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Assignment
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.
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Digital technology can greatly enhance learning in my classroom by making lessons more interactive, engaging and accessible for all students. If I had the use of tablets or laptops, I could use the educational apps that are available to support active learning, collaboration, and creativity. Digital tools allow for differentiation, enabling students to learn at their own pace and demonstrate their understanding in a variety of ways. The Digital Learning Framework highlights the importance of using technology to improve teaching, learning and assessment.
The School Self-Evaluation (SSE) process provides a useful structure for reflecting on and improving my teaching. By gathering evidence through student feedback, observations and assessment, I can evaluate how effectively digital technology is supporting learning. SSE encourages teachers to identify strengths, set targets and monitor progress.
Developing my own digital skills will have a positive impact beyond my classroom. By sharing with colleagues and contributing to the school’s Digital Learning Plan, I can support the whole-school plan. This collaborative approach helps create a shared vision for digital learning and ultimately improves outcomes for students and staff in the school.
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Hi Carol,
I really liked your reflections. There were a lot of similarities with my own, especially around using student feedback to support the SSE process rather than just relying on our own observations.
I also agree that building our own confidence with digital technology has benefits beyond our own classroom. Sharing ideas and practical examples with colleagues is probably one of the best ways to encourage wider adoption across the school.
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Working through this course has definitely made me think more about how digital technology could fit into our hospital school setting. Because our teaching is so different to a mainstream classroom, I found myself reflecting on practical ways these tools could support what we already do rather than replacing it.
Our teachers regularly use iPads while teaching students on the wards, so I can see real potential in creating a bank of lessons using Sway the could be shared with my colleagues. Interactive lessons with images, videos and links could make bedside teaching more engaging, especially when a student is feeling too tired for more traditional activities. I think the key is getting the balance right – using digital resources to add to the session rather than replacing the hands-on activities and conversations that are such an important part of hospital teaching. In our small classroom groups, where we have access to a smartboard and a small set of tablets, I can also see Sway and OneNote helping to create a more interactive and consistent learning experience.
One idea I’ll definitely take away is using Microsoft Forms to gather student voice. A simple exit ticket at the end of a lesson could tell us whether students felt engaged, understood the learning or would like more support. In a hospital school, where students may only be with us for a short time, that kind of feedback is really valuable. It would also strengthen our School Self-Evaluation process by giving us meaningful evidence that we can use to make small, data-informed improvements to our teaching and service.
I think that developing my own confidence and skills with digital tech can have a wider impact. If I continue to use these tools and try to link them to the Digital Learning Framework, I’d like to share what works with colleagues and encourage others to give them a try. New ideas spread much more easily when someone is already using them on the ward or in the classroom, and I think that’s how digital technology becomes part of everyday practice rather than just another enforced initiative.
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Module 4
As a teacher in a special class for the past number of years, I am always looking for new ways to make lessons engaging and interactive. I try to build activities around my students’ interests, as this helps motivate them and keeps them involved in learning. Many of my pupils respond really well to movement-based activities, music, and hands-on learning experiences.
I find Digital Technology very useful in supporting this. Many of my students need a lot of visual support, and technology can make learning much easier to understand. I regularly use visual timetables, communication apps, videos, pictures, and simple interactive games. These help pupils communicate, stay focused, and take part more independently in lessons.
For some students, technology is also a great support for communication and language development. AAC devices in particular have made a huge difference for many pupils, helping them express their needs, make choices, and take part in classroom activities. Visuals, audio supports, and translation tools can also support EAL students in understanding new vocabulary and instructions.
The SSE process helps me think about what is working well and what could be improved in my teaching. In reality, this reflection happens weekly, if not daily, in a special class setting. I can look at how digital technology is supporting pupil learning and set small goals for myself to improve my practice.
As teachers working in SET, sharing ideas, apps, and resources with colleagues can benefit the whole school. By continuing to develop our digital skills, we can help create a more inclusive learning environment where all pupils, including those with complex needs and EAL learners, have the best chance to learn, participate, and succeed
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