resource that’s too good to keep to 1. Great features 3. Free resources As well as all the stories from Teach Our archive of downloadable yourself? Upload it Secondary (so you can catch up on lesson plans and other today at teachwire. 74 previous issues, and share things resources is the heart of net/secondary, and that have inspired you with a single teachwire.net – everything is share the brilliance! click), teachwire.net is crammed with absolutely free, and teachers contributions from writers we love – just like you are adding new both established figures from across ideas to the collection all the time. the education sector, and fresh, new You can search the content by age, voices. From Dr Finn Mackay’s critical Key Stage, subject or key words; whether look at the issue of ‘toxic masculinity’ you’re after reading notes for Malorie amongst young people (tinyurl.com/ Blackman’s Noughts and Crosses (tinyurl. teachwiretoxic), to self-confessed com/teachwirenoughts), or a new way geek Chis Smith’s hilarious report to help students understand quadratic about a recent maths revision equations and graphs (tinyurl.com/ weekend (tinyurl.com/teachwire teachwirequadratic) your colleagues geek), we’ve got your reading have almost certainly come up with requirements covered. something that can help. 5. Literary inspiration Reading for pleasure is such a crucial 2. Something to smile about 4. Competitions and part of young people’s education Education is a serious business, of great giveaways that we’ve dedicated a whole special course – but sometimes we all need There’s always a range of brilliant prizes section of teachwire.net to it (tinyurl. to release the pressure, and laughter is on offer at teachwire.net – and we keep com/teachwirebooks). Featuring one of the best ways of doing that. So it as simple as possible for you to get your reviews, fiction-inspired lesson plans, when we find something that makes hands on them, too. At the moment, we author interviews and more, it’s the us titter, snigger or guffaw, we make have 10 all-terrain storage trolleys (tinyurl. perfect destination for bookworms sure we share it at teachwire.net – how com/teachwiretrolleys), plus a collection of of all ages, and the ideal place to find aboutsome memes that only a teacher award-winning books worth £750 (tinyurl. something to tempt even the most could understand, (tinyurl.com/ com/teachwirebookprize) to pass on… reluctant reader to take something off teachwirememes), for starters? what have you got to lose? the shelves and give it a try. VISIT TEACHWIRE.NET your link to the best in education

teachwire.net SCHOOL SOLUTIONS A touch of genius Are you getting the most out of your touchscreen? Education adviser Sue Cook wants to make sure you are...

ue Cook, a former primary, Training and confidence secondary and SEN school In Cook’s experience, lack of training teacher is passionate about and confidence using the technology SUE’S TOP 10 TIPS: improving learning outcomes is a significant barrier. Many teachers in the digital classroom. carry on using their interactive screens 1. Many teachers fear that their SNow a product specialist for interactive as whiteboards and as a result, aren’t pupils are more tech savvy than touchscreen brand, Clevertouch, Sue making the most of the resource or the they are. Instead of worrying about teaches educators how to get the most out school’s investment. Sue believes that not it, get the class involved in your of their interactive classroom technology. involving teachers in the planning and learning journey, make it a team From her experience of providing training implementation of the technology from effort from the start. in schools, she is concerned that teachers the outset and not having a provision for 2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if aren’t getting enough support to make the training is a major part of the problem. you are unsure about something most of the educational opportunities that “Many teachers return after the – most manufacturers offer free their touchscreen brings to the classroom. summer holidays to find a new interactive phone support. “When I was teaching, we used older touchscreen in their classroom,” she 3. Make full use of all the support style, single point interactive whiteboards explains. “Yet they have no idea how to resources available – websites, and projectors, which offered little scope access the features, which would enable training, forums etc. for classroom collaboration,” she observes. them to make the learning process more 4. Start small – begin by setting “Participation from students was limited to encompassing and engaging for all styles yourself a target of using your 75 one child at a time, which made it harder of learners. Running a class leaves very screen for a few lessons a week to cater for all styles of learners and I would little time for teachers to experiment, so and build up from there as your spend many hours creating resources to they continue to use the screen in a linear confidence grows. engage every pupil in my class. learning style, with old resources.” 5. Share your experiences with your “The software and technology fellow teachers. Five-minute peer- available today makes building engaging, Learn together to-peer sessions are a great way collaborative lessons very easy, which frees of learning new techniques and Reiterating that teachers need to be up teachers’ time and lets them focus on product features. encouraged to experiment and capitalise what’s important.” 6. If you feel you aren’t using your on many of the features and software that screen to its full potential, contact come with their touchscreen, she continues, your manufacturer or installer to “If time is short, don’t be afraid to learn book training/coaching. Most with your pupils. Interactive technology offer training that fits around the unites everyone in a classroom, increasing school day including twilight or engagement and participation from even INSET sessions. the most reluctant learners. It creates a 7. For schools that are about to dynamic learning experience with more choose an interactive touchscreen, teamwork, collaboration and positive consider having one on loan for a outcomes for everyone.” week to let teachers and system To try a Clevertouch Plus free for a week managers try it out before making visit www.clevertouch.com/free-for-a- a decision. week. 8. Schedule an initial training session immediately after new screens have been installed to ABOUT THE AUTHOR run through basic features and give staff pointers on how to Sue Cook is a former incorporate them into lessons. teacher, who is now a 9. For optimum results, a second product specialist for training session will give staff interactive touchscreen a chance to address specific brand, Clevertouch. questions and progress.

teachwire.net

p75 touchscreens.indd 1 28/07/2017 09:37 INSPIRED INTERACTIVE SOLUTIONS FOR INSPIRED YOUNG MINDS

INTERACTIVE LARGE FORMAT DISPLAYS:

• Available in 42”- 70” • Superb image performance from anywhere in a classroom • No shadows or reductions in image performance to contend with • Anti-Glare coating absorbs ambient light and ensures image clarity at all angles • Solid and robust design capable of withstanding requirements of demanding users • Built in whiteboard software available

IIYAMA4EDU.COM • Exclusive 5 year warranty for schools and collages

www.iiyama.com SCHOOL SOLUTIONS PARTNER CONTENT Q&A: TOUCHSCREENS iiyama Steve Kilroy, UK sales manager for iiyama, describes how the right touchscreen can enhance teaching and learning in your classroom...

T&I What difference can How robust are they? modern touchscreens make to What’s the expected life span? teaching and learning in the Our screens are designed to last. The secondary classroom? only thing that limits any LCD technology SK Touchscreen technology is step up are the LED backlights, which are from traditional IWBs as it offers greater guaranteed to last around 50,000 hours. image quality, definition, brightness and What that means is you will see a dip ease of use. An interactive display does in brightness after that time. However, away with shadows and the accurate we only use commercial grade (as touch response means they are simply opposed to consumer/ TV grade) panels easier to use. When combined with and components. We understand the Windows 10 for example, or any version importance of ‘up-time’ in education of Office going back ten years, you have a and want to ensure we provide the best really easy to use presentation solution that technology possible. However, should does not require endless training. iiyama anything go wrong we have our own simply gives you the tools to educate and engineers and teams throughout the UK present, showing the educational sector and we offer a five-year onsite dismount that it does not need to invest in huge and reinstallation warranty.

complex software packages to enhance 77 teaching. Our end of the bargain is simple, Are they an energy just supply the sector with a high quality efficient solution? feature rich touch screen display which Most screens are nowadays. The move to offers exceptional image clarity. low power LEDs is somewhat universal. product, secondly, back that up with great The best way to view this is to look at after sales service. I constantly monitor TCO vs an interactive whiteboard and Why are your screens special? the support for the UK and we have a iiyama originally focused on high end, projector. The common theme is that common sense approach to support, durable, 24/7 hours of operation, very projector bulbs fail, dip in performance or ensuring the customer first and foremost accurate and exceptional quality screens become obsolete very quickly. Meaning is happy and feels valued at every step of for the interactive signage and kiosk educational institutions waste valuable the process. market. However, we were inundated with time and money on replacements. So the best way to look at this is the total energy teaching staff requesting to purchase And what about ongoing saved over the entire course of ownership, our screens. So what makes us special is support for schools that buy looking at the repeated purchases for using that same philosophy of high end your products? solutions for retail customers and making schools and how that affects energy Offering the warranty to support screens them available for educators, with a few consumption back through the entire is a critical thing here. Also, we don’t do alterations to really enhance that user supply chain down to the raw materials software; we teach people how to use experience. Being a display manufacturer that make up a screen. Office and Windows properly. Often, and known for high quality, we can educational software packages for command great buying power and are How much importance do interactive teaching are costly, and require in the enviable position to actually deliver you place, as a company, on huge training and resources. So think commercial grade high end touch screen customer service? about saving time and money first. solutions at an attractive price point. We Huge importance. We have a very skilled have some nice new features as well, and dedicated technical team and we such as built in voting software, the ability ensure we meet and exceed customer to connect and project to the screen expectations. We want to ensure that wirelessly through a laptop, iPad or Phone the customer we win to iiyama now, and the ability to annotate using some remembers us in 10 years. How do we simply built in tools. achieve that? Firstly, deliver a really great

Visit: www.iiyama.com Call: 07891 864665 Email: [email protected]

teachwire.net built on trust

ATTendAnce MATTers... downloAd free PArenTAl Pupil absence has a engAgeMenT detrimental impact resources groupcall.com/resources on attainment, progression and wellbeing.

Over the past 15 years, Groupcall As well as giving you the tools to has been helping schools achieve monitor and improve attendance, their attendance objectives - such our complimentary products enable as Flakefleet Primary that reduced you to free up administration time unauthorised absences from and reduce costs. We helped The 7% to 0.2%. Warriner School save over £12,000 in their first year of implementing Our products allow teachers to take our software. registers on any device, wherever they are, instantly communicate Together we can absences to parents and seamlessly boost attendance. write responses back to the MIS.

If you’re not already using groupcall Messenger or emerge, get in touch to find out how we could help your school: www.groupcall.com/attendance SCHOOL SOLUTIONS PARTNER CONTENT Q&A: ATTENDANCE Groupcall Andrew Mulholland, marketing director, considers how Groupcall’s solutions can help schools improve attendance

MIS, taking their data and making it readable, manageable and actionable. Messenger for one allows admin staff to send targeted messages to the parents of any child with an unauthorised absence as soon as it is recorded, also collecting responses back from parents as evidence… a complete audit trail.

What sets Messenger and Emerge apart from other systems in this regard?

It is the ability to react so quickly 79 that sets Groupcall apart from other T&I Schools are facing a number products. It’s been designed so it’s of issues at the moment. What intuitive/easy to use and processes do you think are the most are streamlined and simplified. prominent ones? Messenger integrates with all MIS AM Schools are getting a hard time of products; a register gets filled in and late, with budget cuts, rising workloads attendance is tracked. Straight away, and teacher shortages making up most of Messenger can send out a text, email the news, but, as they will all know, there or push notification in one of about are some high priority internal issues that 100 available languages to find out they face, such as that of attendance and what is going on. These products are truancy. Absences have been on a decline also usable out in the field or on the since 2008, but in recent years there has move, keeping you connected with your been an increase. These are problems on school’s data, even when offline. a much more personal level for the school than government cuts, but they can derail What other benefits do a student’s education significantly if left Groupcall products have unchecked. any possible issues. Time is of the essence for schools? with truancy, and technology responds Messenger and Emerge offer a level How can edtech help to tackle straight away, solving problems before of flexibility that you will struggle to attendance and truancy issues they become crises. find elsewhere. They work together within schools? seamlessly and can be accessed from Everyone working in a school is busy, and it Where does Groupcall come in wherever you are. Messenger is the can be hard to keep as on top of absences to all of this? perfect tool for schools to reach out and lateness as is needed. Edtech is in a The potential for Edtech to improve to parents and Emerge is the best great position to monitor trends that would attendance is tremendous. Groupcall friend of teachers, allowing greater otherwise escape the notice of staff, such Messenger and Emerge are purpose working flexibility on a computer as absence patterns, and alert them to built to synchronise with a school’s or mobile device.

To find out more, call 020 8506 6100 | email [email protected] www.groupcall.com

teachwire.net SCHOOL SOLUTIONS SERIOUSLY SPECIAL From clunky gear to streamlined, sophisticated and highly desirable – has assistive technology had an image overhaul, asks Sal McKeown

et’s be honest, for many years candidates in English Language exams will special needs technology often have to show evidence of planning – and had that ‘hand me down’ look, those who use Inspiration or MindView 6 as and rarely made the jump to “their normal way of working” will be able mainstream. How times have to use it in examinations too. Lchanged. Take fidget spinners, originally designed for young people with autism, Testing times ADHD and anxiety disorders to help them However, the pressure is on to make 80 concentrate better in class. Last year they both GCSE and A-level exams more were all the rage with YouTube videos accessible to disabled pupils. Last year, demonstrating how to do tricks and fidget a change in access arrangements spinners changing hands for silly prices of for GCSE, A-level and vocational £40 or more. They were so popular, in fact, qualifications allowed text-to-speech that some schools banned them – and that and screen reader tools to be used by has to be the ultimate accolade. candidates in all exams, including those which assessed a candidate’s reading A right, not a lottery abilities. Secondary schools seem to be We are lucky enough to live in a golden moving away from human scribes and age of The Cloud, convergence and mobile readers in favour of assistive technology first. Software and resources are no longer alternatives for students who require stored on a hard disc in a machine, in a additional access arrangements in exams. building, accessible only between the hours It seems that a growing number of of nine and five. Now they are out there in students, and not necessarily just the ether, available 24/7 and increasingly those with specific needs, designed to work and to look good on a phone screen. Sleek, private technology in the pocket has superseded the clunky, heavy devices of yesteryear. For example, once upon a time mind mapping tools stood separate from software; now a program such as MindView 6 is a Microsoft partner and will integrate with Office. This is no longer just for people with dyslexia. It appeals to visual learners or those who prefer to work with pictures and colours to generate information and ideas for an assignment. Yes, it will offer high contrast, audio notes and predictive text but it will also generate timelines to create what some refer to as “visual action plans”. There are also rumours, currently unsubstantiated, that

teachwire.net TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION: IN ASSOCIATION WITH

“Sleek, private technology in the pocket has superseded the clunky, heavy devices of yesteryear”

explore and interact with a 3D, computer- simulated environment; experiencing what would normally be difficult or impossible for are able them to experience in real life. to use word Special schools have helped young processors in people with major physical disabilities their exams now if experience the joy of skiing without that is their usual way leaving the classroom or visiting sites of working. As a result, many such as Stonehenge without the boring or SENCos in secondary are looking around uncomfortable coach travel. These days for tools, such as DocsPlus, or Texthelp’s I get press releases about VR is making Read&Write, which combine its way into science classes but students that day-to-day writing support with with disabilities are one step ahead: at ‘exam-friendly’ options for those who St.Vincent’s Specialist School for qualify for extra help. Sensory Impairment students have Several organisations are working to started to create their own VR apps. ensure that PDF-based exam papers are compatible with assistive technology. One to watch? Standards and guidelines on the production 81 OrCam (www.orcam.com) is very futuristic. of PDF for use in exams are currently being Its product MyEye describes itself as the drafted. BATA is planning an event to raise world’s most advanced wearable artificial awareness of the standards. vision device. It converts visual information into spoken words and lets people with Mainstream solutions little usable sight be independent. Look at But this is a theoretical perspective. What someone and the clever camera will search does assistive technology look like on the its facial recognition database and tell you ground? Molly Watts has Usher Syndrome, who it is. Use it in a supermarket and it can the most common form of congenital deaf identify whether you are handing over your blindness. She talks about the changes she debit card or a loyalty card to the cashier. has seen in technology: “I know back in The camera will sit on the arm of a pair school they tried to give me all the clunky of glasses and via headphones or ear buds gear. I felt, as a 12 year old, I wanted to be will read any text, from any surface: books, like my friend; it was confidence crushing.” handouts, smartphones, computer, posters, Studying for her A levels she found that labels. It’s a lot easier and more discrete her iPhone, iPad and Macbook served than a CCTV, an assistive technology of her well and these days she is a great yesteryear. It’s amazing; it is also finding its ambassador for the Apple Watch. “They way into selected classrooms and is one to have all the built-in preferences, you have watch out for this year. zoom, voice over, display accommodation, speech to text. There is also the App Store – yes some are paid, but they are fully accessible to someone like me, which is great. This is more inclusive, this is ABOUT THE AUTHOR mainstream technology that I am using Sal McKeown is a freelance that lets me run my business and my special needs journalist and charity, the Molly Watt Trust.” author of Brilliant Ideas for Using ICT in the Inclusive The virtual advantage Classroom (Routledge) and a Where next for assistive technology? Virtual book for parents, How to help reality (VR) and wearables I suspect. VR your Dyslexic and Dyspraxic has been around in some schools since the Child (Crimson Publishing). 1990s. Students use glasses or a headset to

teachwire.net we’ve made typing maths super simple with EquatIO

Designed with students in mind, EquatIO takes the pain out of creating equations, graphs and maths quizzes digitally.

EquatIO instantly understands what students are typing or handwriting, turning expressions into clear, accurate on-screen formulas.

Easily dictate formulas aloud Save time and effort Intuitive prediction speeds up accurate entry of complex maths expressions Hear all mathematical equations read aloud and assist students with math-to-speech (when partnered with Read&Write)

2 35 +722 squared square root

square

Learn more about EquatIO for your School, contact our team now on +44 (0)28 9442 8105 or [email protected] SCHOOL SOLUTIONS REVIEW

MATHS EquatIO Sophisticated assistive software that allows users to type, handwrite or dictate virtually any mathematical expression directly on their keyboard or touchscreen

AT A GLANCE

l Write digital equations and maths expressions in an instant l Uses powerful predictive technology to guess what you are writing, saying or typing l Hear maths expressions read out loud l Create digital maths quizzes

REVIEW BY JOHN DABELL

I’ve always found it tricky writing a maths on a touchscreen. Amazingly, the software 83 expression or equation on a computer or tablet. then converts the maths inputted into tidy, How do you add the square root sign? I can vibrant and precise on-screen formulae never remember if I’m supposed to press ‘Alt’ by utilising a built-in library of ready-made and type in three numbers, or tap ‘Option’ and formulae, equations and other math VERDICT a symmetrical consonant; or should I just ‘Esc’? expressions. It works in a similar way to And of course, students encounter the same predictive texting; EquatIO can guess what problems. Despite the fact that many can hack you’re trying to say, ignore your ‘umms’ and ✔ Encourages a more interactive into the FBI or NHS with ease, they still struggle ‘errs’, correct mistakes, and even clean up and collaborative approach to to produce advanced fractions, powers and after you. This is hugely exciting because it exploring maths other mathematical symbols on their screen results in genuinely supportive technology that ✔ Intuitive, effortless and intelligent of choice. It’s a frustrating experience, wastes enables students to read and write maths with ✔ Takes the pain out of writing lots of precious time, and despite our edtech- confidence and independence. digital maths soaked classrooms, we end up reaching for This is a resource that can remodel, ✔ Time-saving and life-saving paper and pencil. I want something to flip the reinvent and revolutionise the ways we do ✔ Inclusive and empowering, maths paradigm without having maths by enabling students and teachers meeting the needs of all students to learn absurdly complex code and think fully to utilise technology for powering learning. like a programmer. Inserting, editing and interacting with digital UPGRADE IF... This is why I have fallen absolutely head maths has suddenly become super simple over heels in love with EquatIO, a ridiculously and, unbelievably… fun! You are genuinely looking to shake up clever tool that enables users to create maths EquatIO has obvious uses within chemistry learning by making maths a smarter equations and formulae by typing, handwriting too, and because it is compatible with Google digital experience that is streamlined, or dictating just about any maths expression Docs and Forms, it is the perfect soulmate for efficient and a shared venture. directly onto a keyboard or touchscreen. Forget Google Ed-centric learning environments. It will worksheets and whiteboards, teaching maths work on Windows, Mac and Chromebook, too. with technology has taken a giant leap forward. From a cost perspective, a single subscription “Forget worksheets and The power and potential of EquatIO is is £80 per year, but whole school subscriptions whiteboards, teaching enough to make you salivate. A student can start from as little as £450 per year (dependent maths with technology has enter basic or complex equations using their on school size); making EquatIO an affordable keyboard or voice, or make a handwritten entry wayto Control, Alt and Succeed. taken a giant leap forward”

Tel: +44(0)28 9442 8105 E: [email protected] W: www.texthelp.com

teachwire.net here has never been such a clear need for quality online safety provision in secondary schools. Young people are profoundly attached to their Tmobile devices, and use myriad apps Protect and to communicate and share. We will all have opinions on age restrictions, online presence pressures and even whether all of this does anyone any good in the long term. But we must accept that young people’s social media usage is deeply embedded, and their reliance on it will empower only grow. Questions remain, though. Questions like: “What happens when they don’t use In a world where young people and their this technology properly? When they phones are rarely parted, teaching online communicate with people who want to do them harm or when they openly post safety has never been so important – or things that could damage their future nuanced – says Matt Lovegrove opportunities?” This is where online safety comes to play. Schools need to address these questions head-on to properly support their pupils – enabling them to become safer and more responsible technology users, and to equip them with essential digital skills.

What to look out for Online safety is multifaceted and generally 84 includes the following areas: • Having a digital presence – digital footprints, the need for a positive online image • Preventing cyberbullying – defined as the repeated sending of hurtful, threatening, teasing or taunting messages • Communication with strangers – potential grooming • Preventing sexting – now often referred to as ‘youth produced sexual imagery’ • Searching – the ease of access to inappropriate, illegal, harmful, unreliable or fake material • Commercialism – hidden costs, targeted advertising • Maintaining privacy online

Directly taking these issues on is more effective than beating around the bush. Pupils appreciate honest, open and empathetic advice and guidance. It’s imperative this is linked to the apps and websites that they use daily. Start with the pupils and their needs by asking them what apps they use - and how they use them. Ask them what they’d like support with, what questions they have, what worries them about what they see and do and how they deal with inappropriate material.

teachwire.net SCHOOL SOLUTIONS Raise your subject knowledge they’re happy with this. I talk to them about You may feel out of your depth after this. the importance of maintaining some form Young people adopt new technologies of digital privacy and the need to be careful quickly and may be using services you’re about what they say. unfamiliar with. To combat this, use the I ask them: “If I were to search for you NSPCC’s Net Aware guides to quickly online, would you be proud of what I’d learn about how the apps and websites find?” With older pupils I go on to talk about pupils are using work and about the risks employment and how negative posts could associated with these. Thinkuknow also affect their opportunities. publishes useful guides, particularly if you need to learn about risks pupils face while Positive communication using various services. You could even ask It’s important pupils understand they are a focus group of children to bring in their responsible for what they publish online, devices and talk you through the latest and what they say. I sometimes use a apps – they will enjoy doing this. service like www.ios7text.com (see image, right) to create fictional screenshots of Don’t scaremonger conversations and give them time to Avoid scaring pupils. There are enough think about how they would reply if the things for young people to worry about in messages were being sent to them. modern life without them being scared of I use activities like this to start using the services they enjoy. Instead, focus discussions about potential grooming and your time and energy on helping them cyberbullying. Asking them about how they use technologies positively and in ways know who to trust and how to respond to that benefit them. I always talk about the threats opens up interesting conversations benefits of using technology before moving around dealing with situations pupils may onto discussing risks. face now or in the future. Searching Tell stories Sexting Pupils need to understand what is real and Relate whatever you do to real life. Tell Dealing with sexting isn’t easy, but it’s what is not – something that’s becoming them stories about when you fell for a an important issue that needs careful increasingly difficult in an age of ‘fake news article which wasn’t true, received consideration. The UK Council for Child news’. Teaching young people to use a an email from someone looking to Internet Safety recently issued excellent variety of different sources to verify facts is useful, as is having discussions about how extort money or when you were tricked guidance on dealing with sexting issues 85 by an offer or promotion that wasn’t when they occur (www.tinyurl.com/ what they see may not be real. Pupils need as it seemed. Pupils appreciate and are ukccissexting), but it’s important for to understand that images can be changed interested in things that they can relate to, prevention education to be in place to and facts distorted for various reasons, and and they’ll engage well with you when you help minimise issues. Films like CEOP’s that what they see online does not always share your experiences. (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) represent reality. Pupils enjoy looking ‘Exposed’ provide good hooks for through fake news articles and before/after Map it out conversations and help young people images of models to help them understand Whenever I work with secondary pupils, understand how quickly things can how things are sometimes distorted. I always start by asking them go wrong. Talking about positive to map out their online lives. relationships, safe sex, consent and Meeting the need Creating spider diagrams pornography can also help prevent The South West Grid for Learning’s ‘Digital allows them to reflect on sexting as pupils will develop a Literacy’ plans cover all – and more – of the which services they use and better understanding of healthy above areas and are free to use. And, again, what information about relationships and of what The Thinkuknow site also contains free themselves these services is appropriate. teachers’ resources and lesson plans. hold. I ask them to consider where their photos are stored, ARE YOU FRIENDLY WIFI APPROVED? who could have access to them Friendly WiFi is the government-initiated safe certification standard and whether for public WiFi. It was initiated by the UK Government in 2014 to ensure public Wi-Fi meets minimum filtering standards, particularly in those areas where children are present. Schools displaying the Friendly WiFi symbol have Wi-Fi filters which deny access to pornography and webpages known by the Internet Watch Foundation to host indecent images of children and advertisements or links to such content. To find out more about Friendly Wifi, and to have your school approved, visit www.friendlywifi.com/education

teachwire.net Cost effective solutions to improve security, reduce administration and unify multiple student services

BioStore offers a range of solutions for primary & secondary schools, colleges and universities supported by a secure central ID management solution. Multiple services such as cashless catering, library management, access control, locker management and even the student union, can all be managed by a single authentication method using a fingerprint biometric or smart card.

IDENTITY & ACCESS FASTRAK ATTENDANCE CONTROL MANAGEMENT CASHLESS CATERING & REGISTRATION Resolve many of the issues around Solve many of the administration Keep track of students with a implementing a secure access problems faced in operating a flexible registration and attendance control system for buildings, canteen environment by removing solution with full reporting to rooms, digital assets and cash from campus, reduced help monitor student activity. payments using either biometric queuing, improving meal uptake or smart card solutions. and reducing food waste.

Contact BioStore for a free demonstration

Email [email protected] Website www.biostore.co.uk

FasTrakAdvert_183x258.indd 1 04/07/2017 12:21 SCHOOL SOLUTIONS PARTNER CONTENT Q&A: BIOMETRIC TECHNOLOGY BioStore Nigel Walker, managing director of BioStore, explains the benefits for schools of investing in biometric technology…

which can help deliver an extremely unified and simple experience for students and staff. Attendance, cashless catering, computer log-in, printing, vending machines, visitor management and library services can all be integrated.

How confident can schools, students and families be regarding the security of biometric data? Security is essential in a biometric system. BioStore uses AES256 encryption at all times for the data in the system, which is internationally recognised as extremely secure. If the data fell into the wrong hands, they would not be able to read it. T&I What are the benefits of But more importantly, the data BioStore using biometric technology for collects for its system is completely 87 identity management? useless outside of the school’s system. NW Biometric technology provides An image of a person’s fingerprint is not fast and secure identity management, saved by the system at any point. BioStore that makes solutions around a campus instead creates a template based off 40 incredibly simple to use. Fingerprint to 60 minutia points on a finger. The rest scanning is a high-security solution that of the image is discarded. ensures accurate authentication within a second, and helps eradicate fraud from the How easy is the transition system. For the administration team, time for schools who decide to use and money is saved. There’s no password when a student can’t access essential BioStore for all its systems? management needed, and there is no services while waiting for a replacement If schools already use a BioStore system need to spend money printing off new card or password. Biometrics remove for biometrics or card identification, smartcards. From a student’s perspective, the cost and hassle that can be caused expanding the system to include more biometrics are as convenient as it gets. All by other authentication methods, and applications is very simple. The same a student ever needs is their fingerprint to ensure that students always use their own identity management information is access all the services they need. authentication, and not someone else’s. used on the new licence and software, which can be set up by us or a partner. Why is this particularly important What aspects of the school day Setting up a biometric system for the for schools? can be made easier with BioStore? first time, such as cashless catering, A biometric fingerprint is a powerful One of the major advantages of a requires registration of all staff and solution in education for the simple reason biometric system is the positive effect students, and is typically achieved in one students and staff quite literally always it can have on catering. Biometric day (for schools under 1000 students). have it to hand. There’s nothing we can cashless catering’s speed and accuracy Our wealth of experience ensures do to stop students forgetting or losing can help greatly reduce queues and seamless integration with existing their homework – but we can ensure the encourage more students to get school systems, leaving schools with authentication they need daily to access all a healthy daily lunch. Many other the ability to add and integrate more the services a school provides is never lost, solutions can be integrated into a solutions as required. stolen or forgotten. There is no down-time biometric identity solution as well,

To find out more visit biostore.co.uk

teachwire.net SCHOOL SOLUTIONS NEW CONNECTIONS

In a world where we live our lives through our phones, smart schools are tapping into technology as a way of engaging with parents, as Kelly Clark has been finding out...

88

teachwire.net TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION: IN ASSOCIATION WITH

alking into a school and that they are involved as much as While the apps are already in place to office or picking up the possible with the development of their communicate a weekly headteacher’s phone to pose a query children. We are really pushing social media bulletin as well as details of school events, to a teacher can be as a promotional tool for the school.” timetables and achievement points, daunting for parents. Platforms such as Twitter and Facebook the school is keeping abreast of other WThat age-old feeling of being in trouble are being used to showcase what the opportunities to increase the ease of when you’re sat waiting to speak with the school and its students are getting up access to information so it is live and head never seems to go away for some. to, as well as a way of communicating readily available. So, what if they could simply stay within information to parents in a format that Leon Brown, a maths tutor in Liverpool, their comfort zone and have a relaxed chat suits them. has developed an app his parents over social media… with a goat? That’s the “What has been really successful is our and partner schools can use to offer direction Varndean School, a secondary in coverage on social media of residential appropriate support to students between Brighton, has taken, setting up a Twitter trips,” explains Carol-Anne. “We are able to lessons. “It’s a great way of getting them account for its five pygmy goats. “I thought post photos each day and our parents have involved in reinforcing the concepts I’ve it would be fun,” says Hilary Goldsmith, really valued that opportunity to almost taught. For example, one of my parents director of finance and operations. “It also experience the trips alongside their children. was able to explain percentages and ratios shows students that social media is not just It means parents can feel that little bit in relation to what they were buying on a all about getting followers and Likes, or all more engaged with what is going on. With shopping trip. Maths becomes a lot easier about personality contests. It’s a really fun Facebook, in particular, we are directing the to understand when they are able to relate way of interacting with our community.” content at our families. It’s a window into its concept to the real world. Parents are The goats arrived in September as a the school day and enables them to see useful for doing the job of getting children pastoral support, nurturing good what goes on.” to do this work.” behaviour and teaching children how For the first time, the school has The app alerts the teacher to a child to take care of animals. cancelled its traditional press advertising missing completion of exercises or specific Now, the animals are given a voice over for open evening and is instead devoting difficulties they are having with a topic. The Twitter, where interaction is mainly with a fraction of that budget to social media technology also produces visual reports on parents. “We all know that conversation sponsored posts. “After surveying parents, performance and can set tasks for parents children often have when they get home, we were not convinced that enough and children to complete together socially. telling their parents they haven’t done would be picking up a local newspaper “There are now more opportunities than anything all day. This way, parents can to warrant that spend. Instead, we are ever for getting families to become more log into Twitter and see photos of their targeting the exact demographic we want involved in their student’s learning. Learning 89 children interacting with the goats; that’s to reach via Facebook advertising. That’s shouldn’t be restricted to the classroom; not something they would normally see not a decision we have taken lightly, but it’s reinforcement of learning should be as it wouldn’t make it onto our website or about acknowledging the world is moving encouraged through application to the real newsletter. They are also the children who forwards and giving people information on world as much as possible.” would not generally be the headliners; the platforms they want it.” they’re the quieter students, but this The school is also investing in a new is a way of demonstrating what they website and has set up a YouTube channel are achieving.” to showcase learning in action to parents. Recently launched is the hashtag #AskAlan where the school community Moving forward with apps can pose questions to Professor Alan T Boswells School, in Essex, is Goat – another light-hearted link back among those looking to create to the school. As well as encouraging their very own apps in future. conversation, the goats have inspired Parents are already using parents to get involved in raising money, the established, worldwide which also creates a new link with the Show My Homework app, school which may not have otherwise been where they can log in to see there. “It’s certainly a fun way to engage what homework their child is with parents,” observes Hilary. “It’s about set and their deadlines so they having a light-hearted interaction with can provide appropriate support them rather than the only communication at home. But, ideas are being they have from school being pleas for developed to move things money or requests for help. It’s a further forward. Cheryl Noble, constant stream which shows them assistant headteacher, says: “As a school, we are accessible.” we are increasingly moving towards electronic communication with parents What parents want to keep them up to date on their child’s Social media is so important to Honywood progress. The fantastic opportunities which School, in Essex, a full-time marketing and smart technology brings allows us to brand manager has been employed. communicate rapidly and frequently. It also Carol-Anne Frogley says: “We want to reduces costs which, at a time when school make sure we engage with parents fully funding is high on the agenda, is essential.”

teachwire.net 90 LOST: female talent If we want more women scientists, we need to start identifying potential at a much younger age, argues Sarah Haythornthwaite

hen I was studying It’s not all cultural Any measures that address this cultural engineering at university The problem doesn’t lie in the number of imbalance are worthwhile. But are we I was one of seven girls taking STEM subjects at GCSE – as looking at the problem in the right way? women in a class of 120. many girls as boys study maths and the Would it make more sense to focus less In the intervening years, sciences, and on average they achieve on cultural factors post-16 and more on Was women have entered the professions, the way we identify and develop scientific slightly higher grades. Yet when it comes business and politics in ever increasing to A-levels, significantly fewer girls than ability pre-16? Perhaps the best way of numbers, it would have been reasonable boys choose to study maths, further maths tackling a gender deficit at the end of to expect engineering to undergo a similar and physics in particular. Only 20% of school is to accept how much better we transformation. But it hasn’t. students studying A-level physics are girls, a could be at recognising scientific potential Barely 16% of engineering and proportion that hasn’t changed in 20 years. in both sexes at an earlier age. If scientific technology undergraduates were women No one seriously thinks that aptitude ability were identified sooner, might more last year. Only 9% of the engineering is the issue. The problem, we are told, is students, and many more girls, opt for a workforce in the UK is female, the lowest cultural. Various studies claim that girls lack STEM career later in life? proportion in Europe. The picture is equally confidence, or role models post-16, or they bleak in the rest of the sciences outside think that science is ‘uncool’ and ‘nerdy’ The verbal bias medicine. Women only make up 14% and not sufficiently about people, which Our education system is heavily biased of the workforce in science, technology, also conveniently explains why they find towards verbal skills. The curriculum engineering and maths (STEM), and only medicine attractive. and testing regimes place a premium 11.5% of management. on the ability to grasp word and number

teachwire.net SCHOOL SOLUTIONS

FIVE SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE WITH HIGH SPATIAL ABILITY: • Elon Musk, CEO of Space-X and Tesla • James Dyson, inventor and engineer • James Watson and Francis Crick, discovers of the structures of DNA • Luiz Alvarez, Nobel prize-winner in physics • William Shockley, Nobel prize- winner in physics

sequences, on oracy and literacy. It is not very good at identifying and developing spatial learners, who tend to think initially in images before converting them into words. Differences in spatial ability by gender are insignificant and in any case tell us nothing about individual performance. There is, however, significant correlation between high spatial skills and scientific and engineering ability, according to Project Talent, a 50-year US study of over 400,000 students. Children who are both highly gifted in spatial and verbal reasoning will help and there are strategies schools verbal skills hid their innate talent? More abilities tend to do well across the board. can employ. importantly, how many are we continuing 91 But our analysis of GCSE scores in the UK, Teachers should understand the to miss today? suggests that those who have high spatial techniques that will support the spatial The annual shortfall of STEM skills in reasoning but poor verbal reasoning scores learner, for instance, such as using models the UK workforce is, according to the markedly underperform*. and diagrams, allowing children to move Campaign for Science and Engineering, What is particularly striking is that the and gesture, and talking through real life 40,000. If we could unlock spatial learners’ gap in exam performance is not confined scenarios and practical examples. scientific potential at an earlier age and to English or the humanities. There is also a We also need to accept that not all engage their incredible talent, perhaps we significant, if less pronounced, divergence children will do a task in the same way or would have more success persuading girls in maths and science. In last year’s maths that there is only one ‘correct’ approach. to stick with science beyond 16. And if we GCSE, for instance, 89% of children with Most teachers mirror our education system could do that, imagine how much smaller good spatial and verbal abilities achieved – they tend to be verbally biased. But they that figure could be. an A*-B. Conversely, only 52% of those shouldn’t assume that the way they think, with high spatial intelligence but poor and what they find easy or difficult, will be GL Assessment’s ‘Hidden talents: the verbal reasoning skills achieved the same, echoed by children. An inarticulate, overlooked children whose poor verbal a 37 percentage-point difference. In low-achieving child may complete skills mask potential’ is available to physics GCSE, 86% of children with good intellectual spatial tasks that teachers find download at www.gl-assessment.co.uk/ spatial and verbal abilities achieved an difficult with great ease. hiddentalents A*-B compared with 58% of their verbally challenged peers. In chemistry and biology It shouldn’t be luck *The analysis was based on modelling a pool of more the gaps in performance are similar. than 20,000 secondary school students who completed It’s also not a bad idea to show children the Cognitive Abilities Test CAT4 in Years 7 to 9 and GCSEs how different types of learning strengths in 2016. Wasted potential can lead to success in certain subjects and This represents a huge waste of potential. careers. If students, particularly girls, were Almost 4 per cent of students in the UK constantly reminded that good spatial can be classified as having high spatial thinking could lead to a bright future in but poor verbal reasoning abilities – science and engineering, wouldn’t they ABOUT THE AUTHOR approximately 400,000 children across be more inclined to persevere with Sarah Haythornthwaite was primary and secondary schools. There STEM subjects? a lecturer in engineering at is no intrinsic reason why these children I was lucky. I had a decent balance of the University of the West of shouldn’t perform well if their spatial spatial and verbal reasoning skills and went England. She is now director ability is accurately identified and their on to a career in engineering at British at GL Assessment. verbal challenges addressed. There are Aerospace. But how many women of my assessments of cognitive abilities that generation weren’t so lucky because poor

teachwire.net THE RISE OF THE LIBRO-BOTS

92

Welcome to the new age of school libraries – where technology is adding a new element of excitement to the shelves…

he role of school librarian Institute of Library and Information particular text, image or video.” used to come with a Professionals. Students can access “Digital library management heavy admin load; and the the system remotely, find where systems might also produce useful humble card index was resources are located and browse statistics,” adds Barbara. “The 10 most king. Not anymore, though those resources. Freely available frequently lent titles, or which students T– because these days we have the online material can also be added to have never borrowed a book. These all-singing, all-dancing digital library the library (by librarians or teachers) numbers can help to highlight library management system. (It catalogues instantly extending stock, without usage, students’ interests and possible stock! It tracks reading activity! It lets a price-tag. reluctant readers.” you curate useful online resources!) All this functionality frees up time “Digital library management Savings and statistics for librarians to devote to skilled tasks systems host – and regularly update “The systems save storage and like evaluating books and encouraging – the catalogue of materials available space,” says Paul Clough, Professor of students’ reading and research skills. to your school,” says Barbara Band, Information Retrieval at the University And that can make for a buzzier, more School Library Consultant and past of Sheffield. “You’re not restricted effective library. President of CILIP, the Chartered by the need for physical access to a

teachwire.net SCHOOL SOLUTIONS

WE ASKED FOUR BIG PROVIDERS…WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE?

MICRO LIBRARIAN SYSTEMS HERITAGE ACCESSIT SOFTLINK (microlib.co.uk) (isoxford.com) (accessitlibrary.com) (softlinkint.com) “As well as providing the full “Heritage is our only product, Ken Wickstone, UK IT “Our library management suite of library functions, we so we’re very targeted Manager says, “We don’t software for schools has want to encourage reading and give all our time to it!” charge an initial software been designed with students, for pleasure,” says Andrew says Sales Manager Emma cost, we charge schools for students,” says Melissa O’Brien, Managing Director Duffield. “It’s a professional an annual licence based Morrison, Library Consultant. of Micro Librarian Systems. tool, designed to support on number of pupils. We “It’s reliable, compatible and “Our latest product, Reading qualified librarians. Any don’t charge anything for offers a fully customisable, Cloud, provides a safe social school that buys our system extras or upgrades: it’s modern search interface, networking area where benefits from free regular all included. One function including a new ‘drag and students can discuss, rate upgrades to our latest we’re very proud of is One drop’ facility. This allows and recommend books, version. We’re used in 50% Search, a search tool that students using a touchscreen blog and vlog, and get of FE colleges, so it’s great simultaneously searches a to drag items into their recommendations of other for students when their library’s own resources and basket (in line with a site like books they might enjoy, school uses the system – trusted external educational Netflix). The system is easy based upon the authors as they move into further resources, like TED talks or for both students and staff they like. The interface and education they already Google Scholar. It ensures to use – one popular feature functionality changes to suit know how to access the students have the best looks at students’ personal different age groups – from library’s resources.” chance of finding high quality borrowing history and makes primary up to FE.” material with every search.” suggestions of other books they might enjoy.”

For a full list of questions to consider when choosing a digital library management system, visit tinyurl.com/digitallibrarysystem 93

Making the selection But how do schools choose which system to use? There are several providers out there (including the free, open-source system Koha Library Software (koha-community.org). Provision and costs vary. “The majority of the mainstream solutions will have the basic features,” says Vik Paw, Information Systems Specialist at Intuitive Education and a moderator on EduGeek.net, the support community for IT professionals working in education. “But how well they are implemented may differ. They’ll also have different features and add-ons.”

Before you buy, request a demo. Questions to ask include:

+ What’s the cost, and are there charges for upgrades?

+ What level of technical support can you expect?

+ What compatibility does the system have with other online platforms?

+ Does the system synchronise with your current Management Information System?

+ What reports are available and how easy is it to generate your own? + What extras are offered?

Whichever system you choose, Barbara recommends evaluating it once a year. “Look at the resources and functionalities you’re paying for and how well they’re being used. If they’re not being used, don’t renew them.”

teachwire.net PERFECT MATCHES An innovative approach to careers guidance could ensure young people gain exactly the skills that future employers will demand, suggests Laura Bush

or years employers have voiced book or other reading material that is at an concerns that school leavers and appropriate difficulty level. graduates are arriving without While initially this process is about the literacy and numeracy skills helping children develop a greater love needed for the job they are of reading, education superintendent Fhoping to do. David Lewis explains, “this research-based We are facing the reality that if our resource is part of the long-term plan to education system is to fully prepare our address specific areas in need school children for their chosen career or of improvement.” further education, the skills they acquire By assessing the Lexile level not just should match those demanded by the of the reading material students are 94 careers waiting to be filled; if skills are not currently accessing, but also, of the kinds matched to their career aspirations, young of texts that they will be expected to people are at risk of failing. read at college, or in their chosen career, The question is, ‘how do we identify the the schools are able to address specific skills demanded in our changing economy?’ students who are in need of additional Partnerships with industry representatives support. Lewis explains that using Lexile can be used to identify the technical skills measures to match students to reading required for each industry and to help set material provides, “notable indicators qualifications. However, new hires, while of positive progress in the critically equipped to operate specified software, important foundational skill of may not be able to comprehend the reading toward college and necessary technical documents. Similarly, some students may not be able adequately to read the study material required for their chosen university degree. So, how do we solve the problem of ensuring that each student’s literacy level meets, or exceeds, the level required by their further education or career choice?

Learning from the US In America, this is already done very well; Muscogee County School District in Georgia provides us with an example. The district wanted to improve reading and writing at its 13 lowest-performing secondary schools. These schools use the international Lexile Framework for Reading, devised by MetaMetrics, to quantify both the complexity of a text (book, study material) and the reading ability of each learner. By effectively matching the two, a reader can choose a

teachwire.net

pp 94-95 - metametrix.indd 1 28/07/2017 13:00 SCHOOL SOLUTIONS

career readiness.” comprehension, increasing complexity Many education publishers and over time, until she feels comfortable with educators in UK schools already use reading 1300L texts. Lexile measures. Results from reading In all, four hundred high interest, high assessments that gauge an individual’s demand jobs have been identified through reading ability are then used by teachers the O*NET programme, which collects and pupils to monitor progress, set reading statistics and characteristics of jobs across goals, and efficiently target reading practice a host of industries, and we have measured by matching the reading level of a text the complexity of materials used regularly to the ability level of a pupil, in order to in these jobs. facilitate reading growth. If our aim is genuinely to support But if, like US schools, we knew the exact students in effectively and fully achieving level of reading ability required for specific their career objectives, while also helping careers, or further education courses, pupils employers find the right people with the could be armed with the knowledge not right skills, identifying the precise literacy only of exactly what their ability is, but requirements for courses and employment also what level of skills is relevant to their options could make a huge difference. personal goals. A reading growth trajectory By taking a more analytical approach to could then be plotted that would be unique education, teachers will be better equipped to the individual and their chosen course to ensure their pupils are ready for the next or career. chapter of their lives.

A perfect match At MetaMetrics we are continuing to work with colleges, universities and employers to assess the level of reading ability required by each course or job. For example, a 16-year-old future video game designer can be informed that she ABOUT THE AUTHOR 95 will need a reading ability of 1300L to Laura Bush is program successfully function in her chosen career. manager, Global Services, at If she and her teacher know that she is MetaMetrics struggling with 1100L texts, they can target her reading practice to strengthen her

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Over thirty years, the Lexile Framework has been linked to numerous reading assessments in use around the world. Because many book publishers report Lexile measures for their titles, educators can use a student’s Lexile measure to connect them with reading materials with an optimum level of challenge. A benefit of the Lexile Framework is that it accounts for the fact that each pupil has their own ‘optimum’. A native English student with a love of reading could be targeted at a 75% comprehension rate, making use of their excitement to stretch their skills. At the same time a student new to the language could be targeted at a 96% match to reinforce new skills and build confidence. This targeted, ‘just right’, match facilitates reading growth.

More than 200 publishers and digital platforms, including Pearson, Scholastic, McGraw Hill, Achieve3000 and HarperCollins have adopted the Lexile Framework of Reading. Over 200,000 books, and tens of millions of articles have received Lexile measures. For example, The BFG by Roald Dahl has a text complexity of 700L while J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is of an 860L level.

teachwire.net

pp 94-95 - metametrix.indd 2 28/07/2017 13:00 We need to talk about STORAGE The digital revolution can create practical challenges for classroom design, says Richard Picking – but there are creative solutions out there...

96

teachwire.net SCHOOL SOLUTIONS

ne of the key challenges are very tech-savvy, with technology in education is how to being a large part of their day-to-day lives. incorporate modern Mobile devices can be used both inside technology into the classroom, and outside the classroom and the need to without loss to the aesthetics ensure these devices are always charged Oor the fundamentals of good order. and ready to use is key to managing ‘Everything in its place’ may be a lessons and preparing ahead. time-honoured phrase but the proliferation As a consequence, there is a requirement of information, communications and the for storage solutions that can sync and attendant increase in powerful, expensive charge tablets quickly and efficiently devices has only underlined the validity of to ensure they are ready for use again, the message. whilst at the same time providing a secure With many decades of experience in and safe way to store the devices and fit the education sector to draw on, Gratnells seamlessly into the learning environment, (where I am international marketing blending with existing classroom furniture. director) has developed an approach over Key factors that need to be taken into the last few years called ‘Learning Rooms’, account when considering the purchase of which takes this challenge on and aims storage and charging solutions have been to transform the environment in which identified as functionality, mobility, safety, teachers teach and learners learn. security, storage and ease of use. The inextricable link between the learning Beyond the important functional environment and the performance of aspects of the technology, there is also an those within it, as embodied in ‘The Third opportunity to explore aesthetics. Colour, Teacher’ concept attributed to the Reggio design and integration with other physical Emilia ethos, is now well documented, aspects of the learning room are subjects with support from the likes of Professor that are attracting more and more time Peter Barrett and the Clever Classrooms and research. The link between classroom report of the HEAD project. The relentless ambience and learner performance is now march of the digital technologies requires widely accepted. a continual re-evaluation of the spaces in which children learn and teachers teach; Opportunities ahead Ken Robinson in his acclaimed collaborative Far from seeing technology as a threat, 97 work with Lou Aronica entitled ‘Creative much of the education sector is gleefully Schools – Revolutionising Education from embracing the power of the digital era. the Ground Up’ says: Providers, recognising the potential and “Virtually every day there are new tools size of the market, will respond accordingly. for learning and creative work in all sorts According to BESA Research Data the UK of disciplines and new programs and Education budget in 2015 was just over platforms that can help to customise £90 billion with between £400 million and education for every learner.” £2 billion available to spend on resources and services. 40% of that total was The rise of the tablet a revolutionary event in its time, the current accounted for by ‘digital resources’. In practical terms, however, we cannot rate of adoption of the new technologies in While schools may well have defined re-design, re-build, re-configure and schools must be a matter of wonder. The policies about what digital and electronic re-equip our classrooms with anything like launch of the iPad in 2010 enabled students equipment can and can’t be taken into the same regularity. What smart providers and teachers to create unique opportunities the classroom, there is a clear case for must do is to provide degrees of flexibility, for personal learning at every level. Tablets additional provision in the digital era. mobility and the capacity to provide have become everyday devices and today’s The digital revolution is transforming cross-over between traditional and new children are born into a world of ‘digital the way children play, access information, methods of storage that maintain harmony immersion’ through the power of touch, communicate and learn. Using space and balance in the learning room. motion and sound. BBC media reported in efficiently in the digital age presents a The rise and rise of technology has 2014 on a study of new technology users fresh set of challenges for everyone from brought power, data, control and increased in 671 state and independent schools – designers and architects through to both efficiency to classrooms both large and almost 70% were regularly using tablets teaching and non-teaching staff in schools. small. Schools and colleges, increasingly and numbers were predicted to more subject to financial accountability but with than double between 2014 and 2016 from perhaps more freedom to operate than 430,000 to 900,000. before, now represent a new opportunity for tech suppliers. One way to take Safe, efficient – and stylish? ABOUT THE AUTHOR advantage of this is for education market Where large groups of learners gather, the Richard Picking is specialists to partner with experts in the ubiquitous availability of phone, tablets and international marketing new technologies. data loggers creates its own market for director at Gratnells For those who remember the ancillary, storage and functional products. introduction of the whiteboard, considered In today’s learning environment, children

teachwire.net Get back in charge of your portable devices Store Keeping track of portable devices - tablets, smartphones and dataloggers - is made easy with Gratnells PowerTrays. They come in two sizes – a deep tray and an extra deep version, and can each store 10 tablets, within existing furniture. Charge Gratnells PowerTrays have integrated USB charging outlets, so the devices charge whilst they are being stored - you’re always ready for class. Sync Up to 10 devices can be easily synced at one time using the integrated USB input port. Compatible with 1000s of USB devices. The PowerTrays come in two sizes – a deep tray and an extra deep version, and can each store 10 tablets. Secure The Gratnells PowerTrolley stores up to White Power three PowerTrays in a secure, lockable Frame Pink unit giving you the power to charge up to 30 devices at once. Fitted with Silver Power Blue lockable castors and available in a number of colours, the PowerTrolley is compatible with standard school and office furniture. The PowerTrolley can adapt to house either 3 tiers Power of deep trays, charging 30 devices at any one time Yellow or 2 tiers of extra deep trays, charging 20 units.

Information and Order Hotline... Tel: 01279 401550 powertray.gratnells.com

POWERTROLLEY full page Ad.indd 1 11/07/2017 15:57

The content within this submission is protected by UK Copyright Law. Content may include original design work, photography, video and animation and remains the copyright of Walters Snowdon Advertising Ltd (incorporating Tregartha Dinnie) and cannot be used or reproduced without the authorisation of the above company. Part of WSA

The content within this submission is protected by UK Copyright Law. Content may include original design work, photography, video and animation and remains the copyright of Walters Snowdon Advertising Ltd (incorporating Tregartha Dinnie) and cannot be used or reproduced without the authorisation of the above company. Part of WSA SCHOOL SOLUTIONS PARTNER CONTENT Why I Love…

Ms Keen, deputy head at Purford Green Primary School, doesn’t want to give her Gratnells PowerTrolley and PowerTray back!

The challenge Purford Green Primary School has 30 iPads, shared between different classes and year groups. The tablets are extremely popular with the learners and this often requires moving up to 20 devices at a time between different locations in the school. Re-charging sometimes takes place in the classroom and each evening all tablets, including a number of storage cases and holders, are removed to the security of a lockable storage 99 room. Recently, a Gratnells PowerTrolley, plus three PowerTrays, were supplied for a six-week placement trial - and passed with flying colours.

The test Use of the Gratnells PowerTrolley and PowerTrays movement – particularly for the trays between classes and was allocated across a children who enjoyed moving charging while learners were number of teachers over the it around and putting it away. accessing and using tablets. six-week period in order to This, combined with the unit’s As a bonus the trays could maximise usage, assessment stability, safety and even be stored within the existing and feedback. Score sheets weight distribution, made it classroom furniture. The small and feedback forms supplied a highly reassuring choice footprint of the trolley was Purford Green Primary by Gratnells were used to for everyday classroom use. identified as a further benefit, School moved into an rate the products across The flexibility of the charging making it unobtrusive and easy extensively remodelled six features: functionality, process was also popular – it to store away securely. building in April 2012 and mobility, safety, security, was found that children could is proud of its excellent storage and ease of use. On easily and independently The conclusion facilities and light, a scale of 1 (high) to 5 (low) access and charge tablets Ms Keen, project leader spacious, well-equipped the kit was rated as very either singly or in groups and deputy head at the classrooms. With its good across no fewer than within trays. school, says, “The Gratnells emphasis on standards, 5 categories, with mobility PowerTrolley/PowerTray skills, challenge and scoring an outstanding The highlights combination will be a real opportunity it was maximum mark. Perhaps most important asset to any school, with its considered a perfect for teaching staff was the manoeuvrability, ease of use, testing ground for the The feedback ability to use and charge flexibility and safety. We loved Gratnells PowerTrolley Users were impressed devices where and when they it, and we don’t want to give and PowerTrays, which with the trolley’s ease of required them, often dividing it back!” passed a six-week trial with flying colours. Find out more at www.powertray.gratnells.com or call 01279 401550

teachwire.net [email protected] www.lapsafe.com 0800 130 3456

Storage and Charging Solutions Whether you are looking to charge laptops, Chromebooks, Microsoft Surface, tablets or similar devices. LapSafe® has the widest range of mobile and fixed solutions designed to meet every need and budget.

Call us now for a FREE demonstration 0800 130 3456

A solution for Solution for every New wall mounted Lifetime Warranty most devices need and budget solutions available on all products

Charging Range Advert.indd 1 04/07/2017 11:46 CREATIVE CPD TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION: IN ASSOCIATION WITH Creative CPD Because great teachers are learners, too...

WHO’S TEACHING THE TEACHERS? So, you’ve been told to step away from the shiny piece of tech. That it will not help your kids learn by itself. That it’s all about how you use the technology. And this is true. But how, you may ask, do you learn that?

Continued Professional Development (CPD) is often lauded as the solution, but who are the providers of this elusive CPD? How do you ensure a one-day training course leads to sustained change? And how do you keep teachers motivated beyond shouting ‘It’s the Future!’? We don’t have all the answers, but here are some alternative ideas, to kick this section off.

The language of opportunity 101 Firstly, the Holy Grail of edtech CPD has not been found yet. Not even on Google. But – there is a lot of sensible, CPD guidance that you may already know about. Research on what CPD has a sustained impact can be applied to tech as much as it is to other useful comparison. Teachers agree that areas of teaching. There are some good all kids should have the chance to see the articles available on this from organisations countryside, the sea or a farm, and that such as the Teacher Development Trust many pupils won’t get this at home. But 90.5% (see page 106 of this magazine) and Stone that doesn’t mean all teachers need to love to get you started, but don’t expect a quick of education camping, or run camping trips. Schools can fix. It’s about clear vision, keeping learning professionals think be creative about how they ensure all pupils outcomes central, motivating for change, access the outdoors – sometimes tapping that using technology and then revisiting and reflecting on into an individual teacher’s enthusiasm, whether you’re having the impact at work is beneficial or sometimes sharing out the load. It is you intended. the same with tech, except less muddy. Source: CV-Library Secondly, if continually talking about the The journey to embedding a culture of future isn’t motivating your teachers – try technology might be just as arduous as an the language of opportunity and closing JOIN THE SHOW expedition, but equally rewarding when the gap. At the moment, without school you get there. The replacement of RAISEonline with support, it is the children whose families’ a slimmed down package will bring a can afford it that will end up becoming Michael new set of challenges for schools and most tech literate, and ultimately benefit Mann, senior Inspectors. From September, a series from the vast growth in technology jobs. programme of FFT roadshows are being held across A school that is committed to educating manager for the country, which will outline the key its children for technology can help close education at changes and look at how FFT Aspire that gap. Nesta can be used in combination with the DfE’s replacement system to ensure Play to your strengths that schools can effectively evaluate Finally, remember that not all of you their performance and measure teachers will end up loving tech, and progress. Find out more and book your that’s OK. Outdoor education can be a place at tinyurl.com/fftroadshows

teachwire.net CREATIVE CPD

102 TECHNOLOGY IS CENTRAL

From a distraction to a learning tool – Craig Ring explains how Rooks Heath College is embracing BYOD in the classroom

or as long as there have been that every teacher who is reluctant to mobile phones, there have been introduce students who will be distracted allow devices into their classroom is simply by them in the classroom. I a technophobe. have seen it myself, and I doubt Fthere’s a teacher out there who hasn’t The digital skills desert wanted to throw a device out of a window But there are significant benefits to a more for disrupting their class. This animosity flexible approach to personal tech in the between teachers and mobile tech has classroom – where BYOD is embraced and been reflected in many school phone students are taught how to use devices policies - keep it switched off, in your bag appropriately and effectively to enhance or in your locker. their learning. Despite embracing technology in the My school; Rooks Heath in Harrow, classroom, and as a proponent of the agrees. Continuing a project which began concept of ‘Bring Your Own Device’ I can life in the music department, the school is understand why schools, including my now intending to move from a school-wide own, may be nervous of replacing ban on personal devices to a BYOD model. textbooks with tablets. As Pastoral Leader Our students are already using mobile tech for Year 7 I have seen my fair share of tech in their lives outside school. They misuse, and it would be unfair to assume communicate using video, WhatsApp, audio clips and through sharing pictures –

teachwire.net TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION: IN ASSOCIATION WITH

“ As pastoral leader for Year 7 I have seen my fair

share of tech misuse” 103

and these multi-channel collaboration skills pressingly, for support staff and success. For example, parents can be the can be transferred to the classroom. management – BYOD can feel like most fearful group when it comes to new Technology is central to the learning relinquishing control. Which is why my technologies – but can also be the biggest experience, helping students to work advice for schools is to establish clear advocates, as long as they can see how it flexibly, hone investigative problem-solving guidelines from the outset, to ensure that can benefit them, and their relationship skills and connect easily with teachers and any BYOD policy is controlled and useful. with the school. A more flexible approach peers – and BYOD is just part of this. At This will also help address security and to communications technology can bring Rooks Heath, BYOD will form part of a privacy concerns – key considerations parents and children closer together, and wider student-centred approach to tech when implementing any new policy. allow parents to play a more active role in adoption. We use Canvas, a cloud-native their children’s learning – and it’s vital that Virtual Learning Environment, to power a Clear objectives are crucial we demonstrate this. tech-enabled approach to better learning. Establishing firm objectives is also crucial. So, by being clear on policies, rigorous of Adopting a flexible approach to delivery of Put simply, technology for technology’s setting objectives and by being open and learning, powered by Canvas (and which sake is bound to fail. If you can’t say, ‘I want communicative with all parties, BYOD can will include BYOD) means that students can BYOD to do XYZ, and this is how we’ll use deliver real benefits to the classroom. And learn anytime, anywhere, just as they personal tech in the classroom’ – then we’re looking forward to reaping these would do in the real world. simply, don’t do it. And, equally important, rewards at Rooks Heath. schools must get better at evaluating Turning a BYOD approach whether they have achieved significant into reality return on their investment on an ongoing But while many can see the potential basis. Setting rigorous objectives and key benefits of BYOD, for many, including us, performance indicators is crucial, as is turning theory to reality is a longer process. making sure that you’re achieving what ABOUT THE AUTHOR Our BYOD strategy is still in its infancy, and you want to from the get-go. while we hope to reap the rewards of a Lastly, to ensure the success of BYOD at Craig Ring is pastoral more flexible approach, planning and Rooks Heath, we’re looking to widen leader for Year 7 and head implementation does take some time. engagement and involve all interested of Canvas at Rooks Heath For teachers – and perhaps more parties in making sure the policy is a College, Harrow.

teachwire.net CREATIVE CPD PARTNER CONTENT Q&A: TRAININGTOOLZ Kirsty Collinson suggests an innovative alternative for whole-school CPD

T&I Why is it so important training is no mean feat and is invariably for schools to be able to take going to impact on the teachers already control of their own in-service packed timetable. By comparison, online staff training? training can be created once and then KC Schools have an ever expanding completed by the trainee at a time that can quickly provide evidence of the activity requirement for mandatory training, from is convenient to them. No need to book that has taken place in your school. recruitment and induction to safeguarding people and resources, saving both time and CPD. And it’s not just teachers who and money. It also means that the training How easy is TrainingToolz to use have the legal requirement to participate; can be repeated as and when required for It can be mastered in minutes. The non-contact staff, contractors and new starters etc. platform is intuitively designed with all governors all have a requirement set out the features needed to create effective by the DfE to undertake various courses. How can TrainingToolz.com training courses - no need for a degree in To buy all this training in would not only be support this process? design or technology! Simply add content, logistically challenging, but hugely expensive, TrainingToolz allows schools to quickly videos, images and questions into the so schools are turning to their own staff to and easily convert their training material template and hey presto, you have a create and deliver peer-to-peer training. into an online course to share with their training assignment ready to go. It doesn’t colleagues. The platform is also flexible, even cost anything to get started. You can What are the benefits of online so you can create tests, quizzes, surveys create your courses at your own pace and training for schools in term of – any kind of interactive communication. don’t need to activate a paid subscription time? And budgets? This also makes it perfect for policy until you are ready to start training. Even Getting all the relevant members of staff in distribution. Not only that, but because then, it’s only £25 per month. one place at one time to conduct internal the all the content is tracked online, you

www.trainingtoolz.com Call: 0113 868 0403 Email: [email protected] 104

teachwire.net CREATIVE CPD Q&A: E-SAFETY SUPPORT PARTNER CONTENT Tina Elson explains how to ensure you are meeting DfE safeguarding requirements

T&I How can e-safetysupport. reputation. That’s why we offer a range of Would you say that com help schools meet the DfE's resources from age-appropriate lesson and e-safetysupport.com is a popular safeguarding requirements? assembly plans, e-safety training for staff and cost-effective solution? TE Safeguarding and promoting with additional guidance on their personal We have been delighted with the success of the welfare of children is everyone’s and professional use of social media sites E-safety Support. DfE requirements include responsibility. E-safety is a significant part through to tools for SLTs that allow them staff training and our membership has grown of the overall safeguarding picture which to assess current understanding and set to 15,000 and we have seen over 88,000 is detailed in the DfE Keeping Children effective policies for their individual school. online training courses completed by our Safe in Education, Guidance for Schools members to date. Our staff training alone and Colleges. To help schools identify key What about other stakeholders, has the potential to save schools thousands e-safety requirements from the guidance, like governors and parents? of pounds in training costs – fixed price we've compiled a checklist for schools. This It is important to consider that the DfE membership offers members unlimited use can be used as a starting point or an aid guidance states that “This statutory of the various online training courses along to reviewing current policy and practice. guidance should be read and followed with access to all our e-safety resources. Our From there, schools can go on to using our by governing bodies”. Ofsted has placed annual membership for primary schools is e-safety resources, in particular, our suite of greater emphasis on effective governorship just £349 and for a secondary just £599. CPD certified e-safety training for staff. in this area. Effective engagement with parents is also an important consideration What else does it have as they are in a key position to spot signs of to offer schools? safeguarding issues including radicalisation E-safety is more than just educating for example. This is why we offer bespoke young people, it’s also about protecting governor and parent training as part of our staff and maintaining the school's online membership package.

Visit: www.e-safetysupport.com Call:0113 360 7838 Email: [email protected] 105

teachwire.net Could technology improve your practice?

David Weston suggests five ways to bring your school’s CPD programme up to date – and fit for the future

106

ll of us who work in schools like IRIS Connect, Lesson Box, Star Lesson application of technology to assessment. want to unlock the potential and Swivl often have remote microphones Teachers can use, for example, hand-held in our students and which the teacher can wear, and have class devices to get quick feedback about colleagues. Frustratingly, systems which allow the teacher to control how effectively students are learning. it’s easy to pour in effort who has access to any clips. They can buy in nationally standardised Abut see little change. But studies have The second role is to capture practice and flexible tests to give objective and demonstrated time and again that in action and use it to prompt reflection, benchmarked information about students’ one powerful key is carefully-designed to raise expectations and to challenge attainment and progress. They can utilise continuing professional development (CPD). orthodoxies. Teachers tend to enjoy online tools to carry out comparative Here are five fantastic technologies watching short clips of classrooms in action to unleash the best in your school’s and compare to their own experiences. CPD programme. When we are inexperienced with something, video can be a really “There are many VIDEO useful tool to watch and copy – novice learners benefit the most online communities 1 Video can play two powerful roles. Firstly, teachers can video their from worked examples. own practice to give themselves a new where teachers perspective on what’s going on in the ASSESSMENT AND connect, share and classroom. The danger is that we become 2 EVALUATION TOOLS too focused on ourselves and not enough Effective teacher learning focuses debate. This has on what students are doing. However, with on the impact on students. The most practice and support, and when combined powerful questions that teachers been an incredibly with evidence from student work, video can can ask themselves are: “what will be powerfully embedded into CPD. students’ learning look like when my powerful catalyst Key tips are: to make sure that teachers own learning has been a success?” feel real ownership of any video that is and, “have I made a difference yet?” to the movement of taken, that trust is high and that the quality One of the most exciting areas in of audio captured is good enough. Systems education technology, for me, is the ideas and thinking.”

teachwire.net CREATIVE CPD

judgement – a fantastic approach to ONLINE CPD COURSES marking essays and harder-to-define tasks. 5 With school budgets increasingly Put this together and you can put tight, many schools and CPD providers ABOUT THE AUTHOR technology-enabled assessment at the are exploring the option of engaging in David Weston is the Chief heart of great teacher learning. This can online training. There are a huge number Executive of the Teacher help decide the focus of the CPD, empower of courses available, many of which are Development Trust participants to evaluate their own impact free, and which can open new avenues (TDTrust.org). A former and produce valuable data for mentors and for training. science and maths teacher, he was facilitators to guide the process. This sort of CPD requires careful thought. also Chair of the Department for A motivated teacher using a high quality Education’s Teachers’ Professional SHARED DOCUMENTS course can use it to think about new ideas. Development Expert Group. Follow 3 Technologies such as Google Docs However, engaging only online is unlikely David on Twitter at @informed_edu and Microsoft Office 365 have opened up to be sufficient to deeply impact ingrained and the TDT at @TeacherDevTrust. powerful, yet simple ways of collaborating. thinking or habitual classroom practice. Teachers can work together on a single, An online course should, therefore, only shared document which they can all edit be seen as one ingredient in a wider simultaneously, no matter where in the programme of teacher learning. Another world they are. issue can be that, without any visible peer IN CONCLUSION… This opens up exciting possibilities in CPD. influences, it becomes very easy to engage Technology holds huge promise; it Firstly, teachers can collaboratively plan only superficially or to drop out entirely. could be used to strengthen or even lessons, splitting the task up while keeping The flip-side is that teachers may feel safer transform teachers’ experience of everything organised. Secondly, multiple to engage in learning online than in person. If CPD. While no panacea, these five observers can then comment on the lesson I feel that my behaviour management is poor approaches have the potential to by adding notes to the plan in real time, and would feel vulnerable to admit it then impact deeply on your school’s CPD. during the observation. Finally, expert I may feel more inclined to seek out advice practitioners and advisers can give their online with relative anonymity. This is, of input, both on the lesson plan and on any course, a sticking plaster to a deeper problem images of work or clips of video captured of trust and culture, but it could be helpful in from the lesson. some circumstances. Importantly, this sort of technology helps 107 to structure conversations and facilitate more effective collaboration. It ensures that records are kept and that the evolution of the document can be reviewed as an aid to later reflection.

SOCIAL MEDIA 4 There are many online communities where teachers connect, share and debate. This has been an incredibly powerful catalyst to the movement of ideas and thinking. Twitter is probably the highest profile discussion medium in the UK, with debates and blogs being shared that are highly influential within schools and the wider education system. Many teachers, myself included, have really felt that the world has opened up by joining in such discussions. You can get much more immediate access to leading thinking and can watch detailed debate taking place. The downside is that ‘tribes’ form rather easily on social media – Twitter is certainly no exception. However, with an open mind and a determined approach of always exploring the ideas which you find the most challenging, teachers can use Twitter to access thinking which would otherwise be hidden. Many teachers engage in blogging about things that they have tried, research they’ve read or debates in which they’ve been engaged.

teachwire.net STRESSED? There’s an app for that now…

If you’re feeling under pressure (and what teacher isn’t?), your smartphone could offer a 108 surprising source of support

t is a well-known fact that as soon as there is a half term holiday, teachers get sick. And there is apparently a scientific reason for this: teachers are under enormous pressure; they Iwork evenings and weekends and don’t get the chance to recharge their batteries, so they develop what is known as ‘cumulative fatigue’. Once they switch off, their immune system downs tools and they catch everything that’s going. Teachers often don’t recognise that they are stressed. They feel anxious, they can’t sleep, they worry about their health – but often don’t know why. Mental health professionals have long waiting lists so, while some teachers might go to a doctor to get a prescription, many more self-medicate with alcohol, recreational drugs or comfort eating. Teaching is not a healthy profession. Apps won’t replace professional human help, but they are available 24/7 and offer access to information and a range of helpful tools that let people track moods and find ways of being more in control.

teachwire.net

pp 108-109 teacher stree.indd 1 28/07/2017 09:52 CREATIVE CPD

Take control three days with an online platform and an Some of the most effective and widely app to use back at base. Teachers use an used apps have come from the corporate Emotional Barometer to measure their own SIX WAYS APPS world. David Brudö, co-founder and energy levels and those in their classes. CAN HELP: CEO of Remente (remente.com), noted “The app is fantastic; quick and easy that in Sweden, mental concerns were to use,” says Ruth Cole from Blackheath 1. Identify the source of the stress the most common reason for sick leave. High School. “It has caused a real buzz Pacifica (iOS and Android) lets you While professional help was more readily and people have enjoyed discussing the track your daily activities by writing available than in the UK, he wanted, “a different tools and their feelings.” or via audio. The app then helps resource solely dedicated to preventative Apps are largely unregulated – and of you understand what activities measures and to maintaining the wellness course, some are a waste of time; but on might be triggering different moods of the mind.” Remente helps people assess the other hand they are cheap, or even free and emotions, especially stress how happy they are with life, identify the in many cases, so there is every incentive and anxiety. areas that they want to improve, and to shop around and try different ones. 2. Use mood trackers to keep a note set realistic tasks to be completed on a Here are a few that come recommended of times daily and long-term basis. Remente is by teachers (who have asked to remain For example, iMoodJournal (iOS recommended both for individuals and anonymous): and Android). organisations, and is free to download from “MindShift (iOS and Android) helped me 3. Gain control the App Store (where it received a Best New to work out what caused anxiety. Some Use a planner app such as Owaves App Feature) and Google Play. were obvious: my Tuesday afternoon class! (owaves.com). It reduces stress by Hear and Now (biobeats.com/ Others less so, like being with people I didn’t letting people visualise how they will hearandnow) is a biometric app which know well. It has helped me identify how spend their day. helps users to be aware of and to take and when my thoughts are racing, and 4. Improve your sleep patterns control of their stress physiologically, slow them down.” Try sleepcycle.com; your phone using their smartphone. It was trialled with “I like Headspace, (headspace.com) a analyses your sleep, graphs banking giant BNP Paribas. On average, mindfulness app where you start with patterns, and wakes you up in the each participant’s physiological stress was ten-minute meditations and build up. 109 lightest sleep. reduced by 23% within 15 minutes of using Like yoga, this helps you manage stress 5. Prevent harmful behaviours the app and a 10% reduction was still in and they offer different visualisations and Highly recommended, Calm Halm effect 75 minutes later. cartoons for those not good at visualising.” (stem4.org.uk/calmharm) provides “Stress releases the fight or flight “SAM (sam-app.org.uk) lets you track tasks that help users resist or hormone,” explains David Plans, CEO and control worries and users can share manage the urge to self-harm of BioBeats. “It is a survival mechanism feelings with others using the app. It was and it’s completely private and and teachers may be faced with real the Best Anxiety App 2016 chosen by password protected. or perceived threats to their well-being Healthline. I like the fact that it was created 6. Break bad habits every day at school. If their response is by University of the West of England; it Drinking or smoking and other left unchecked, individuals will develop makes me feel it is more professional than unhealthy pastimes are examples symptoms of stress such as sleep some of the others.” of distraction/reward/avoidance disturbances, headaches, poor resistance to “Buddha Quotes with Music is free on behaviour. Bad habits are hard to infections, restlessness and even the AppStore (bit.ly/BuddhaQuotesMusic- break, but new generation apps use panic attacks.” iOS). Some of the music sounds like an afternoon Danielle Steele movie but there techniques that can make the task are chants that work for me.” a little easier. Kwit (iOS) makes Training and support a game of giving up smoking; In some cases, an app is just part of DrinkAware (iOS and Android) tracks the service offered. The Positive Group units and calories. (positivegroup.org) runs courses for teachers and students aimed at boosting psychological well-being and resilience. They have been running a programme for schools from The Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) showing teachers how to roll out the methods to their pupils. So far, they have worked with 25 teachers,

nine schools and over 1000 students. The training consists of four modules over

teachwire.net

pp 108-109 teacher stree.indd 2 28/07/2017 09:52

The Help Desk Naace CEO Mark Chambers addresses your queries about technology in the classroom - and beyond it

Mark I accepted my first teaching post (English) in September 2016. My NQT year has Chambers been pretty successful. However, there’s one part of the job that I’m struggling 110 with: I seem to spend a vast amount of my ‘free’ time dealing with emails – is CEO of from colleagues, leaders, parents and the students themselves. As a school, we Naace – the Q prioritise great communication; but I am starting to dread every time I check my National inbox, and am spending longer and longer during the evenings and weekends tackling all the Association queries that come my way. How can I stop this ‘creep’ into my personal time, without letting for all those down the people who are approaching me with genuine issues that need my attention? interested in technology in education. Naace is a Struggling with work life balance is a challenge that many of us share, and being disciplined community of educators, enough to rescue some of your personal time requires careful planning. Here are some tips that technologists and policy you may wish to consider: makers who share a vision for the role of technology • If you are not already familiar with them, spend some time getting to know all features that your mail box offers; it will be time well spent! in advancing education. • Make use of mailbox rules to forward emails from specific users or subjects to designated Members benefit from a great folders. This helps reduce that feeling of ‘drowning’ in messages and makes it easier range of industry discounts to prioritise. and shared knowledge: • Get rid of junk mail by marking it as such when it first arrives to avoid it in the future. + Support through • Can you identify patterns in the type and frequency of enquiries? Are there alternative community, networking & ways of offering a response? Could you set up some FAQs on a profile, or host a Skype session or discussion forum? collaboration • Add a friendly out of office message reassuring readers that you have received the + Career enhancing email but will get back ; and consider using opportunities the ‘forward’ button or adding links to responses to + Instant access to a ‘empower’ others to support each other (students/ wealth of online resources staff), rather than answering everything yourself. + Naace member exclusive • Prioritise to whom you feel you must respond during evenings/weekends, and stick with this; plan in some opportunities Representation distinct, phone-free time, too. nationally & internationally. If communication is a key priority for your school, then having Find out more, and join, at a whole school communication strategy is key. This should www.naace.co.uk/join give due consideration to the work-life balance of staff as well as considering the communication tools available and how they can be used most effectively.

teachwire.net

pp 110-111 The help desk.indd 1 28/07/2017 09:27

CREATIVE CPD

We had a new principal take over leadership of our school last year, and he has (rightly) been very focused on improving the consistency of teaching since his arrival – something that was highlighted as a concern Q in our last Ofsted inspection. His latest suggestion is different demands on the learning that we have cameras installed in some classrooms, so that lessons institution; its philosophy, pedagogy and can be recorded for training purposes. I am deeply uncomfortable about this idea; is it really something that’s widely recommended policy all need to be radically altered if the these days, as he insists? And if so, are there any rules/boundaries we, the community is to engage purposefully with teaching staff, could and should request are in place? BYOD in preference to 1:1 In a BYOD solution, most students will Your headteacher is correct, video is an incredibly powerful tool for professional have their own devices and school can development. However, there are some key questions that should be asked prior to any make sure that others do to ensure system being implemented so that you and your students are protected. For example: equitable access; young people will be • Has the new principal made provision for compliance with the Data Protection Act? more comfortable using their personal Is the supplier of the equipment aware and ready for the changes to this that will device and support will be far more cost become enforceable from May 2018? effective. There is evidence that learning • Is it a guarantee that videos will not be recorded or shared with any other party out of school can increase hugely and without the express permission of the subject of that video? How will your “right to that positive interaction with their peers be forgotten” be guaranteed? and with teachers can yield significant 111 • Is the new principal developing a Code of Practice that the community can discuss benefits to achievement. However, school and own before any recording is considered? will need to work hard at reducing • Is it the case that the system may be used, with the teacher’s permission, for inequality, at ensuring appropriate use, collaboration, coaching and enquiry learning, and remains under control of the purposeful student engagement, classroom individual teacher at allstages and in all circumstances? management, and managing compatibility Video for professional development is not a backdoor to surveillance; it can be the issues as they arise. focus of a vibrant and inclusive community of practice that is hugely beneficial to the In a 1:1 solution all students will have their individual and consequently to the school. However, this won’t be achieved simply by own device and all applications will work (if installing tech; far more will need to be done, including the provision of appropriate the technical support is effective, training, safeguarding and policy. It’s impossible here to cover all aspects of this exciting appropriate resourced and trained). The technology – but with careful planning, community engagement and a clear purpose and installed base will be easier to support and focus to the installation your principal may well be onto something that has the potential maintain technically, and some of the same to help the school progress to the next level. benefits of increased engagement and interaction can be leveraged to improve Our school - an average-sized academy, with no sixth form - is currently outcomes for students. Learning can be considering whether to invest in personal, mobile devices for all students, more controlled, and once staff and or to go down the route of a BYOD scheme. What do you think are the pros students have been appropriately trained and cons of each approach? And could a mix of the two ever work? they can become comfortable with their Q devices and begin to realise the potential of their use. However, underpinning this is a First of all it’s important to observe that this conversation should always start with huge replacement and maintenance cost teaching and learning before moving onto the question of which device/technical that, if it is not well managed, will become a approach to take. Considering device first often results in excessive expenditure before cliff off which the initiative will, at some staff truly understand and are engaged with the potential. However, assuming that your point, dive. school has already gone through this process, here are my thoughts:  In fact, the division between BYOD and 1:1 With both approaches, there is an overriding technical consideration, that is, ensuring is somewhat artificial, in that if a 1:1 that the school IT infrastructure is fully capable of supporting it, with appropriate storage approach is being followed it is probably and wireless solutions, safeguarding approaches and security strategies. Without these the case that the school will actively be both approaches are doomed and unfortunately many schools fall over these hurdles. discouraging BYOD – but if the BYOD A commitment to BYOD has to be more than simply a response to financial constraint. approach is being developed than further It is true that schools can fail to recognise the implications of a 1:1 solution, with provision by the school to achieve equitable requirements for replacement and maintenance crippling many a school budget post access will mean that the school is also BSF. However, encouraging the appropriate use of personal devices makes radically committed to 1:1.

teachwire.net INFRASTRUCTURE ESSENTIALS PARTNER CONTENT What lies ahead? If you’re wondering what the future holds for edtech, check out these 10 predictions from the experts at RM Education…

Pupils will expect seamless 1 technology in school Toby Black, managing director As the drive for learning to more closely reflect life becomes greater, pupils will have higher expectations of the technology available to them in the classroom; they’ll expect it to be seamless, as it is in their homes and personal lives.

Peer-led support will form a 2 key part of safeguarding Kat Howard, online safety lead Peer-to-peer mentoring schemes are reinforcing positive and supportive behaviours, and helping pupils to take responsibility for their own online safety. Schools will start to make these schemes accessible to pupils from an earlier age, empowering future learners to be safe online. this because schools are limited to one Using 1:1 devices will become 112 person or one skillset. Outsourcing will 8 standard Machine Learning will be at help schools to reduce costs, future-proof Rachel Baker, network account manager 3 the centre of everything technology, cover absence and transfer The need for affordable 1:1 classroom Mark House, senior product manager the risk to the service provider. devices will see a surge in demand for In truth most schools are using it every such products. day already but are probably not aware. Systems security must The use of technology to share lessons G Suite and o365 use ML extensively in their 6 become more robust and ideas ‘live’ and in real time with other productivity suites to help users get things Silvana Tann, relationship manager schools, companies and establishments done more intelligently. Most exciting is the The prevalence of malware and around the world will become much ability to provide reliable and valid predictions ransomware is a growing cause for more common. to student school performance, and in doing concern, and in an age where data is so so make meaningful interventions. critical, schools need to become rigorous Critical data will be stored in mitigating these kind of attacks. 9 in the cloud We’re all going to need Having remote technical support that Chris Taylor, product manager 4 more bandwidth can detect risks before they reach As we become more security-conscious, Kevin Kong, product manager for your networks, and putting a clear schools will look to store more data in connectivity and ISP services governance policy in place for opening the cloud. Using tools like Google Drive Schools are consuming ever-greater volumes emails, will become more critical to removes the need for memory sticks and of bandwidth – a trend more pronounced system safety. allows teams to access their work in secondary schools due to the widespread in the cloud from anywhere – using adoption of cloud technologies. Bandwidth Flipped learning is here secure passwords. consumption increases by around 40% year- 7 to stay on-year, so it’s will become critical for schools Brian Fahy, RM Unify commercial BYOD schemes will be the to get their infrastructure right to support this. development manager 10 norm The trend towards flipped learning Martin Pipe, head of service Scope & Design Outsourcing will and a more collaborative classroom is Providing that proper planning and the right 5 become inevitable continuing at pace. Online platforms infrastructure are in place, we will begin to Kevin Robinson, services consultant that help to foster collaboration in the see the majority of UK secondary schools While some schools might think it’s more classroom – such as Google Classroom, adopting BYOD in some form as part of a cost effective to run all their IT systems ‘in- One Drive and Microsoft Teams – will wider plan to reduce costs, save time and house’, there are substantial risks in doing become more central to learning. increase engagement.

Find out more at www.rm.com

teachwire.net INFRASTRUCTURE ESSENTIALS TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION: IN ASSOCIATION WITH Infrastructure essentials Keeping your school ahead of the curve

MAKING TECHNOLOGY WORK FOR YOU Just like people, your school’s ICT needs to remain fit, active and well supported in order to maintain a healthy state of performance. When technology works, it is invisible, unlocking more of your valuable time and energy to focus on the teaching and learning issues that matter most.

Put simply, RM exists to support the key educational priorities and challenges faced by UK schools via a range of technology solutions designed to specifically solve these problems. We’ve been doing this for over 40 years, by working closely with schools to really get to the root of the problem and 113 understand how we can help. education. The results were fascinating. Our mission is to make technology work Crucially, the two words that resonated for your teaching and learning needs. It’s most were ‘change’ and ‘challenging’. the thing that drives everything we do. Changes, such as those to the curriculum, examinations and ICT, featured 73% Our solutions prominently, alongside challenges on your of school IT leaders We’re 100% focused on supporting UK people’s time, the quality of teaching and feel their students schools with technology solutions that learning and managing increasingly save money, increase efficiency and help strained budgets. have access to better teachers and learners alike to be devices at home more successful. That’s where we come in. Source: Fujitsu Our seven core solutions are designed to work together to address the key issues, We aren’t just an ICT partner, we are a priorities and challenges facing schools in whole-school partner. We understand the FREE CPD SEMINARS the UK today. It’s why we are fixated on impact and potential of ICT in education understanding things like your school’s and offer a wealth of expertise to help you RM Education has been delivering the RM ambitions, goals and needs whenever we’re develop an ICT strategy that will empower Seminars for over 20 years. With technical in conversation with you and your peers: your teachers to provide outstanding and educational sessions, these free events lessons and help improve outcomes for the focus on topical issues and are perfect for • Fully managed ICT support for education students in your care. a range of school staff, including network • Networks for education managers, SLT, ICT coordinators, teaching • Broadband for education Orlagh Horgan is staff, technicians and inclusion managers. • Online safety for education events manager, • Management Information Systems RM Seminars The RM Seminars include a number of for education regional events throughout November • Teaching and learning 2017, each addressing the greatest • Hardware and devices educational and technological opportunities and challenges facing schools today. Listening and learning together Over the last year, we asked over 1,000 Register your place at the RM Seminars schools to choose one word to describe now – rm.com/rmseminars

teachwire.net INFRASTRUCTURE ESSENTIALS

TURNING CHALLENGES

114 INTO CHILD’S PLAY

Steve Manderson reveals how taking a fresh look at a school’s existing technology can deliver quite surprising results

ll schools face different We know times are hard financially and challenges. Trinity Catholic we make good use of the resources we School, where I work, is have available. no exception. This has worked particularly well with our We are located in one of approach to our technology, in particular Athe most deprived areas of the UK, so our management information system children come to school already facing (MIS), and finding out how we multiple issues that are typical of living in an can make best use of it to help drive inner-city area like Nottingham. We have school improvement. 8% of the cohort on the SEN register, nearly a third on free school meals and more than Using tech to raise attendance half of our children are speaking English as Our excellent teaching and support their second or third language. teams believe that no child should be Despite this, we have over 96% disadvantaged by their background or attendance and a positive Progress 8 score. circumstances. To put this into action, we And when you look around our school and use a huge variety of initiatives to help feel the buzz of energy and purpose. It is support students in their learning. But for clear that our 1,100 students are happy and students to take advantage of all achieving well. we have on offer, we need them to be in One of the reasons is our staff’s positive their classrooms. attitude and their willingness to work Attendance has always been pretty good together as a team, putting the needs of at the school and generally sat above 95%. our children first and going the extra mile. But in my view, 5% is too many students

teachwire.net

pp 114-115 trinity.indd 1 27/07/2017 17:31 TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION: IN ASSOCIATION WITH

not attending lessons. Illness aside, we need students in school, on time, every day to learn. So, we began to think about how to increase attendance further. We had quite a basic registration system at the time and it took around 90 minutes each morning for an attendance lead to complete the paperwork and make any necessary calls home to parents regarding absence or lateness. We decided to take a fresh look at how we could use our existing SIMS MIS to help. We introduced electronic registration in every lesson and this gave us the tools we needed to identify latecomers and absentees more effectively. We now have assistant progress co-ordinators whose role is to review our home that week. attendance information each day. They English and maths. Despite our many Just looking at the achievement levels can quickly see who was off yesterday, challenges, we have a school we are truly for this year alone, I can see that we have who missed a lesson and follow up on proud of – and taking a fresh look at our exceeded 16,000 merits already and any issues with parents. The result is that technology has helped with that. attendance has climbed to within reach incidents of poor behaviour have gone of 97%, which means more children down dramatically. This online merit in school learning. Truanting lessons is system is by far the most effective and almost completely non-existent and on successful reward system we have seen STEVE’S TOP the extremely rare occasions it happens, to date. Importantly, it has cost nothing. pupils are picked up immediately. It is near The motivation in the achievement points TIPS ON USING impossible to get away with it! themselves has been reward enough. TECHNOLOGY The daily collation of data and ring round FOR SCHOOL now takes just 20 minutes each morning, A whole school journey saving over an hour a day which can be Now that we have effective strategies IMPROVEMENT focused on other tasks. Not bad for starters. in place for improving attendance and 115 behaviour, we’ve also started looking at + Look at what technology you how we can involve parents more in their Shifting the focus on behaviour already have available – are you children’s education. Our next step in our quest for improvement sure you know what your existing We have always been used to sending was to tackle low level behavioural issues. systems are capable of? Our students are well behaved generally, pupil reports home electronically twice per year, which is not unusual, of course. but, as with many schools, it is not unusual + Many schools try to tackle all their But we also use the data to show the to have an issue with lesson disruptions key challenges in one go. Take a progression of children in previous years caused by groups or individuals in certain step-by-step approach. Start with too – not just academically, but for lessons on some occasions. attendance, for example, and when behaviour and effort too. This is extremely We used a merit system to reward good you are happy with your progress, powerful and creates the basis for a great behaviour, which although it worked well move on to behaviour. Try not dialogue with parents. was time-consuming and pieces of paper, spread yourself too thinly. for both merits and poor behaviour marks, We had one child, who in Year 7 was among the top 30 students in terms of were getting lost. + A merit system is worth its weight behaviour and achievement. The same Our renewed interest in finding out what in gold, but needs to be simple to report in Year 8 showed that he had our existing technology was capable of manage. It is likely you already have dropped over 100 places, from near top to reaped further rewards as we discovered systems that can help. Use them. the MIS could manage our behaviour and lower middle. This information helped us have a discussion with his parents which, rewards system online for us. We asked + Check out how you can use in turn, prompted the change in behaviour teachers to record details of all incidents any information you are already that was needed. The boy successfully instantly and electronically, as they recording to engage with parents. happened. It took just a couple of clicks finished his GCSEs and is now attending the as the system was already open on their sixth form. I have no doubt that without this desktops following registration. tracking in place, there’s a chance he may After a couple of weeks, we could see that have slipped through the net until much it was really working well. The older children later in his school life and our opportunity in particular would jump through hoops to help would have been diminished. ABOUT THE AUTHOR to get an achievement point. The reason Our approach to overcoming challenges Steve Manderson is an being that all information was sent home means that today, we are thrilled to be assistant headteacher at to parents via text and often a teenager’s able to say that we have amongst the best Trinity Catholic School, request to go to the cinema with friends exam results in the county year on year, Aspley, which is part of the at the weekend was more likely to be met a positive Progress 8 score and 65% of St Barnabas Multi-Academy with a ‘yes’ if a merit or two had been sent our students leave with 5 GCSEs including Trust, Nottingham. teachwire.net

pp 114-115 trinity.indd 2 27/07/2017 17:31 THE CONNECTIVITY CONUNDRUM

Can your school’s current bandwidth provision meet the needs of staff and students? And if so, for how long will that be true, asks Kevin Kong

116

teachwire.net

pp 116-117 connectivity.indd 1 28/07/2017 09:12 INFRASTRUCTURE ESSENTIALS

s a broad trend, schools are Infrastructure Fund to increase access bandwidth consumption in any consuming ever greater to ‘Full Fibre’ broadband in the UK is a establishment increases by 40% year on volumes of bandwidth tremendous first step, but it needs to be a year. Technology and its role in education is for connectivity. This sustainable strategy rather than a one-off. evolving so rapidly, and whatever service or development is considerably solution schools invest in today may not be Amore pronounced in the secondary market, sufficient in three years’ time. Consider the alternatives due largely to the widespread adoption Greater focus should be given to making Broadband is one area where it’s of cloud technologies and schools having the market share fairer by bringing in extremely difficult to accurately plan ahead access to the technical expertise needed to alternative broadband providers to give for usage. Therefore, we recommend that embrace these technologies. consumers additional options to the typical schools concentrate on matching their Cloud technologies have opened up a Openreach or Virgin Media-based solutions. immediate requirements with the most world of potential, but as more elements Companies like Gigaclear, for example, cost-effective solution, but to also ensure of school operations are stored in a cloud directly address the challenges faced by that there is a clear upgrade path in place environment – and as the wealth of rural homes, schools and businesses by to meet their future needs. educational resources on media platforms installing independent fibre infrastructure We’d also advise schools to be wary like Youtube become an increasingly and enabling access to fast and reliable of signing any contracts with broadband important part of the curriculum – the internet connections. Typically, these areas providers that last longer than three years demand for bandwidth and the ability are served by unfeasibly long lengths – this will help to ensure that schools have to stream multiple videos in a live of copper cables – resulting in a subpar the flexibility to expand and scale up their environment is crucial. learning experience for schools. operations without restriction, as and when This demand is as essential for teachers In terms of the impact on our education they need. as it is for learners; if a teacher’s trying to sector, the worst-case scenario would be give a history lesson and asks their class to that if our systems and structures can’t log onto an app or learning platform, they cope with increasing demand, it could need to be confident that the technology ultimately stunt the adoption of new 5 QUESTIONS won’t fail or slow down their lesson. technologies in the classroom – and we SCHOOLS NEED can’t afford to let that happen. TO ASK ABOUT A call for investment From a budgetary perspective, cloud At present, the majority of secondary technologies bring a wealth of benefits CONNECTIVITY schools are paying for bandwidths of to schools and can create significant 117 around 200MB over a 1GB line, which is reductions in operational spend, but they 1. What are your school’s immediate the very minimum that parents, teachers depend on a solid infrastructure and the needs? Do you need faster and pupils should expect. But as technology right broadband solution with the right connections, more bandwidth, or becomes more embedded into pedagogy, safeguarding and security systems in place. greater security on your line? we’re now seeing more schools invest And while it’s understandable for schools 2. Does your school have a line with in 500MB or even 1GB services to allow to be averse to new investments in the enough capacity for all your users to for more concurrent use of cloud-based current climate, technology often requires log on at the same time? platforms and apps. a short-term investment for a long-term 3. Does your school have a backup This is an encouraging trend, but the gain; if schools can get their infrastructure line if the first line goes down? seamless use of technology in secondary right today, they’ll reap the benefits for 4. Does your current contract tie schools is intertwined with the UK’s wider years to come. your school into using one particular infrastructure, and from that perspective, provider or service for more than we’re not exactly leading the way. The Instant improvement three years? If so, can they help you UK currently trails behind our European However, for seriously cash-strapped scale up your broadband provision in counterparts in terms of the affordable schools struggling with connectivity, there the future as and when you need to? availability of high bandwidth solutions. are some simple and effective actions 5. Does your broadband service have Though improving, many areas – that can make immediate improvements; built in safeguarding and security especially rural locations – are ill-equipped a brief internal review of how frequently solutions that tie in with your to cope with increasing demand for faster different online resources are used around school’s policies and protocols? download speeds from our swelling digital the school, and how much capacity they population, and from the growing need for take up, will reveal what’s putting the most on-demand technologies to be available strain on bandwidth. and reliable in the classroom. It could be that during break times, Ultimately, there’s a continuing need Facebook usage peaks, or pupils are ABOUT THE AUTHOR for more government-driven investment watching catch-up shows on Netflix in their into upgrading our national infrastructure lunch hour; activities which can take up Kevin Kong is Product to improve internet coverage and speed significant amounts of bandwidth. Schools Manager for Connectivity across the UK, by increasing the investment can then block or restrict access to these and ISP Services at RM in fibre provisions and continued regulation sites via their firewall or filtering solutions, Education, and has of the fibre market to ensure competitively limiting usage so that pupils can only supported numerous amongst Telcos. access educationally-focused or schools and educational frameworks The recent announcement by the mission-critical apps and platforms. in establishing critical Government of a £400m Digital From what we see, the average infrastructure services.

teachwire.net

pp 116-117 connectivity.indd 2 28/07/2017 09:12 Is your broadband hindering teaching and learning?

As the Internet now plays such a pivotal role in education, the demand for a safe, secure and responsive broadband is now essential. It’s time to join RM Broadband - the fastest growing broadband supplier for schools in the UK.

• Super-fast access to the fantastic teaching and learning resources available • A safe and secure online environment for your school community • A reliable internet connection that you can have confidence in • 24/7 support service

Get in touch

or call us on 0800 046 9802 INFRASTRUCTURE ESSENTIALS PARTNER CONTENT Q&A: CONNECTIVITY RM Education Kevin Kong, Product Manager for Connectivity and ISP Services at RM Education, discusses how schools can make sure they have the connectivity they need for best quality teaching and learning

T&I: Is there still an issue with With the use of online technology the Keeping Children Safe in Education connectivity in schools? Why? constantly on the increase in educational (KCSiE) guidance from the DfE, our filtering KK Schools depend on connectivity for a lot establishments it’s more important solution, RM SafetyNet allows schools to of critical systems but due to both limited than ever that schools partner with a easily differentiate the filtering experience of access to higher bandwidths and shrinking trusted broadband provider that students, staff and groups. budgets, countless establishments are still understands the very distinct needs of missing out on maximising the full potential the education market. Schools should be How complicated is the of the internet. So yes, there is still an issue confident that their service provider can transition for schools likely to be with connectivity in schools. The internet deliver the end user experience that staff from their current provider to RM? offers massive benefits to education, it aids and students need. Transition to RM Broadband is really easy curriculum development, and opens up as each service is managed by a dedicated opportunities to be more efficient, flexible What about online safety – co-ordinator who’s responsible for making the and collaborative. Having access to the how can you support schools in journey as smooth as possible. We’ve been services that the internet offers can even protecting students, whilst still transitioning schools for over 26 years so are allow schools to alleviate financial pressure allowing them to make the most of highly experienced and know how to mitigate 119 in the long run by reducing the complexity the internet as a resource? any issues that may affect telecoms deliveries. of the traditional local network and moving It’s vital that schools have a filtering solution We’ve also designed our services to minimise towards more cloud services. which is flexible enough to support safe the overhead on the schools, for example online learning whilst also protecting against we configure our network so that schools Is it really necessary for content which could be unsuitable or don’t have to change their IP ranges on their schools to look at a specialist disruptive for your school community. network which is a common requirement for broadband provider? Filtering in educational establishments other ISPs. Additionally all our Core services are Put simply, yes. A school broadband has changed dramatically, it used to be a cloud hosted, therefore, the school does not connection requires a high level of matter of locking down almost every site have to install new hardware onsite or have performance, it needs to be fully reliable, as so that staff and students had restricted to worry about the ongoing management of well as provide trusted safety and security access. Now there’s a real need for filtering the services. to protect the infrastructure along with the to be flexible enough to allow users to whole school community. A school’s needs access the wealth of educational resources What do you offer by way of ongoing are based on the delivery of the curriculum, available on the internet. With the focus support for schools that choose RM and the administrative and operational on individual and age appropriate filtering as their broadband provider? requirements of the school. and reporting requirements set out in Operating exclusively in the education sector, we fully understand the specific requirements of schools and have therefore tailored our support service around these. Our support service is available to our customers 24x7, via telephone, email or our online portal. The Service Desk are always available to provide reactive support, additionally your Internet Service will be proactively monitored to ensure optimum uptime is maintained. Our nationwide network of service and account managers provide a personal customer service to our schools. This helps customers achieve the best value and make best use of the services we provide, but also allows them to lean on our experience in the wider education ICT sector to help improve learning outcomes for students.

Visit: www.rm.com/broadband Call: 0800 046 9802 Email: [email protected]

teachwire.net THE FUTURE IS CASHLESS…

120

…so here are some things to bear in mind if your school is still debating making the switch, says Nigel Walker

e might have Speed and capacity numbers justify the extra time, then the got fancy new Of course, the main intention of switching profitability should not be affected. translucent five to cashless catering is generally to make The adoption of cashless systems can pound notes, and getting lunch quicker and simpler for often help improve kitchen efficiency securer-than-ever students. In this way, queues can be overall. An online cashless system will Wdodecagon-shaped one pound coins in create data that can be analysed for reduced and footfall increased. This can the last twelve months, but no amount increase the revenue and profitability of areas of improvement. For example, of state-of-the-art currency is going to the service and help the kitchen work to it can help kitchens identify what is or change the direction in which Britain and maximum capacity. However, schools isn’t popular on their menus, adjust their much of the world is heading. Cashless do need to ensure they actually have workflow accordingly, and control stock solutions are swiftly going to become the resources to cope with an increased better. Systems that allow pre-ordering the norm in most societies. And as far demand – in terms of staff, kitchen also help better manage stock and speed as UK schools are concerned, the use of output and seating. the flow during busy times. cashless catering systems is already very One way of doing this would be by well established. investing in larger kitchen and dining Right for your school For schools that haven’t adopted such facilities. But the quicker and more Of course, even with a cashless solution, a solution yet, what benefits are they affordable option schools might consider students must make a payment – and missing out on – and what things do is staggering lunch times between there’s more than one way to do that at they need to keep in mind when making the year groups. It might mean the the ‘till point’. Schools can decide to provide the switch? dining hall is open for longer, but if the students with PIN codes or passwords

teachwire.net INFRASTRUCTURE ESSENTIALS

to make their payments, or they can use a system based on a smartcard. But many opt for a biometric option, typically 121 a fingerprint. That’s because biometrics have the advantage of using something Inclusivity and funding school premises, so accounts can still students can’t lose, forget, have stolen or Perhaps the number one benefit of be topped up using cash. Failing that, loan to someone else. going cashless is the boost it can give schools should accept cheques sent in by Schools should take time to choose to the take-up of free school meals. parents, and do the topping up for them. the best solution for their situation. There are far too many children out An added bonus is that parents who Perhaps they already use smartcards there, entitled to FSM, who simply don’t buy into the online payments solution for for attendance; the cashless catering get them. Sometimes parents are too catering are likely to be open to using it system could be integrated onto the proud to sign up, or young people feel for other things, too, such as paying for same system. Importantly, schools embarrassed when they receive their school visits, peripatetic music lessons should be prepared to be open with meal for free, while their friends pay. and so on. In this way, cashless catering parents and include them in the decision No child likes to be singled out in this can benefit other school processes, and making process. Through consultation, way. Cashless catering gives users of raise parental engagement. schools can find the best method for their the system their confidentiality back. In short, there’s more to cashless students, keeping in mind the need for Students receive and ‘pay’ for their catering than first meets the eye. While alternatives that help ensure flexibility. school meal in the same way as every getting more children a healthy lunch on And while it’s the students on a other child. This can therefore be used a daily basis will always remain the key day-to-day basis who will benefit most as an encouragement for parents to sign benefit, this kind of system can impact from cashless catering, schools should up – and of course, more take-up of FSM schools in a multitude of ways. And while keep in mind that parents are also big means more pupil premium funding for there’s a number of things that schools winners too, and let them know that. the school. need to consider when making the Parents can top up their child’s account Cashless catering improves inclusivity switch, they can also rest assured that easily from home with cashless catering in that way for free school meal the benefits will most likely go far beyond solutions. They can also keep a close eye entitled students, then; but schools what they might first expect. on what their child is eating, ensuring it also need to be aware that they need fits into a healthy balanced diet. The same to accommodate parents who do not can’t be guaranteed when parents send have a child on free school meals, but ABOUT THE AUTHOR their child to school with lunch money. who might not have the capacity to top Vending machines, the local corner shop, up accounts online from home. Schools Nigel Walker is or even the chippy on the way back should look for solutions that allow for managing director home, often end up as the real recipients PayPoint locations to be used. And cash of BioStore of that cash. loaders should always be available on

teachwire.net

SAVE

IMPROVE LITERACY 20% WITH FOOTBALL

SANJEEV BHASKAR TEACH “Our teachers couldn’t handle cultural baggage” Independent advice from the UK’s top education experts

ALEX QUIGLEY

“Class sizes aren’t HEALTH & the problem” HAPPINESS for you AND SECONDARY your students FORCED TOFAIL Why maths The positive GCSE grades power of don’t work ONLY £12.75 PEER PRESSURE ISSUE 6.5 | £3.99

HOW TO: Prove your , assessment EVERY 4 ISSUES* NO SEX is effective CouldPlease... compulsory SRE actually be a bad move?

72 Lesson Plans: 36 34 ENGLISH judge books by their covers ART combine creativity with politics explore the PLUS! SCIENCE cosmetics MATHS chemistry of TECHNOLOGY MUSIC SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

GREAT REASONS TO SUBSCRIBE

Each issue includes: + Incisive, thought-provoking writing that looks at education from every angle + Regular columnists: Fiona Millar, David Didau, Alex Quigley, Vic Goddard and Tom Starkey + Original, inspiring lesson plans for KS3 and 4 across the curriculum + New ideas for assessment, planning, behaviour management and more + Stories of innovative practice from successful schools throughout the UK + Brilliant resources for today’s teaching and learning + Support for your professional journey at every step of the way

“Teach Secondary is informed, witty ONLY and packed full of articles, lesson ideas and practical advice. There’s even a £12.75 EVERY regular column from me, although don’t 4 ISSUES* let that put you off.” SAVE 20% *terms and conditions apply. See David Didau, online for details. independent education consultant and writer

SUBSCRIBE ONLINE OR BY PHONE www.teachsecondary.com/subscribe 01795 414715 Quote: SOLBASE A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES

Adults often complain about young people being ‘isolated’ by technology – but as educators, we can use it to help them make meaningful, global connections, says Ranjit Singh

eople are constantly looking for new ways to expand their horizons and connect with the world around them. In the year 1300, the invention Pof the compass arrived in Europe; the 1800s saw the development of the first cars and the invention of telephone and 124 radio communications; by 1914, the first commercial flights between St Petersburg and Tampa paved the way for modern air travel; and in 1989, the internet as we know it was born. We are constantly innovating, and this sense of discovery has always been in our DNA, but alongside this is a need to develop global mindsets, which has never been more important than for our young people today. As they move into the future, the social and political landscape between nations and the global economy will inevitably change, so being able to work with people from across a wide variety of cultures, backgrounds and nationalities will be essential.

An immersive environment We often hear that the best way to really understand and learn something is to immerse yourself in it. It’s part of the reason why conversation-based teaching programmes, and actually spending time in a different country, are far more effective for learning languages than phrase repetition. But while it would be fantastic to bring students on around the world field trips, this isn’t realistic or feasible. So, how can we inspire this sense of immersion within schools?

teachwire.net

pp 124-125 mango piece.indd 1 28/07/2017 09:15 INFRASTRUCTURE ESSENTIALS

This is where technology comes in. through a dynamic, real-world landscape The acceleration of edtech and digital where they can explore it themselves. International lesson communications over the last few years ideas to try this year... has allowed teachers and learners to Human contact access a wealth of knowledge and Another important factor to consider in + Classroom field trips inspiration online. As we continue to this is the human aspect of learning. By + Cross-continental and live Q&A make the classroom more digital, we’re talking to others about their experiences sessions using video conferencing establishing the potential to literally bring of life, or their understanding of a subject, + Global research projects the world into the learning space, using the we develop a richer contextual knowledge + Partner exercises through latest technology. and develop a new perspective. In this way, shared documents One of the most interesting communicating with other pupils from developments in this is the increased across the world presents an incredible use of virtual reality (VR) in education. opportunity for enrichment. The most Students are able to use headsets to travel dynamic way of achieving this of course There is a distinct excitement that comes anywhere in the world, without having to is through video conferencing platforms, from this immersive, international mode leave their desks. While this technology is where students can ask each other of learning. Much like the joy of seeing a becoming more affordable, we have a long questions, present ideas and discuss topics letter from your penpal, the thought of way to go before it can be considered as as a group. This means that young people an email or instant message response a go-to in classroom learning. However, who would never usually be able to work from your friends across the world is a there are ways in which schools can together are effectively in the same room, great motivator for young people, and use this type of experience with participating in the same lesson. the development of technology has the technology they already Of course, because of timezones, there made this immediate, so that you’re not have. For example, there may be some difficulty in establishing waiting weeks for a postcard or letter. Your are many 360⁰ videos these sorts of sessions, but that doesn’t pupils could send a message to friends in available online which mean that you can’t create a collaborative Germany, Japan, Australia, or anywhere can be accessed space for these pupils. Using a team else in the world, and have a response through a range of creation platform means that the children waiting for them the very next day! devices, in order can contribute to the same document Technology has given us the ability to guide pupils whenever they can. For instance, you could to forge global friendships and explore run a question and response exercise, new places and cultures from home. By 125 where one class writes a list of questions on encouraging this discovery as part of a topic that the other class answers before education, more and more young people writing their own questions and so on. You will be inspired to travel internationally and could even run this as a partner task, where get involved with worldwide opportunities, two students from different parts of the work and industries. Using the technology world write a project together that they can at our disposal means that we can present to their respective classmates. achieve this from anywhere and across any distance. It is something that should Responsibilities and rewards become a consideration in all schools, Children have a natural affinity for not just to learn languages or understand technology and often know more than cultures, but in a cross-curricular fashion their parents and teachers when it comes to develop a truly collaborative approach to digital content. However, this freedom to learning. The world is huge, and there is to create and communicate does need to still plenty to explore, but the classroom is be guided in terms of digital citizenship to an infinite space, into which we can bring a ensure that they’re behaving responsibly great deal of this wonder. and appropriately online. This is a huge part of their career development as well, simply because they will need to have a positive digital footprint that people, and potential employers, will find if they search their name. This includes what they share with each other on social media, comments ABOUT THE AUTHOR they leave on websites, and their content Ranjit Singh is CEO of on blogs and other online outlets. Working Genee World on this in an international way means that children not only know how to respect people locally, but also those from different backgrounds and cultures, further developing their empathy and their ability to communicate well.

teachwire.net

pp 124-125 mango piece.indd 2 28/07/2017 09:15 ;

126 Better, Safer and More Efficient Electronic visitor management systems are a safeguarding must-have – but can also provide valuable data for school improvement, suggests Alain Squitieri

lectronic sign in and visitor necessary checks completed. sign in systems are having an impact; management systems are a Schools also perform rolling DBS checks for example, when children arrive late it’s relatively new phenomenon in – every three or five years for staff, and easy for them to fall through the gaps education. They came about every three months for onsite contractors. and head straight to class. Schools can due to the increased need to The way in which this is managed differs utilise their sign in system to provide Esafeguard children in schools; but since from school to school, and is usually built late passes, reasons for lateness and get their early inception, they have evolved into up from various legacy processes and photos as evidence to make sure individual much more than just a tool for protection. changing guidance from Ofsted. Because attendance targets are kept well on track. With no concrete guidance from Ofsted, sign in systems can manage a school’s Some schools have even found that by there are a lot of schools panicking that SCR, they can also easily manage when having a sign in solution for late arriving they are not doing enough – or the right DBS checks are due to expire and when pupils it has boosted attendance as Ann thing – when it comes to managing they need to be completed electronically Davey, executive head teacher at Havelock DBS checks. through notifications and alerts. This not Schools Trust, explains: “With the best will Keeping an accurate Single Central only saves administrators a lot of time in the world, lateness does happen. What Record (SCR) for DBS checks is an essential trying to track them manually, it can also we’ve found though, is by having a late sign part of ensuring child safety, but to date, remove a lot of the nerves surrounding in system it’s actually helping to reduce the there is no national guidance on the format DBS management. number of children who are late.” for the SCR. By using a sign in system as The ability to manipulate and utilise this your SCR, schools can ensure that every Attendance tracking attendance information allows schools to visitor and staff member has had the It’s not just safeguarding, though, where provide instant reports, with feedback sent

teachwire.net

pp 126-127 access control.indd 1 28/07/2017 09:18 ;

INFRASTRUCTURE ESSENTIALS

daily to heads of year detailing late arriving As a result, sign in information held at greater flexibility to manage cross site pupils, and means that attendance officers reception in a school often simply doesn’t reporting and means MATs can: have much better access to accurate data correlate with who is actually on site. By • allow staff to roam between sites by when monitoring performance. utilising a school’s existing ID cards, staff passing personnel records from the central 127 can come in at whichever door is easiest database to remote individual school Emergency evacuation for them, they just scan their card and this systems; Accurate data, coupled with an integration accurately shows that they have signed • automatically sign staff out of other into a school’s MIS, gives schools complete in, allowing them to immediately focus on satellite systems when signing in at a new control when it comes to managing teaching and learning. one; emergency evacuation situations. • allow staff to sign into the central Evacuations can be slow, disorganised Multi-site Solutions database and run cross site reporting; and inefficient; but accounting for all We’ve seen a huge change in the education • allow access to all other personnel staff, students and visitors following an landscape in recent years. The formulation features on a cross-site basis; evacuation is critical. Confusion in the of multi-academy trusts (MATs) has meant • have access to a central cross site DBS/ assembly areas can lead to delays in there are now often several people in an personnel list. rescuing anyone trapped in the building, or organisation who work across different With the current economic climate and unnecessary and dangerous search-and- sites, from executive head teachers right the need for technology to do more for less rescue operations. through to facilities managers. With so and be delivered on a tighter budget, sign in No longer do staff have to collect all many staff members in and out across and visitor management systems present the various books to tell them who is multiple sites it can be hard to keep track schools with the opportunity to look beyond onsite - sign in systems can provide all this and know exactly where they are based. their initial capabilities. Schools can take information from one location. Schools By hosting a sign in and visitor the valuable identity information that they can either print a list or access it through management system on a school’s own receive and retain, and repurpose it to help any mobile device. This gives schools real server, or virtually on the cloud, it allows them run better, safer and more efficiently. time information as to who is onsite across communication between systems that are multiple locations. on separate physical networks to facilitate the sharing of data between multiple Staff access systems in real time. In schools with multiple entry points, it can Each individual school system can be difficult for staff to come to the main remain a self-contained unit, reporting ABOUT THE AUTHOR reception to sign in every day, resulting in a various collections of data to one central database. As such, each system can then lot of wasted time being spent wandering Alain Squitieri is Sales be configured in a completely individual the corridors. Because of this, staff often Director at InVentry manner, using different integrations, forget to sign in or out, or just don’t have (inventry.co.uk) the time do it, as getting to class is their modules and settings specific to that site. number one priority. This MAT-centric approach gives schools

teachwire.net

pp 126-127 access control.indd 2 28/07/2017 09:18 Intergrates with...

The Number One Sign In and Visitor Management Solution for Education

Sixth Form Fire Late Pupil MAT DBS Club & Class AM/PM Marks Evacuation Registration Module Checker Registration

www.inventry.co.uk INFRASTRUCTURE ESSENTIALS PARTNER CONTENT The Inside Story Phil Brooke - InVentry Phil Brooke, owner and director of InVentry, has always had a passion for simplifying complex processes using technology, especially when it comes to education.

There are some people who walk into second, but a lot has changed since a new environment and immediately InVentry started out. “It was a real starting thinking of ways to improve things; game changer when we became a finding solutions to problems that no one SIMS partner and provided full read and else has even noticed are an issue. It’s write integration” says Phil. “We were amongst these people that you’ll tend to the first to offer a fully integrated sign find our nation’s entrepreneurs - of whom in system to include late arrivals and Phil Brooke, owner and director of InVentry, early leavers. This information feeds is most certainly one. directly into SIMS, enabling the school’s Phil started his first business while attendance officer to keep on top of the studying at college, offering computing data in a fraction of the time it would and technical support to local primary take to sort it all out manually. In a large schools. He then went on to work as high school, you could be talking about an IT technician in a secondary setting, freeing up three or four hours every day progressing his career until he found for that individual to focus on looking for himself in the role of network manager we’ve developed it so that we’re now patterns, identifying issues, contacting at St John Fisher School, at only 23 years the single central record for DBS checks parents, and so on.” old. It was here that when presented in a school – for both staff and visitors. In As stories of edtech innovation go, with an early version of a tablet, Phil’s the case of the latter, InVentry prints out InVentry is an inspiring example - and innovative use of technology allowed him clear, photographic visitor badges which it’s far from over. “We adopted the cloud 129 to transform an outdated paper based are marked with the correct time, date some time ago to allow our evacuation system, by creating the first ever visitor and purpose of a visit. From a app to access real time information management solution that was designed safeguarding perspective, it means a across multiple devices,” Phil observes. and built specifically for education. school always knows who is onsite at “Now we’re taking it to the next level.” the click of a button.” Phil has big plans for MATs and Room for improvement A simple idea that has revolutionised bringing the system into classrooms, The issue that initially caught Phil’s signing in for schools has not only been allowing teachers to book in their attention while at St John Fisher, was built on hard work, but also the admiration own visitors, for example, or report school safety and the efficiencies of schools who are using it, as Phil explains. incidents directly from their own laptop surrounding it. “Typically,” he explains “In the early days we got recognition or tablet. These aren’t fancy additions “there were several books in a reception because people had seen InVentry in for new customers only, either - Phil area, one for staff, one for pupils and one another school, to this day schools still is clear that once a school signs up for for visitors that all need to be reconciled approach us for the same reason.” InVentry, they become a part of the in case of emergency or just for general development process. “We have a 99.7% verification, all with no visual identification. Leading the way retention rate,” he states, with quiet This was incredibly time-consuming, and Nearly 4,000 schools nationally now pride. “Providing ongoing support and left schools vulnerable. I created InVentry have InVentry, with the system handling improvements, including training, has to deal with these issues, and since then a staggering 49 sign in request every been a key to our success.”

2011 2012 2013 2016

Became the first Introduced MAT First school Launched fire sign in system functionality for receives InVentry evacuation app, to provide full multi-site sign in which began life DBS checking and read and write to support the as visitor and staff late student area integration with changing landscape management only. in InVentry SIMS in education Timeline Highlights

Call: 0113 322 9253 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @InVentryLtd

teachwire.net LAST WORDS IT’S ABOUT THE ACCESS, STUPID!

It’s taken a while, but self-confessed technophobe Julie Murray reckons she’s finally got the point of edtech

’m fairly happy to admit I’m a Luddite. had given her access. I suspect it’s a little bit of hereditary, I think that’s how we need to view a laziness to get to grips with new edtech. Putting aside personal feelings contraptions, and a genuine love of of ‘gimmick’, but also dispassionately analogue things like paper and pens. considering ‘to whom will this give access?’; II’ve never really understood the rise in ‘whose education will this revolutionise?’ video calls on phones for instance. Each daily commute will offer up a fellow Not what, but when passenger complete with phone extended I’ve been to BETT for the last two years, of at arm’s length, walking down the stairs which I (bizarrely?) knew nothing when I of a bus, happily chattering away to their was a teacher. There’s so much there, from buddy. To be honest I find the whole thing resources to teaching tools to software to 130 VR headsets. What strikes me most as I pretty nauseating – but then, I’m rather a of the Tudors or the swing of each wander the miles of stands is that we need miserable person. Reichstag election in Hitler’s rise to power? to stop trying to find the technological A more open world silver bullet in education – we’ve got Everyday innovation them all. Instead we need to focus on However, today I had an epiphany. So, my technophobic view of edtech is when to deploy the different bullets for I walked past a woman, gesticulating essentially this – can we drop the ‘ed’? maximum impact. eagerly into her phone as she made a Technology companies that sell to schools I now kick myself that I didn’t use screen video call in the corner of a train station. seem to have come around to knowing recording software for instance, to record As I neared her, it became clear she was that tech is the means not the end – it explanations of the next KS3 assessment, signing, and that either she, or the person has a place in the teaching toolkit but not so that students – and indeed parents she was calling, was deaf. supremacy over it. I’d like to see things go a – could look at the recording at home, It hit me like lightning, and with some step further though. Rather than focusing rewind and replay it, until they understood degree of shame, that regardless of what on bespoke and specialised devices fulfilling what was needed. Not only would I have I felt about the technology and the uses one or two functions (lordy, when I think saved half a lesson going through the I could make of it in my life, for this of those voting pads which languished in markscheme, but might have received woman or her friend, technology the cupboard year on year!) – and which in higher quality essays in return - which I was revolutionary – it had their own way encourage technophobia – could then discuss with parents who were entirely changed the way they could we instead invest in training teachers better informed and had a firmer idea of interact with people and up to use everyday tech more effectively? what I expected in my assessments. understand the world. And always to ask, when adopting a new It’s not just about access for students, but A relatively small, device, resource or approach: to whom will for teachers too. I hate that I made so little everyday innovation this give educational access? use of Microsoft Office. If I’d known how to properly use pivot tables, and mail merges and track changes, I might have saved myself a whole heap of time monitoring data or emailing parents or getting students to improve essays. Would I have ABOUT THE AUTHOR had to spend hours trawling the internet for Julie Murray is an ex-head resources if I’d known how to put together of history & politics, who a basic animation in PowerPoint that would still retains a keen interest perfectly and visually explain the pendulum in education.

teachwire.net Bringing innovation to your fingertips

Come and visit us at BETT 2018. Stand number B160

Discover a range of interactive solutions designed to enhance learning through collaboration, each built with simplicity and ease of use in mind.

With included software applications such as Avocor Eclipse, our interactive teaching tool and Avocor Note by Nureva, our whiteboarding tool that enables you to create engaging lesson content, along with a 5-year onsite warranty, Avocor is the best cost performance solution for every school environment.

Find out more www.avocor.com/education-solutions

Education_advert_July_203x278.indd 1 18/07/2017 14:28 “The award winning number 1 touchscreen for education”

Clevertouch is an essential part of school life for both you and your students.

Meet the challenges of active learning head-on with Clevertouch. Our panels come packed with apps to allow you and your students to visualise, collaborate and be inspired.

Technology for sharing

clevertouch.com | 020 8319 7777 | [email protected] #clevertouch