Tag Archives: teacher perspective

1:1 deployment, Aberdeenshire, Apple, Teacher

Fishermoss PS: Exploring the use of the iPod in learning

May 14, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

FMpost2HL — Exploring potential for learning

Aberdeenshire Council has a long history of commitment to and use of digital technologies to help deliver better outcomes for learners. This past year has seen them continue this as they have begun to explore the use of a range of devices in their schools with pilots trialling iPads, Android tablets and iPod Touches.

One of these pilots saw every pupil and teacher at Fishermoss PS in Portlethen being given an iPod Touch by the Local Authority ICT team. We were obviously very interested in finding out more about this ambitious pilot and visited the school late in 2012 to see how things were progressing.

We met with Charlie Barrow who teaches P7 to ask him about his experience so far in using the iPods in is class. He talked about the fact that he had created a set of ground rules, such as the devices all being synced and charged first thing in the morning. The school had a docking station that enabled this to happen. He also talked about the way in which he had established an iPod pot system that ensure that he would get the class’s attention when he asked for it. All iPods had to be placed in the pots when the children were instructed to do so so that they could focus fully on the teacher.

Fishermoss PS: Charlie Barrow initial thoughts Interview with Charlie Barrow about his initial thoughts on the iPod pilot

Mr Barrow explained that he was developing his understanding of what the device could do and how his clearer understanding and awareness of its functionality could be best applied to help support and enhance the learning that happens in his classroom. Although he talked about using apps as starters and extensions for certain lessons he was beginning to apply some innovative approaches in the use of the device, such as exporting Smart Notebook lessons as a series of images. He would then sync these to the devices so that the learners had their own sets of digital notes that they could refer to at any time. These notes included learning intentions, success criteria and word banks. He noted that the learners in his class appeared to readily and easily accommodate not having such material in paper form.

Fishermoss PS: Impact on learning with the iPod. Mr Barrow discusses the pilot’s impact on learning

Mr Barrow was of the opinion that devices such as the iPod Touch offered a lot in terms of enriching and extending learning and ensuring that the digital aspects of a high expectation culture could be addressed through the use of a range of apps and tools such as Augmented Reality, GPS, QR Codes and the range of tools that use still or video images. He was looking forward to bringing some of these tools in to his practice over the coming months.

1:1 deployment, Aberdeenshire, App purchase and management, Apple, Device management, Teacher

Fishermoss PS: iPod Touches in the P2/3 classroom

May 14, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

Fishermoss PS: iPod Touch in the P2/3 classroom

We met with Ashley Rennie who teaches P2/3 to ask her how her early experience in using the devices with her young learners had been. She explained that she was still very much finding her feet with the devices and with what they could do but at that stage she was allowing the children to have their iPod Touches at their desks all the time to use when they saw fit. A number of learning apps have been installed on the iPods and she was allowing the children to use them when they thought it would help them with their learning. Although she is allowing a degree of freedom of use of the devices she is using them in structured ways when carrying out tasks such as spelling and phonics work and she is differentiating her input at these times based on who she feels requires direct teaching and who is more capable of coping with increasing levels of independent learning.

Fishermoss PS: iPods in P.2/3 Interview with Mrs Rennie about her involvement with the iPod pilot

Mrs Rennie remarked that simple things such as the World Clock on the iPods had created a real sense of enquiry and that it had stirred her learners curiosity about the wider world at large. As a result of a most probably overlooked facility in the iPod Touch the class have been motivated to explore areas of the world where they have visited and where they can see that the time is currently different from that in Scotland.

Technical challenges

Mrs Rennie told us that there has been some issues with the management of the iPod Touches in the early stages but that she did manage to take responsibility for ensuring that all the devices for her children had been synced and that all necessary apps had been installed. She felt that this was a challenge but that once it was done it was done and she could carry on with looking at how to use the devices in her practice. One problem that she did identify as an issue for her was the fact that the iPods could not play Flash games or resources that she felt were appropriate for her learners.

Fishermoss PS: Technical challenges with the iPod Touch Mrs Rennie discusses some of the technical challenges of the iPod pilot

Apple, Impact on learning, Teacher, West Dunbartonshire

Dalreoch PS: The teachers’ perspective

April 10, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

Learners at Dalreoch PS — Engaged and on task

During our time at Dalreoch PS we spoke with some of the teachers to get their perspective on the device pilot that they were part of. One of those teachers, Mrs Grafton, talked to us about having been involved in many ICT initiatives over the years and that this one was one of the very first that had made her feel excited and confident about really being able to use the technology to impact on learning. Having been someone who she confessed struggled to use email and who immediately thought that getting an iPad was a ‘scary idea’ she now talks about how easy it is to use, how she feels she can’t break it or spoil the work that she does with it and that she feels that she is good at it!

She also talked of how she sees the device pilot as beneficial to learning and teaching and how the versatility of having a portable and instant-on device readily available can support and enhance what she calls immediate learning opportunities. The ability to record learning via a camera, video camera or through audio is of great appeal to learners she argues. Other benefits that she saw included:

the wait for the visit to the ICT suite is now gone and with this comes increased opportunity for learning with technology to be embedded across learning, as part of the general learning process
bringing technologies that have appeal for learners and that they use at home into the learning process in school can help enhance attitudes to learning.

Mrs Grafton finished her interview by talking about seeing increasing confidence and engagement growing in the children at Dalreoch PS as a result of the device pilot – one which she describes as a very positive experience. You can hear her interview below:

dalreoch_teacherperspective Interview with Mrs Grafton from Dalreoch PS