17. Mike Russell Cabinet Secretary
16th Michael Russell, Cabinet Secretary for
May
2012
Education & Lifelong Learning
18. iPads for Learning and Teaching
Key 11 EXPERIENCE
Key
To change the culture of the use of ICT
LEAD TEACHERS
Key 22
Key To improve confidence in the use of ICT for
learners, staff, parents
Key 33
Key BUILDING CAPACITY
To promote new behaviours for teaching
PARENTS AS PARTNERS
Key 44
Key
To deepen parental engagement
INFRASTRUCTURE and DEVICES
Key 55
Key To strengthen position on hardware and
infrastructure (including replacement of Glow)
1:1 delivers Michael Russell’s 5 Key Objectives for
ICT
28. Sciennes Primary
Further information
•Sciennes Website: www.sciennes.edin.sch.uk
•Sciennes Website: 1:1 iPads
•Glow> 1:1 Glow Group
CEC Digital Learning Team Blog> http://digitallearningteam.org/
lucy.gallagher@sciennes.edin.sch.uk
Contact
Lucy Gallagher, Depute Headteacher at Sciennes Primary School in Edinburgh.
Sciennes Primary School - large Victorian school located close to the city centre. 640 children in 21 classes. Since last year two classes have 1:1 iPads for school AND home use.
We also have a shared set for four classes
Terminology nomenclature of different devices over years. 1998 high ratio desktops : pupils initially. Consequent reduction in ratios when we upgraded some desktops to laptops BUT massive impact on teacher use of ICT when given access to personal laptop. Looked for long time for smaller, cheaper devices for little hands. Palmtop, PDA, uMPC. In 2007 our 1:1 journey began with Handheld computers. What have we learned? Personal ownership - looked after. Still in good nick.
We learned: Handhelds an apt name. Took a great deal of handholding. No one else using them - lonely toes. Realised then that the device does matter. “ Device agnostic ” ? Seems an even handed phrase, BUT there should still be an opportunity to express and explain a preference of device.
Introduced netbooks in library. No buzz. Not one member of staff asked to borrow. fMPC - fairly mobile. Introduced iPads – ALL keen. Clamouring. Cannot keep up with demand. Why? Why does device matter?
Why have we chosen iPads? Why are there early indications that City of Edinburgh will strongly recommend iPads?
Why iPads? National 1:1 pilot launch last year 14 th March 2012 – also Dad’s 80 th birthday. Ease of use very young to old – P1-P7 – HT, SfL, Janny, PE Teacher. Remarkable. Obviates previous handholding hurdles we experienced in getting beyond the technology to the learning and teaching. Economies - jotters, photocopying, printing ink, paper, books, dictionaries, cameras, video cameras, scanners... Economies of scale??? Why 1:1? One each – school and home use has most impact. Can compare with shared use in 4 classes – 1 each but remain in school and timetabled. Personal is still collaborative.
Started small – 2 then 8 then 16 then class set. Identified champion Wendy French. Wendy directed pace. Another set, so Wendy could have exclusive use with her children. City of Edinburgh provided a third set. Invited to take part in Edinburgh 1:1 pilot – gave us third set. Identified another champion Fiona Barker. Put in P5 and P6. Model is P6/7 but worked in late P5 – implications for best value. 6 month timescale. Planning for our pilot and others in Edinburgh hopefully informed Digital Learning Team ’ s – excellent - 1:1 Toolkit.
Used online project management tool. Different type of CPD has emerged. PLE. Time to collaborate and plan. We already believed project would show proof of concept – Hull University documented and robustly evaluated its success. In Edinburgh pilot schools have all now moved to iPads from Android and Netbooks. Interesting.
Differentiation. Personalised learning. Choice. Personal yes, but mobile learning is also naturally collaborative, in class and beyond. Increased dialogue about learning. Parents more engaged and now see iPad as a learning device. Increased sharing of learning between pupil, parent and school. Still further scope to expand personal contact with families. Still scope to communicate benefits to all of our parents, not just ones in pilot.
Pupils can choose when and where to learn. And how to show learning. We have got to know our children better, and to learn what interests and motivates them by what they pursue at home.
Workflow challenges - array of choice. Need to be open to rapidly changing options. Authorities should be open to teachers choosing online tools they want. Glow Plus hopefully will help and waiting to see what Microsoft 365 will offer. Meanwhile teachers finding eBackpack and wikispaces very useful. Personal Learning Environments emerging naturally. Glow and 1:1 can help one another advance.
Home 1:1 model easier to manage - pupils charge and store at home. Economies here, including time. Not having to worry which iPad has wee Jeannie ’ s work on it. MDM Apple Configurator and Meraki
1:1 holds promise in assessing Curriculum for Excellence - storing evidence of learning and monitoring progress - across levels, at Transitions. Digital solutions obvious for assessment, feedback, moderation and reporting. Pupils need access to personal device to grasp and advance digital solutions. eportfolios available in Glow but… webanywhere looking very enticing
City of Edinburgh exploring webanywhere eportfolios. Looks promising for pupils to record and share wider achievement.
Mike Russell came to Sciennes and was warm and generous with his time, and supportive
1:1 delivers these objectives – Edinburgh has delivered with infrastructure.
City of Edinburgh has had a long held aspiration, now achieved, to facilitate anytime, anywhere learning, as and when required. Infrastructure in place. Designed with anytime anywhere learning in mind.
State of readiness. Next Steps – how to sustain and expand 1:1, to give all our children opportunities?
Leasing? Features in National Procurement Framework. Need an Authority, if not a State, steer. Economies of scale??
This would be useful for iTunes.
Parental buy in to insurance/warranty?
Credit to Cedars School who inspired us and used iTunes U to model practice and share ideas. iTunes U a tantalising way to share practice. Andy Nagle has the vision to see what an impact this could have. Keen to explore.
Hands held – yes, but held together, not dragging. Single –iOS – platform for learning will help us move forward together.
Information available in Glow - search for 1:1 iPad
And on our school website
School contacts and City of Edinburgh Digital Learning Team blog - 1:1 Toolkit