On Wednesday 6 March a team of Key Stage 3 parents took the opportunity to come back to school. Signed up to the annual KS3 Digital Learning Walk, they took the chance to hear directly from students and see with their own eyes how the Digital Learning Scheme is implemented at school.
Following an overview of the Digital curriculum and approaches to teaching and learning in Key Stage 3, parents were able to walk a series of lessons and speak to students about their lived experience using technology at school.
We know at Heathfield that our commitment to a curriculum that allows for traditional methods of teaching and learning sits alongside the support of digital technologies. Parents were able to see in lessons that traditional and important skills such as extended writing or memory retention are sometimes enhanced by the use of the iPad and sometimes do not require its use at all. They were also able to see how it enhances inclusion and accessibility as well as reducing workload for all involved, echoing the words of George Couros “Technology will never replace great teachers, but in the hands of great teachers, it’s transformational”.
The feedback from parents on their morning was affirming and valuable, focused on
Accessibility:
- The accessibility functions on the iPad are excellent and I saw how they were used when students were reading and it was useful for students to be able to move between slides of the teachers’ presentations. The ability for students to change the screen colour allows them to discretely meet their needs and gives them a greater sense of independence.
Subject Teaching and Learning:
- I liked the cross-curricular use of the iPad when students were using story-boarding skills in an English lesson focused on Shakespeare. It was great that students had the ability to choose whether to use a Mac or work on their iPad. There was a real sense of using digital technology creatively.
- We saw students working in silence and that is important but what was really great to see was a Science lesson when the students were so excited about the work they were doing that they didn’t even notice us enter the room. There was a real energy. (The class were using a Blooket quiz)
Safety and classroom management
- Students were asked to use the internet but it was wonderfully controlled; the teacher questioned them about what could come up if they simply googled a word and the students could explain the dangers of doing so. It was really nice to hear the teachers saying all the sorts of things that we say as parents at home.
- In English and Science the teachers explained how they can monitor the students activity on the iPad. It is a valuable safeguarding of the students.
- All the students had their iPad facedown when not using them.
General College Culture and Conduct
- There was a really good atmosphere in the College and the guides were lovely.
- I am amazed at the behaviour of the students. They behave very well and it isn’t like when we were at school at all. The way they move around the school ……. is impressive.
Which echoes the Ofsted inspection feedback 18 months ago: “across the school, the judicious use of technology benefits pupils very well. Pupils use their individual devices independently to enhance their understanding”
Mr Hatchard, Assistant Headteacher who organised the event remarked, “I am delighted with the parent learning walk today, Mr Marrows as Apple Distinguished Educator who co-led the event was fantastic, having a school governor on hand was really helpful and the students guides were brilliant as always. However the real power was in the partnership of college and parents, exploring the topic together, having meaningful conversations with staff, seeing lessons first hand and unpicking misconceptions. We are lucky to have such a proactive community”
