I guess this post is somewhat of a mission statement…
This blog is designed so the team here at School ICT can share ideas about how to use technology more effectively in the classroom. There is absolutely no doubt that technology can have a profound effect on attainment and progress. This comes in two different forms, both of which hold different priorities in modern day education. Firstly, there is discreet computing – a subject that a great many primary teachers find challenging. Subject knowledge can be an issue across KS2 and that leads to low confidence amongst staff. In fact, we don’t think there is a more divisive subject in the curriculum in terms of how children feel about it (wahoo!) and how some staff feel about it (what? help!). This blog will hopefully help to bring those two points of view closer together until staff and pupils are in total harmony and agree that computing is brilliant!
The other side of this coin, and the one most teachers would love to get on board with, is how tech can be used to support core leaning. There are so many websites/blogs around with tips on how to use ICT more successfully across the curriculum but frankly not many of us really have time to sit and have a play with the assorted apps and websites that are recommended to us. It’s unfortunate because when we see new ideas on training days or even hear about them anecdotally we feel inspired to give it a go. But there’s just so many other things to do…
This blog is for the teacher who doesn’t mind giving it a go and is happy to learn collaboratively alongside the pupils in their class. To try out new ideas and see what sticks. To understand that some pupils respond incredibly well to this kind of tech-enhanced learning and progress will happen naturally as a result. To know that using technology smartly is the key and simply putting children on maths games or doing “internet research” is not the answer.
So get ready folks. Ideas will be coming your way… Try out 1 or 2. You never know where it might take you!…
Don’t forget to join us on Twitter to keep up to date with our latest tweets on using technology to support core subjects, reluctant learners and generally have more fun in the classroom.
