How can new technologies improve standards and achievment?

Presentaion To Staff

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This was a presentation given to staff during a recent interview for a Director of E-Learning post. I decided to use pictures to illustrate my points.

From experience, I have found that doing simple things well and using old technologies more effectively (those that have been around for a while but not used effectively to support learning) are the key to transforming learning, especially in schools where the e-learning journey has just begun. The presentation was aimed at the school in question.

The first two slides sum up what I believe to be the fundamental points in developing e-learning: 1. that technology is just a tool in the box and needs to be used appropriately. Also, technology needs to be developed in conjunction with curriculum innovation and in partnership with teachers and pupils. Many thanks to @GeoBlogs for the quote via Twitter. 2. Existing technology is often not used to support learning effectively as staff training, support and guidance has been inadequate. For example, the many interactive whiteboards are just used as a projection surface because their users are not aware of even the simple tools available that can transform learning.

Drawing on inspiration from Doug Belshaw, I pared down my presentation to ABC: Assessment, Behaviour and Collaboration. These are huge areas! I decided to focus upon talking about some simple, accessible (in my view) technology that I have used to transform learning. Also, I have used these myself to improve achievement and standards. The slides were created using Keynote '09 and I used the 'Thumb Through' smart build. I also pointed out that the functions that these free programmes have can be replicated within a VLE.

In a nutshell:

Assessment: I chose the photo of pupils working on an outdoor education task. The picture represents y passion for outdoor learning and the constant feedback that pupils have to give each other to succeed in building a rope bridge over a gorge in Wales. Allowed me to make the point that we should not lose the outdoor experience in favour of technology.

a) improve the quality and frequency of quality feedback to pupils using buzzword.
b) use Slideshare to allow whole classes to provide self and peer assessment
c) using blogs to allow pupils to produce visible work - continuous feedback and assessment

Behaviour: I chose this image to represent a stubborn cow - bit random I must admit! But also made the point that Behaviour is more than just sanction and reward and that if technology id to be used effectively to raise standards a culture change is needed by all stakeholders.
a) Talked about the Vivo reward system an its impact on attendance and behaviour, especially its role in recognising the 'silent majority'
b) Engagement - talked about how giving pupils the choice about how they present work engages pupils. Also talked about how staff should understand and engage with the informal learning spaces of pupils.
c) Audience, technology allows real audiences to be targeted by pupil work.
d) Games based Learning, I spoke briefly about Ollie Bray's excellent primary transition project

Collaboration: This photograph was taken during a team building event. They key to any change is getting simple things right. For example:
a) I spoke about Flashmeetings (for example Geograpy FM started by Tony Cassidy) and how they could be used to connect staff within a large school with limited time to meet. Also, pupils could use the technology to collaborate with international partner schools and their peers on group work. This could all feed into collaborative documents that share best practice and prevent 're-invent-the-wheel syndrome'. This could be used to reach out into the community and to partner schools
b) Personal Learning Networks - I talked about how Twitter can be used to improve CPD - a little every day keeps staff ion touch with developments and develops passion and confidence. I talked about how these can also feed into collaborative documents and gave two excellent examples started by Tony Cassidy and Tom Barrett. I explained how these personal learning networks led to the Cheese on Toast lesson, amongst others. I also suggested that similar technology (Edmodo for example) could be used to connect staff and pupils
c) Blogging - I spoke about how keeping a reflective blog can develop classroom practice and by spending 10-15 minutes a day reading other blogs, practice will improve and develop.

Looking back, I think I should have refined the presentation and maybe talked about something a little bit more ambitious.