- This topic has 36 replies, 23 voices, and was last updated 5 months, 2 weeks ago by
.
-
Posts
-
-
Consider how you can use Digital Technology in your classroom to enhance students learning? How can you now apply School Self Evaluation Guidelines to your teaching? What impact can developing your own use of Digital Technology have at school level (SSE)? Post a reflective piece (150 words minimum) as a reply to this post.
-
I am beginning to be able to engage more with the 3 domains of teaching and learning in primary schools. I hadn’t much experience of the Digital Learning Framework prior to this module. I was aware of our school’s DLF and the implications for my role as a class teacher. We have some great IT experts in our school and they lead our DLF excellently. As a whole-staff and individually, we have engaged with ‘Looking at our School’ and have used the document to inform SSE under the domains of learner outcomes, learner experience, teacher’s individual practice, teacher’s collaborative/collective practice.
Now, I plan to reflect on my own teaching using digital technology. It can feel a little overwhelming when you see how much it encompasses, so I need to take it in small chunks. Naturally, as you stated in this module, we all want to be highly effective, but it is important to be realistic and honest and to genuinely see how we can improve. One central thinking I am gaining from this course is that the use of digital technologies should be focused on the technology enhancing the learning, and not just learning to use digital technology.
Regarding DLF as a whole school approach, I think that this is important and would enhance the cohesiveness of the teaching with technology in our classrooms. However, I know from feedback in general in our staff, that there are so much new curricula, methodologies, planning that teachers feel so overwhelmed – PLC, the new maths curriculum, the Primary Curriculum Framework, planning by outcomes and experiences rather than content. SSE began with selecting 3 targets for one subject in year 1. The aim was to continue with this in year 2 and add another subject; and the same in year 3. The number of targets meant that teaching was in danger of becoming initiative driven. Our DLF was a huge focus during lockdown and the learning curve of all involved does not need to be stated. After lockdowns, the advice was to go back to one subject again and not to overload ourselves. This was such necessary advice, and was welcomed with huge relief from our very hard-working staff. The challenge of trying to include DLF or technology in our SSE is certainly concerning. No doubt that digital technology is the way forward. But everything seems to be a priority and finding the time in a large school to discuss, plan and bring it all together is challenging. I think, at the moment, it has to be led by a small group of teachers with expertise in this area, that the changes have to be natural and almost embedded in our teaching before we document it…This way the SSE/DLF is not so overwhelming.
-
How I can use digital technology in my classroom to enhance learning:
1. Stay familiar with and continue to upskill in the area of assistive technology- immersive reader, type to learn etc
2.Encourage children to express their ideas using digital technology
3. Present work to the students using a variety of digital media in order to enhance engagement withy the material
4. Continue to stay on top of new apps to use to enhance learning
5.Use digital media for record keeping and assessment- eportfolios etc
6. Use digital media to collaborative with colleagues, communicate with students and parents and to invite external speakers
into ther classroom virtually using MS teams or other media
7. Encourage and assist students to access and retrieve information online
How can I apply SSE guidelines to my own teaching?
1. By using the statements of effective practice in the Digital Learning Framework and identifying and comparing my own use of digital technology in my teaching
2. By becoming more familiar with the DLF and SSE and sharing my knowledge with colleagues
3. By embedding digital technologies into my teaching where relevant and useful
4. By engaging in continued refection on my own teaching and use of digital technology and identifying areas where I can improve.
5. By assisting as part of the digital learning team.
What impact can developing your own use of digital technology have at school level?
1. By developing my own use of digital technology I can create digital resources that could be shared with colleagues
and stored and reused in the school
2. I can help new teachers or those who are not confident in their own digital skills
3. I can use technology to collaborative with other teaching staff.
-
Different ways I can use digital technology to enhance learning are: Using presentation platforms such as PowerPoint (or sway) with audio, picture and text to bring interest to a topic. Having a blog to allow parents to see what’s going on. Digital technology can be used to access a wider range of books (online libraries as well as paid subscriptions). Teams will help teacher collaboration of resources and ideas, one note will help with student collaboration during project work. Forms will allow me to assess the children and evaluate, record and monitor their results quickly and effectively.
We are working on Gaeilge at a school level. I have been suggesting that we need to start collaborating and sharing resources more. I think Sway could be a good starting point. The Gaeilge team could add useful links and resources for each theme onto a sway. Each resource/link would have a brief description, meaning you don’t have to waste time looking through resources you don’t need. This would be an easy way to start collaboration and teachers could continue to develop the sway by adding their own resources.
During Croke Park hours; teachers could split into year groups and use one note as a whiteboard for reflective enquiry. This is a great way to collaborate and the facilitators can combine the notes and share and use these to identify commonalities. For example if 6th class are struggling to grasp decimals and 5th class are struggling with fractions you could identify that these issues could be linked.
Gathering evidence from a variety of sources: We were mostly using Drumcondra testing as evidence. However now I can see that forms would be a great additional way of gathering evidence. You could set up tests for each class to identify specific areas that need improving also. What would be great about this is you could continue to test and evaluate more frequently to see where improvements are being made and where further work is needed. These forms are pre graded also and the data is collected for yo. This would make it so quick and easy to continually monitor, evaluate and identify.
By developing my use of technology it will allow the school to use different technologies to collaborate and gather evidence for SSE. -
<span style=”color: #163c42; font-family: ‘Hind Madurai’, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;”>Consider how you can use Digital Technology in your classroom to enhance students learning?</span>
Use of the apps mentioned in this course, e.g. One Note, Excel, PowerPoint etc would enhance students learning. We started using a programme called OLUS Education in the last school year. Each child has their own profile and they can progress through the IT lessons at their own pace. OLUS provides lessons in Digital Literacy, Coding and IT skills. We have found it brilliant and are hoping that as the years go on the children will continue to build on their IT skills and build their confidence in the use of the various programmes.
<span style=”color: #163c42; font-family: ‘Hind Madurai’, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;”>How can you now apply School Self Evaluation Guidelines to your teaching?</span>
In using the SSE guidelines it is a great way to ensure that you are continuously reflecting on your teaching and working to improve. It’s a reminder to evaluate what you’ve done and put a plan in place to make it better next time.
<span style=”color: #163c42; font-family: ‘Hind Madurai’, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;”>What impact can developing your own use of Digital Technology have at school level (SSE)?</span>
In my opinion any and all use of Digital Technology benefits the children in the classrooms. Teachers learn so much from each other also.
-
Consider how you can use Digital Technology in your classroom to enhance students learning?
Use of the apps mentioned in this course, e.g. One Note, Excel, PowerPoint etc would enhance students learning. We started using a programme called OLUS Education in the last school year. Each child has their own profile and they can progress through the IT lessons at their own pace. OLUS provides lessons in Digital Literacy, Coding and IT skills. We have found it brilliant and are hoping that as the years go on the children will continue to build on their IT skills and build their confidence in the use of the various programmes.
How can you now apply School Self Evaluation Guidelines to your teaching?
In using the SSE guidelines it is a great way to ensure that you are continuously reflecting on your teaching and working to improve. It’s a reminder to evaluate what you’ve done and put a plan in place to make it better next time.
What impact can developing your own use of Digital Technology have at school level (SSE)?
In my opinion any and all use of Digital Technology benefits the children in the classrooms. Teachers learn so much from each other also.
-
Hi Annmarie,
Thank you for your post. I have heard of Olus and skimmed their advertising in school last year. It is great to hear some positive feedback and there is certainly a broad range of areas and topics which they offer support in. With each child having their own profile, it is easier to differentiate instruction and ensure that children are being adequately challenged. The evaluation stage of the SSE cycle is so important, and I’m delighted that you have highlighted this. We need to think of the improvement plan as a multi-year project, rather than simply ticking a box each year. We need to monitor the interventions and decide what steps need to be taken to improve upon what we have already done.
-
-
Different ways I can use digital technology to enhance learning are: Using presentation platforms such as PowerPoint (or sway) with audio, picture and text to bring interest to a topic. Having a blog to allow parents to see what’s going on. Digital technology can be used to access a wider range of books (online libraries as well as paid subscriptions). Teams will help teacher collaboration of resources and ideas, one note will help with student collaboration during project work. Forms will allow me to assess the children and evaluate, record and monitor their results quickly and effectively.
We are working on Gaeilge at a school level. I have been suggesting that we need to start collaborating and sharing resources more. I think Sway could be a good starting point. The Gaeilge team could add useful links and resources for each theme onto a sway. Each resource/link would have a brief description, meaning you don’t have to waste time looking through resources you don’t need. This would be an easy way to start collaboration and teachers could continue to develop the sway by adding their own resources.
During Croke Park hours; teachers could split into year groups and use one note as a whiteboard for reflective enquiry. This is a great way to collaborate and the facilitators can combine the notes and share and use these to identify commonalities. For example if 6th class are struggling to grasp decimals and 5th class are struggling with fractions you could identify that these issues could be linked.
Gathering evidence from a variety of sources: We were mostly using Drumcondra testing as evidence. However now I can see that forms would be a great additional way of gathering evidence. You could set up tests for each class to identify specific areas that need improving also. What would be great about this is you could continue to test and evaluate more frequently to see where improvements are being made and where further work is needed. These forms are pre graded also and the data is collected for yo. This would make it so quick and easy to continually monitor, evaluate and identify.
By developing my use of technology it will allow the school to use different technologies to collaborate and gather evidence for SSE.-
Hi Megan, I really like your idea of having a blog to keep the parents updated on what’s going on in the classroom. I think this is a great idea for keeping in contact with parents whilst also allowing them to see what their children are getting up to on a weekly/monthly basis. The collaboration aspect on Sway would accommodate sharing and editing of posts for resources for teachers which is also a fantastic idea. This way resources can be grouped by subjects and topics which would give ease of access to teachers in finding resources.
-
-
The use of Digital Technology is one of the ways forward for 21st century teaching and learning, however it is only one of the ways- communication, collaboration, knowledge construction etc are as important and should be fostered in our classrooms too. The uses of DT to enhance learning are many in this course I have learned about Sway and OneNote as well as about some of the uses of Office 365 as a tool for support T & L in our classrooms. DT can be used for the introduction of materials even via Google, for generating worksheets and for developing forms/quizzes/questionnaires for evaluation. DT can also support busy teachers by diagnosing areas of difficulty, maintaining records of progress on many of the reading and maths packages used in schools today. Another consideration when using DT is that it doesn’t run out of patience and will happily go over and over things again and again if that is what is required for a pupil to learn.
SSE has been in schools for a number of years and is employed purposefully and successfully by many. As a currently non-teaching teacher I can understand the pressure on ISM, in particular on principals to engage in SSE in tandem with all the other tasks they must undertake- again the answer I think is ‘one bite at a time.’
I like the way the documents from the DE link in with each other and that the DT Framework is supported by the LAOS 2022 document. I think that an product of Covid was that DT became part of school life in a necessary and practical way. Schools and pupils engaged with DT as a means to support T & L not just as a tick the box that the children had used a tablet. Teachers who are now familiar with many aspects of DT will incorporate DT into lessons in meaningful ways, using it to address areas identified in the SSE process as being in need of attention- that is what I plan to do!
-
Hi Myriam,
Thanks for your post. The 21st century skills you listed there are central to our work and development in schools. In some ways, we should be looking at how technology can be used as a vehicle in developing skills such as communication and collaboration. I feel you have touched upon an important point when you mention how digital technologies can be used to support busy teachers and, essentially, make their lives easier. The onset of AI and Chat GPT can be used in this regard. Using technology ethically and smartly can certainly reduce unnecessary workload and help you to manage your class in a more streamlined fashion.
-
-
Digital techologoy can be used in teaching in many different ways. It can be used for lesson delivery, presentations, for sharing of notes and corrections with students, for assessment and for feedback. Digital technology can be used to assist and support students with intellectual and physical disabilities.
The school improvement plan can be used to identify the areas to focus on in a given year. Specific targets can be set. The SMART guidelines can be used as a template to follow.
The digital learning framework supports teachers in embedding technology in the classroom. It also enhances teaching and learning and leadership and management. From shared focus to shared files the benefits are numerous. Putting the technology in place is fundamental however for effective pedagogical benefits we must continue to reflect and critique our practice so we can effectively use the technology to implement the school improvement plan. By putting team in place and taking time to reflect on our practices we can identify areas where we can improve. As with any process a cyclical approach works best. The sharing of ideas and expertise benefits the whole school community.-
Hi Margaret,
Thank you for your post. The uses of digital technology in a school setting, from teaching and learning to office administration, really are endless. You have succinctly summarised some of the features of digital technology we use most often. SSE and the Digital Learning Framework are very effective vehicles through which digital transformation can be brought about. You have hit on one of the most important points when it comes to technology in education within your post – the teacher must have the pedagogical knowledge and skill to know how and when to use the technology most appropriately.
-
-
<p class=”MsoNormal” style=”margin: 0cm 0cm 19.2pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; caret-color: #000000; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; background: white; vertical-align: baseline;”><span style=”font-size: 11pt; color: black;”>How I can use digital technology in my classroom to enhance learning?</span></p>
<ul style=”margin-bottom: 0cm; caret-color: #000000; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;” type=”disc”>
<li class=”MsoNormal” style=”margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background: white; vertical-align: baseline;”><span style=”font-size: 11pt; color: black;”>By constantly using digital technology in my classroom, I become accustomed to using various digital tools whilst also allowing the children to become familiar with them from watching me. I can also implement the regular use of digital technology in my class for the children which would allow them to become familiar with using various tools and apps. </span>
<li class=”MsoNormal” style=”margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background: white; vertical-align: baseline;”><span style=”font-size: 11pt; color: black;”>By allowing the children to have regular experiences with digital technology, they are becoming accustomed to using the technology and can use it to express ideas, presentations, school/homework, projects, etc. The become familiar with using apps and tools search for information and gather it for these projects</span>
<li class=”MsoNormal” style=”margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background: white; vertical-align: baseline;”><span style=”font-size: 11pt; color: black;”>By using a range of different tools, designs, fonts, etc, the children will view this as an incentive to stay attentive in lessons and in turn will want to know how to do it in their own work, therefore, developing their digital skills. </span>
<li class=”MsoNormal” style=”margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background: white; vertical-align: baseline;”><span style=”font-size: 11pt; color: black;”>Ensuring that the latest updates of apps on my computer would enhance the learning in my classroom by exposing the children to new and updates features available on apps. </span>
<li class=”MsoNormal” style=”margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background: white;”><span style=”font-size: 11pt; color: black;”>As a teacher, there are many different uses for technology in the classroom such as resources, communication with parents and colleagues, videos, pictures, interactive activities, assessment etc. </span>
<p class=”MsoNormal” style=”margin: 0cm 0cm 19.2pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; caret-color: #000000; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; background: white; vertical-align: baseline;”><span style=”font-size: 11pt; color: black;”>How can I apply SSE guidelines to my own teaching?</span></p>
<p class=”MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst” style=”margin-bottom: 19.2pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; background: white; vertical-align: baseline;”><!– [if !supportLists]–><span style=”font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;”><span style=”mso-list: Ignore;”>·<span style=”font: 7.0pt ‘Times New Roman’;”> </span></span></span><!–[endif]–><span style=”font-size: 11pt; color: black;”>I can implement the use of digital technologies into my teaching, planning and preparation</span></p>
<p class=”MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle” style=”margin-bottom: 19.2pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; background: white; vertical-align: baseline;”><!– [if !supportLists]–><span style=”font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;”><span style=”mso-list: Ignore;”>·<span style=”font: 7.0pt ‘Times New Roman’;”> </span></span></span><!–[endif]–><span style=”font-size: 11pt; color: black;”>I can make myself more aware of the effects and advantages to SSE by expanding my knowledge and sharing it with my colleagues</span></p>
<p class=”MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle” style=”margin-bottom: 19.2pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; background: white; vertical-align: baseline;”><!– [if !supportLists]–><span style=”font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;”><span style=”mso-list: Ignore;”>·<span style=”font: 7.0pt ‘Times New Roman’;”> </span></span></span><!–[endif]–><span style=”font-size: 11pt; color: black;”>By reflecting on my use of digital technology and how I use it, I can think about whether I could use it in a more meaningful way or even if there was any aspect of technology I could improve on </span></p>
<p class=”MsoListParagraphCxSpLast” style=”margin-bottom: 19.2pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; background: white; vertical-align: baseline;”><!– [if !supportLists]–><span style=”font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;”><span style=”mso-list: Ignore;”>·<span style=”font: 7.0pt ‘Times New Roman’;”> </span></span></span><!–[endif]–><span style=”font-size: 11pt; color: black;”>Referring back to the S.M.A.R.T. guidelines, I can ensure that my teaching and assessment procedures adhere to the guidelines and are efficient in my teaching and assessment</span></p>
<p class=”MsoNormal” style=”margin: 0cm 0cm 19.2pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; caret-color: #000000; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; background: white; vertical-align: baseline;”><span style=”font-size: 11pt; color: black;”>What impact can developing your own use of digital technology have at school level?</span></p>
<p class=”MsoListParagraph” style=”text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3;”><!– [if !supportLists]–><span style=”font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;”>·<span style=”font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: ‘Times New Roman’; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;”> </span></span><!–[endif]–><span style=”font-size: 11pt;”>By developing my own use of digital technology, I would be able to assist other teachers and students who may encounter problems in their own usage. I can also give tips and trick for resources, using different apps and perhaps give suggestions to newer and more efficient apps which could be used in place of some of the apps that are currently being used.</span></p> -
Digital learning is something that we really need to work on improving in our school. The teachers in senior classes use laptops to do a bit of project work on Word but really we need to invest in IT in the school. I am a relatively newly appointed principal in the school and i am still getting a handle on everything the role involves. Looking at the digital strategy for the school will be something that I will need to focus on in the coming year. I was familiar with the SSE document but the Digital Learning Framework was something that i really had not looked at.
I would like to change the mindset in the school that IT is just for the 5th and 6th class.
There are so many things that digital resources can enhance the teaching and learning in a classroom.
All the previous suggestions in the other modules such as using the quiz, One Note and Teams.
I love the idea of getting feedback for the SSE from the pupils and also the parents – what is it they expect their children to be able to do using IT?
I would also like to move us more towards storing information, assessments and record keeping to a more digital format rather that paper files.
I will need to sit down and work through the statements in the SSE guidelines and the DLF to see myself as a principal where we are at as a school and make the SMART targets. It will be hard to not become too overwhelmed as there is so much to do.
Also by using more digital files then resources can be shared better among staff so more can benefit from shared ideas. It would be an asset to have a person on staff who would take responsibility for IT and digital learning in the school.
I believe the gathering data stage of SSE will be the most important to establish where we are as a school and guide us in how we progress forward. Using Forms to get feedback from staff, parents and also pupils will be a great way to gather evidence and have it all in one place.
It is nice that the documents from the Dept and linked and of the same format so that you are not trying to wrap your head around different forms of assessing our teaching and learning.
I think this will be a huge task going forward in the coming year which will require involvement of all staff and a lot of collaboration and cooperation.
-
Hi Catherine,
Thank you for your post and contribution here. Congratulations on your recent appointment as principal. I’m sure there are so many elements of the job that are difficult to tackle at first. The adoption of digital technologies (for both teaching and learning, and leadership and management) is something that can really help save you time in the long run. Having a central school database where records, assessments, schemes of work, classroom resources, etc. are kept can really help to promote a culture of collegiality and collaboration. It is certainly a project that will take a number of years, but small steps in the beginning to ensure buy-in will really pay off.
-
-
Consider how you can use Digital Technology in your classroom to enhance students learning?
Digital literacy is an important aspect of student learning. Students are both consumers and creators of digital content and need to be well versed on both at an early age. Skills such as the conventions of online print can be learned at a young age and can learn critical literacy skills related to consumption of digtial information. They also need to learn how to create content. The primary language curriculum recognises this and allows for this new form of literacy to be embedded into the curriculum.
Digital technologies also have accessibility features that allow for more inclusive classrooms e.g. immervise reader. Technologies also allow learners to represent their learning in multiple ways and students are no longer confined to pen and paper to represent their learning in assignments.
How can you now apply School Self Evaluation Guidelines to your teaching? What impact can developing your own use of Digital Technology have at school level (SSE)?
The SSE process can be used to enhance our own teaching. At school level the SSE process is used to identify an area for improvement and develop actions that are relevant to all teachers. SSE is for every teacher so if a school has an improvement goal teachers can look at how digital technologies can be used to help meet that goal and perhaps improve learner outcomes or learner experiences. The DLF applies the same process as SSE and is a tool to reflect on your own teaching in the classroom. When teachers individual practice improves this helps with learner outcomes. At school level I would collaborate with other teachers and learn from each other to ensure a more cohesive experience for students. An example of how this could be applied would be if all teachers in primary used similar colour coding of their onenote subject section so that children can instantly recognise that the their English resources are in the green tab. ANother example would be teachers sharing the WALT and WILF during lessons using a similar template or coloured background.
-
Module 4 Assignment
I am working in SET and I am also our Assistive Technology (AT) co- Ordinator. The AT part happened organically as I upskilled in the area due to my passion for SET. Along my journey in SET I had to apply for assistive technology for pupils and I experienced it personally with my daughter. I understand how essential AT is for students especially those with dyspraxia for example specifically those with difficulty in the area of Motor Planning. I will continue to use digital technology to enhance my students’ learning. In 2022 2023 I had two AT groups back to back on Monday and Tuesday afternoons when the Junior classes went home.
One group was a junior AT group with children from 2nd and 3rd classes. The other group was a senior group of 4thclass children.
The year before last I worked with a very unique cohort of 8 children who had Irish exemptions so that time was given to developing their file management, Word Processing skills, PowerPoint and typing skills. We started off each session with ten minutes of touch type read and spell (TTRS) and then a skill and application per session. We finished off with tables. These children are now going into 6<sup>th</sup> class and I am going to put this course to use with them from September. I will teach them Sway to help them with their projects. This will be so useful in secondary school.
By developing my own use of Digital Technology for example doing this summer course I am learning new skills and I will pass these new skills onto my 6th class children with AT.
Also I will collaborate with another member of staff and post holder to work on our Digital Plan going forward. I look forward to bringing together other members of staff with strengths and interests in various aspects of IT to set up a Digital Team.
1. I can apply school Self Evaluation Guidelines to my own teaching by identifying a focus for example Sway for the first term.2. I will gather evidence.
3. I will analyse and make judgments.
4. I will write and share a report with the staff. I will carry out a Mentimetre survey with the children learning Sway to learn about their learning experiences. I will carry out a google forms survey with the class teachers teaching the children and their parents.
-
Hi Elaine,
Thank you for your post – it is so brilliant to hear that your school has a dedicated AT coordinator. In the Digital Technologies and SEN course, many people are bemoaning the fact that they are often left in limbo once a pupil has been granted assistive technology use. Having a person in a school with responsibility for this area allows teachers to have a sounding board when seeking advice, and also allows one member of staff to develop an in-depth level of expertise in the area. It is clear that you were already using technology and developing computer skills with your caseload up to this point – it is fantastic to see that the course content has provided you with new knowledge that you will be able to bring to the classroom, and extend the learning experiences of your pupils further.
-
-
I am the lead IT coordinator in my school and it falls to me to update our computers, order new equipment, demonstrate new apps, programs and technology to the staff as well as write up our digital learning policy. In my personal opinion IT is a valuable resource that is very important for all children to become familiar with. The world children are growing up in these days is a digital world and we would be doing them a disservice if we did not prepare them with the skills they need to navigate it. I do not believe however that IT should replace every other toll for teaching. Reading out of a book and writing on paper are still very vital skills that the children need to develop. IT can be and should be used as a tool to enhance any lesson.
Most recently i have bought a supply of iPads for our school. This has proven to be a great addition to the lessons they teacher are teaching. They are using them in conjunction with their own teaching methods and it has really enhanced the children learning. The engagement alone from the iPads has been fantastic. this is how i look at each new piece of technology that comes to the school. how will it enhance the teaching of our staff? will it be too much of a distraction? is it a gimmick that has no long term sticking power? I take this into consideration before bringing anything into the school.
When the recent Digital Learning Strategies came out we took all that information on board when developing our own Digital Learning Policy in the school. Whenever a decision is to be made regarding IT we make sure to consult our policy and apply the School Self Evaluation Guidelines to ensure we make informed choices.
In developing our Digital Learning we found that the children who have special needs benefit the most from their use. Children with Dyslexia or general learning difficulties are more willing to try at lessons as they don’t have to write something down, they feel less afraid of a wrong answer when the questions are presented to them in a game format. This has been great in helping to develop their learning in their needed areas and the SET team have really taken IT onboard after seeing the results.
-
Hi Conor,
Thank you for your post. As someone who shares your role in my school, I know only too well of the level of workload that goes into IT maintenance and development. You have raised a very important point and one which those who are against the use of technology in education fail to realise – digital technology is a tool through which learning can happen. It needs to take place within a wider spectrum of strategies and approaches to learning. It should not permeate every lesson. Reading, writing and arithmetic are still hugely important aspects of schooling. Hands-on experiments with raw materials is also important. Variety is essential and digital technologies are particularly useful as they make some elements of learning easier and more accessible for all.
-
-
Consider how you can use Digital Technology in your classroom to enhance students’ learning?
How can you now apply School Self Evaluation Guidelines to your teaching?
As an individual teacher I can benchmark myself against the standards in the Digital Learning Framework using the SSE framework. I can take stock of where I am and set myself some targets to achieve in a way that is achievable and beneficial to my teaching and the pupils’ learning. It is important to continually assess and reflect on my own use of ICT to enhance pupils’ learning. Pupils live in a digital world and it is important that teachers inhabit that space too.
Pupils needs to build on their digital knowledge and skills in a step-by-step manner. Taking M365 as an example – children can start with Word and typing skills at one class level, then add in Sway or Forms at the next class level, then add in Teams, etc – taking a step approach to skill building. All for the benefit of the pupils abilities to produce the content they will need in a 21st century world.
This step approach ensures the use of Digital Technology is embedded into lessons and learning activities.
What impact can developing your own use of Digital Technology have at school level (SSE)?
This can have a big impact, firstly on my own pupils and in my own classroom, as I grow the skill levels and competencies of my pupils, as well as enriching their learning, and in providing them opportunities to develop 21st Century Skills by investigating, collaborating, producing and doing so much more. I can then also share my expertise with my colleagues and support some of them if they would like that. And they can do the same with me. If we all build up some expertise in some areas then we can transfer that knowledge to each other – all for the benefit of the pupils. It is best to do this coherently and consistently within a guiding framework such as the DLF. A whole school, structured approach is the best approach, for the benefit of the pupils.
I am part of the digital team in my school and we are about to embark on an ambitious digital learning plan – built around M365 – that will transform the structured approach of digital learning in our school. -
<p class=”MsoNormal”>How can I enhance pupil learning?</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>Having completed the course so far, I see the structure of teams and SharePoint as being an obvious starting point in terms of class organisation.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>In terms of assigning homework, I think a lot of the ‘labour intensive’ taking down homework could be avoided by assigning a class team and posting homework on teams.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>I think it would be important to share the skills of preparing documents and PowerPoints with the class and not just have the Microsoft suite of learning tools as being for presentation purposes and teaching only. Pupils would be able to present their own power points and interactive lessons. I like the idea of the flipped lesson and can see how pupils can prepare assignments based on their own individual level of competence and expertise.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>I could use forms more frequently to assess learning and create short simple tests at the end of modules of work to check what has been learned.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>Amongst teachers, I see huge opportunities for colleagues to share resources and create a platform for preparing and sharing resources that can be used in other classrooms.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>While not covered in this lesson, I believe time should be spent teaching the skills of preparing and editing a piece of genre writing for example, using the Microsoft tools.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>The School Self Evaluation guidelines provide a structure for schools to identify how an area of teaching and learning is progressing. If I look at the process outlined.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>I suggest teachers could use SharePoint as a platform to share thoughts on progress and look at areas that could be further developed. Obviously, data is very important in identifying areas for progress. Gathering the evidence using forms could be used for pupil questionnaires, parent questionnaires and staff input.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>Once the evidence has been gathered, the data can be streamlined and small areas for development can be identified in terms of targets.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>The targets can be shared on SharePoint and by setting up a channel for SSE amongst all staff.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>Staff can be invited to share relevant lessons, learning areas in order to stay focused on the see targets.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>Above all, Microsoft teams allows a school keep and share all important documents relating to school self-evaluation, and helps the school stay focused.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”></p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>I think all school development depends on just a few to try out something, see what works. I would be confident I have a little more skill in sharing what I have learned with other staff, and as they see the progress I make, they would be encouraged to try out as well. The biggest advantage I would see is that schools could now have a one-stop shop for preparing, setting out and managing all teaching and learning materials. In a school of our size, I see the advantages in creating the platform for staff to collaborate more and share expertise.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”></p> -
<p class=”MsoNormal”>How can I enhance pupil learning?</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>Having completed the course so far, I see the structure of teams and SharePoint as being an obvious starting point in terms of class organisation.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>In terms of assigning homework, I think a lot of the ‘labour intensive’ taking down homework could be avoided by assigning a class team and posting homework on teams.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>I think it would be important to share the skills of preparing documents and PowerPoints with the class and not just have the Microsoft suite of learning tools as being for presentation purposes and teaching only. Pupils would be able to present their own power points and interactive lessons. I like the idea of the flipped lesson and can see how pupils can prepare assignments based on their own individual level of competence and expertise.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>I could use forms more frequently to assess learning and create short simple tests at the end of modules of work to check what has been learned.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>Amongst teachers, I see huge opportunities for colleagues to share resources and create a platform for preparing and sharing resources that can be used in other classrooms.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>While not covered in this lesson, I believe time should be spent teaching the skills of preparing and editing a piece of genre writing for example, using the Microsoft tools.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>The School Self Evaluation guidelines provide a structure for schools to identify how an area of teaching and learning is progressing. If I look at the process outlined.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>I suggest teachers could use SharePoint as a platform to share thoughts on progress and look at areas that could be further developed. Obviously, data is very important in identifying areas for progress. Gathering the evidence using forms could be used for pupil questionnaires, parent questionnaires and staff input.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>Once the evidence has been gathered, the data can be streamlined and small areas for development can be identified in terms of targets.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>The targets can be shared on SharePoint and by setting up a channel for SSE amongst all staff.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>Staff can be invited to share relevant lessons, learning areas in order to stay focused on the see targets.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>Above all, Microsoft teams allows a school keep and share all important documents relating to school self-evaluation, and helps the school stay focused.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>I think all school development depends on just a few to try out something, see what works. I would be confident I have a little more skill in sharing what I have learned with other staff, and as they see the progress I make, they would be encouraged to try out as well. The biggest advantage I would see is that schools could now have a one-stop shop for preparing, setting out and managing all teaching and learning materials. In a school of our size, I see the advantages in creating the platform for staff to collaborate more and share expertise.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”></p> -
By constantly using digital technology in my classroom, I become accustomed to using various digital tools whilst also allowing the children to become familiar with them from watching me. I can also implement the regular use of digital technology in my class for the children which would allow them to become familiar with using various tools and apps.By allowing the children to have regular experiences with digital technology, they are becoming accustomed to using the technology and can use it to express ideas, presentations, school/homework, projects, etc. The become familiar with using apps and tools search for information and gather it for these projects. By using a range of different tools, designs, fonts, etc, the children will view this as an incentive to stay attentive in lessons and in turn will want to know how to do it in their own work, therefore, developing their digital skills. Ensuring that the latest updates of apps on my computer would enhance the learning in my classroom by exposing the children to new and updates features available on apps. As a teacher, there are many different uses for technology in the classroom such as resources, communication with parents and colleagues, videos, pictures, interactive activities, assessment etc. I can implement the use of digital technologies into my teaching, planning and preparationI can make myself more aware of the effects and advantages to SSE by expanding my knowledge and sharing it with my colleagues. By reflecting on my use of digital technology and how I use it, I can think about whether I could use it in a more meaningful way or even if there was any aspect of technology I could improve on. Referring back to the S.M.A.R.T. guidelines, I can ensure that my teaching and assessment procedures adhere to the guidelines and are efficient in my teaching and assessment. By developing my own use of digital technology, I would be able to assist other teachers and students who may encounter problems in their own usage. I can also give tips and trick for resources, using different apps and perhaps give suggestions to newer and more efficient apps which could be used in place of some of the apps that are currently being used.</p>
-
How can I enhance pupil learning?
Having completed the course so far, I see the structure of teams and SharePoint as being an obvious starting point in terms of class organisation.
In terms of assigning homework, I think a lot of the ‘labour intensive’ taking down homework could be avoided by assigning a class team and posting homework on teams.
I think it would be important to share the skills of preparing documents and PowerPoints with the class and not just have the Microsoft suite of learning tools as being for presentation purposes and teaching only. Pupils would be able to present their own power points and interactive lessons. I like the idea of the flipped lesson and can see how pupils can prepare assignments based on their own individual level of competence and expertise.
I could use forms more frequently to assess learning and create short simple tests at the end of modules of work to check what has been learned.
Amongst teachers, I see huge opportunities for colleagues to share resources and create a platform for preparing and sharing resources that can be used in other classrooms.
While not covered in this lesson, I believe time should be spent teaching the skills of preparing and editing a piece of genre writing for example, using the Microsoft tools.
The School Self Evaluation guidelines provide a structure for schools to identify how an area of teaching and learning is progressing. If I look at the process outlined.
I suggest teachers could use SharePoint as a platform to share thoughts on progress and look at areas that could be further developed. Obviously, data is very important in identifying areas for progress. Gathering the evidence using forms could be used for pupil questionnaires, parent questionnaires and staff input.
Once the evidence has been gathered, the data can be streamlined and small areas for development can be identified in terms of targets.
The targets can be shared on SharePoint and by setting up a channel for SSE amongst all staff.
Staff can be invited to share relevant lessons, learning areas in order to stay focused on the see targets.
Above all, Microsoft teams allows a school keep and share all important documents relating to school self-evaluation, and helps the school stay focused.
-
How I can use digital technology in my classroom to enhance learning?
Using Power Points and games that are engaging, offer bulleted information, link to videos, using educational app such as Kahoot, posting homework assignments online, using classroom tablets and keeping informing myself on assisting technology available
How can I apply SSE guidelines to my own teaching?
By using technology in an appropriate and relevant way that is educational and useful to foster the students independence and awareness. To identify wellbeing as a focus, to gather data and analyse it following a non biased method and use the data to infer judgements and apply new strategies and reflections.
What impact can developing your own use of digital technology have at school level?
I think it has a very positive impact on the school collaboration, sharing resources, collecting data and store it, providing training opportunities for new staff, creating consistency fostering creativity -
Digital Technology is an integral part of the modern day classroom. It can be used by teachers to plan lessons, gather resources and as a teaching tool. Digital technology can be used by students to research a topic, present work in different forms and to enhance and express their creativity. I plan to use many elements of Microsoft 365 explored in this course in order to enhance students learning. The use of Microsoft Sway as a digital storyteller has the potential to motivate pupils to engage in the storytelling process through the use of multimedia. OneNote Notebook has a range of tools to engage learners of all different styles. The School Self Evaluation Guidelines have the potential to underpin one’s teaching, as they involve identifying areas which require improvement. Evidence on these areas is gathered. Microsoft Forms would be particularly useful here. The plan is then drawn up, shared and put into action. The monitoring and evaluation of impact is another step which can be easily aided by digital technology, as pupils could be surveyed and tested using ICT. Just as a whole school uses these steps for school improvement, a teacher can use them to evaluate and improve their teaching. One’s own use of technology in SSE then feeds into the school as a whole. The development of different teams at class levels and for different priority areas would add greatly to the SSE process at school level, and information could be gathered and stored centrally using digital technology.
Digital technology has to be an integral part of the classroom in the 21st Century. The recent closures during Covid years show how beneficial technology can be to aid learning. However it is only a tool and cannot replace well planned structured lessons where the technology enhances the learning.I think learning about some of the apps available in office 365 have opened up for me different ways of using technology in the classroom such as assisted reader, quizzes in forms, pupils creating their own sways etc.
School Self-evaluation is a continuous process whereby the school evaluates its own work and prioritises areas for development. In our school we had identified that we need to use technology more in both our own collaboration and in our teaching and learning. The Digital Strategy dovetails nicely with the SSE process and we were looking at both in tandem. Using some of the tools available in Office 365 will make this process easier. It will be much easier to gather information from parents, pupils and staff through forms and analyse this quickly and efficiently. This in turn will lead to more focused target setting for both SSE and the Digital strategy. The recent closure highlighted in our school that we need to have a robust Digital learning plan that can meet our pupils’ needs either in school or remotely if required.I am particularly interested in how the OneNote class notebook can be used to enhance the learning of pupils as it provides ready access to a range of learning methods which can be blended in many different ways. Hence, different type of learners are catered for – tools like the immersive reader and dictation facility provide supports for pupils who may have difficulties with literacy/language. Using the digital world, a pupil now has many different ways of formulating and presenting their learning, which takes them far beyond the traditional pen and paper. Structured support can be easily delivered by means of templates, voice notes, instructional videos, examples of best practice etc. The technology provides alternative models of teaching which might for example, ensure pupils are better informed prior to taking a more active approach during class as suggested by the “flipping the class” model.
The school self-evaluation guidelines provide a structured means of improving teaching; a more scientific approach in that one should identify an area for improvement(what), then plan how it could be improved (how), set a timeframe (when), identify who, and then formative assessment to determine if it has been successful or if modification is required. Strategic prior assessment is first required to ensure the project is doable and practical and must provide worthwhile outcomes – which can largely to be done by focusing on the domains identified in the guidelines.
Individual staff expertise in the use of any digital technology should be treated as a valuable resource. It is one of management’s responsibilities to facilitate the discrimination of such knowledge out to the whole school staff. It may be beneficial to use technology to do this in some situations e.g. creation of instructional videos online for in-school use. In other situations, face-to-face transfer of skills training may be required – time and resources need to be made available for this to happen.As a teacher, providing pupils with lessons across a wide range of curricular areas while utilising digital technologies as a resource is key to exposing them to the curiosity of ICT. Secondly, allowing pupils to regularly engage in the use of technologies to access information and express themselves creatively through ICT engagement to develop, support and extend their learning gives them a real working sense of the value of digital technologies in the learning process. Using Forms to regularly pre and post assess is a worthwhile tool. Introducing pupils to a skill set that supports their use and access to technologies is also important, while allowing them to explore at their own levels. Teacher individual practice and hopefully collaborative practice with like-minded others, allows for better outcomes and experiences for the learners and teachers involved. This example may spur others towards professional development in the area of digital technologies. Small steps starting from areas of strength and incorporating areas of need will produce results. A Digital Learning Team representing all year bands and SET is a great stepping stone to forward digital learning for all.
-
Incorporating Digital Technology into the classroom offers tremendous potential to enrich student learning by making lessons more interactive, engaging, and accessible. I plan to stay informed and continually enhance my skills with assistive technology tools like Immersive Reader and Type to Learn. Encouraging students to express their ideas through digital platforms and using diverse digital media to present content will significantly boost their engagement. I’ll also keep exploring new apps to further enrich learning experiences and utilize digital media for tasks such as record-keeping and assessments, including e-portfolios. Additionally, collaboration with colleagues, communication with students and parents, and the use of platforms like MS Teams to invite external speakers virtually into the classroom are key strategies I intend to use. Moreover, I will support students in accessing and retrieving information online.
Applying School Self Evaluation (SSE) Guidelines involves reflecting on my teaching by utilizing the Digital Learning Framework (DLF) to evaluate my digital technology usage. Becoming more acquainted with the DLF and SSE, and sharing this understanding with colleagues, will help integrate digital tools where they are most effective. Ongoing reflection on my teaching and use of technology will help me identify areas for improvement, and by participating in the digital learning team, I can contribute to school-wide initiatives.
At the school level, enhancing my digital technology skills allows me to create and share digital resources with colleagues, building a valuable repository of reusable materials. I can also mentor new teachers or those less confident in digital skills, creating a more collaborative and supportive teaching environment. Furthermore, using technology to collaborate with other staff members can improve the overall learning environment and lead to better student outcomes across the school.
<div id=”accel-snackbar” style=”left: 50%; transform: translate(-50%, 0px); top: 50px;”></div>-
Hi Mairead,
Thanks for your post. I fully agree with you regarding the potential of digital technology to transform the learning experiences of children. It is constantly evolving, and unfortunately some changes require us to constantly develop and hone our skillset further. The creation of a school based repository is so important – it’s something that can take a few years to properly set up and get full buy-in, but the impact of having a range of bespoke, ready-made digital resources waiting for you when you switch class levels cannot be underestimated.
-
-
Integrating digital technology into the classroom offers opportunities for enhancing student learning. Tools such as Microsoft Teams, One Note and Forms support differentiated instruction, and facilitate formative assessment to help the student and teacher. Using apps like Quizlet or Forms can provide instant feedback and help track student progress in real time, enabling more responsive teaching.
Applying the School Self-Evaluation (SSE) Guidelines allows teachers to systematically reflect on and improve their use of technology. Through gathering evidence (e.g., student feedback, assessment data), identifying areas for growth, and implementing targeted strategies, I can ensure that digital tools are used purposefully to support learning outcomes.
At the school level, developing my own digital practice contributes to a culture of innovation and shared professional learning. As confidence and competence grow among staff, SSE becomes a collaborative tool for embedding digital learning in whole-school planning, ultimately leading to improved student experiences and outcomes.
-
As part of the learning support team in my school I am currently using an interactive online literacy/numeracy programme called BKSB (Basic Key Skills Builder) BKSB , which helps assess students’ literacy and numeracy levels and then provides tailored learning pathways to suit their individual needs. This enhances students learning as, through online assessment, it identifies gaps in knowledge and creates a bespoke programme for each individual student. As the teacher I can monitor students’ progress and they can also see how they are progressing through the course.
If I was to return to my subject teaching I can see how using digital technology in the classroom would transform how I support student learning. Tools such as Microsoft Teams, OneNote, and Learning Tools allow for differentiated instruction, real-time feedback, and collaborative learning, especially for students with diverse needs or poor working memory.
Applying the School Self-Evaluation guidelines would encourage the school as a whole as well as individually to reflect on teaching and aligning digital strategies with the domains of Learning Experiences and Teacher’s Individual Practice.
It is important for all teachers to keep up to date with developments in technology in education, continuously upskilling and sharing best practice. As part of our Haddington road hours teachers do share best practice strategies on a weekly basis. I will be taking the opportunity to introduce some of the things I have learned in this course.
-
Hi Carmel,
Thanks for your post. The Office 365 suite of resources very much lends itself to a whole-school approach that may be brought about through SSE. The suite of apps and resources can be used across a variety of means from teaching to learning to administration, meaning that any of the LAOS domains could be considered as a key focus. Whilst the breadth that Office 365 is a positive, it may be beneficial to focus on its one for one of the above purposes for the first year or two to allow everyone get accustomed to this as a way of working.
-
-
Consider how you can use Digital Technology in your classroom to enhance students learning? How can you now apply School Self Evaluation Guidelines to your teaching? What impact can developing your own use of Digital Technology have at school level (SSE)? Post a reflective piece (150 words minimum) as a reply to this post.
Digital technology can be used in the classroom to include all learners using Microsoft 365 in many ways. Throughout this course I have learned about how PowerPoint can be used as a tool for presentation using screen recordings and also by providing subtitles for speech. Teams can be used for scheduling meetings, collaborating with groups of pupils and staff and for video calling when necessary. OneNote is another Microsoft application that has great potential for use in the classroom to provide multimodal access to viewing, engaging with and responding to content. Forms is a great way of engaging with the whole school community to gather opinions as well as using it in the classroom.
As a non-teaching school leader, I would find that these tools would be very beneficial to teaching and learning in my school. I will be using the information I have learned on this course to support the teaching and learning in classrooms but also by updating and improving our digital learning plan using the digital learning framework and looking at our schools document.
-
In my classroom, I find that digital technology really helps to bring learning to life for students. Tools like interactive quizzes, collaborative documents, and multimedia presentations keep learners engaged and give them different ways to explore the material. Children are multi modal learners in this modern age and need a variety of teaching methods to access the curriculum in my opinion. I’ve noticed that students respond particularly well when they get instant feedback through online platforms, as it helps them understand their progress and encourages them to take ownership of their learning.
Applying the School Self-Evaluation (SSE) guidelines, I can use digital tools to gather evidence of how well my teaching strategies are working. For example, student surveys or digital portfolios provide valuable insights into what’s effective and what needs adjustment. This makes reflection more concrete and helps me plan for improvement. I have spent time in the Acting Principal Role and spent plenty of time gathering and analysing data from all stakeholders of the school – the children the staff and the parents and community. Everyone was able to have a voice and add valuable contributions. We often do surveys with various classes through forms on school Ipads and answers are instant and easy to compile and share results.
At a whole-school level, developing my own use of digital technology allows me to share strategies with colleagues and contribute to a culture of innovation. I think when teachers model confidence with technology, it builds momentum across the school and benefits both staff and students. I am teaching over 20 years and have so much still to learn but step by step and completing and engaging with courses like this one don’t make it as daunting as it once seemed.
-
Towards the end of last years school year, we had the pleasure of having someone visit the school to talk to us and run through our Digital Learning Framework and also explore the capabilities within Microsoft Teams. Personally, I am extremely new to Microsoft 365 and all that is included within it. Each year over the last 2 years I have added another element or app to my teaching. However, next year I do aim to progress this from the two projects I would’ve assigned in different terms last year. I know from these CPD days that staff are concerned with how they will be able to incorporate everything in to their teaching. In regards to SSE what we agreed towards the end of last year was that a small bit each month was enough for now as we looked to incorporate technology more in class and at home. This consistent exposure will help both teacher and pupil and allow for a slow and steady pace. This would be different across all classes naturally as ability level varies. I still see challenges where technology is not readily available in the household. I had pupils last year that completed no work done through Teams.
-
Integrating digital technology in the classroom can move learning beyond rote tasks and toward richer, more engaging experiences. Tools such as interactive presentations, collaborative platforms like OneNote, or formative assessment apps can provide instant feedback, allow students to work at their own pace, and give them multiple pathways to demonstrate understanding. For example, using digital quizzes or portfolios helps me track progress more accurately and tailor lessons to individual needs.
Applying the School Self-Evaluation (SSE) Guidelines, I can gather evidence on how technology impacts learning, identify strengths and gaps, and set targeted improvement goals. By reflecting on student outcomes—engagement, collaboration, creativity—I can make informed adjustments rather than using technology for its own sake.
At a school level, developing my digital teaching practice contributes to a culture of innovation. Sharing strategies and results with colleagues supports collective improvement, ensuring that technology becomes a tool for meaningful, sustained learning rather than an add-on.
-
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.