Demonstrating the use of digital in learning, teaching and assessment
We were delighted to continue our annual tradition of a live reading of a Christmas Story by Greg Welsh, Head of Education (Primary, Early Learning and Resources).
Over 200 teachers joined us on Microsoft Teams, from schools all over West Lothian, to hear We’re Going on an Elf Chase by Martha Mumford, followed by a chance to share some Christmas jokes.
Thank you to everybody who voted for the story and who joined us live.
We wish you a very Merry Christmas!
We are thrilled to introduce our latest cohort of Promethean Certified Trainers, who are excited to share their knowledge and new expertise of the Promethean panels and the ActivInspire software with their schools and clusters.
This technology can significantly enhance learner engagement, ensuring that learners benefit from more interactive and dynamic educational experiences.
Key takeaways and most impactful learning experiences identified by the participants included:
Congratulations all, we are excited to see how you take this new knowledge forward in your schools.
The Digital Learning Team recently visited Westfield Primary School to find out how they were using Microsoft Teams to enhance their curricular offerings for pupils across P3-7 in their school as well as those in Torphichen Primary School.
Connecting the two classrooms using Team’s conferencing capabilities offers learners a wider circle of peers to learn with and from, providing opportunities for cross-school peer assessment and collaboration.
Learners told us how they enjoyed sharing their learning with another school and that they found lessons were fun and engaging. Primary 7s also valued the opportunity to build relationships with each other ahead of moving on to secondary school next year.
Teachers have been using a range of digital tools, such as ActivInspire or Microsoft Whiteboard, to plan engaging learning experiences which are accessible and meet the needs of both in-person and remote learners.
In addition to the P3-7 offerings, a small group of P7 learners meet on Teams once a week to work together on Numeracy and Mathematics projects. They use a shared Microsoft Whiteboard to communicate their ideas, collaborate, solve problems and discuss their thinking.
One P7 learner shared that even when they decided to work independently for a while, everybody shared their working on the Whiteboard so that as a group they could collectively check each other’s answers. This ensured they were able to confidently move on to the next part together as a group.
I can really see the potential for using this in class, it’s engaging all my learners in different ways.
P7 Teacher
Our Digital Pedagogy Officers were supporting at Pumpherston and Uphall Station Community Primary School this week, team teaching in P7.
The aims for the session were to:
The highlights of the session included:
This week, the Digital Learning Team worked with Seafield Primary in creatively enhancing learning and teaching using Adobe Express, following on from our staff input last week.
Some of the highlights from the day include:
One class explored the video, animation and graphic features to share learning. They identified some key features of a successful and informative poster as needing bright, bold colours, large text, short statements, related images and animations or eye-catching features.
“I like making videos in Adobe Express, because it’s fun and interesting. It’s quicker to use, and more fun than PowerPoint, because there’s more things to learn, it’s newer, you can draw and add animations.”
P7 pupil
“I like when we could add my voice to my character”
P4 Pupil
Adobe Express is accessible through the tile on your school Glow launchpad.
Click here for more information.
This afternoon, one of our Digital Pedagogy Officers held a training session with the staff at Seafield Primary, specifically focusing on the Microsoft Learning Accelerators, Microsoft Accessibility Tools, and Adobe Express, to build engagement and support all learners.
Adobe Express offers great opportunities for collaboration, feedback, engagement and creativity. Today, staff explored a number of features, but particularly enjoyed the ‘Animate Your Voice’ function, producing some cute results.
Staff explored how to use or further embed the use of the Microsoft Learning Accelerators and Accessibility tools, to support ALL learners.
The tools we looked at today included:
It was great having an in person session. I really liked that it was informative but also informal so we could ask questions specifically relating to our own class or our own level of knowledge. Thanks! 😊Class Teacher
It was great to learn more about Adobe Express and I have now added all pupils in the class with lots of thoughts on how we can use this in the near future.
P6/7 Teacher
We are looking forward to seeing how these tools are used across the school in the near future. Good luck Seafield, and thanks for a great session today.
Recently, the Digital Learning Team joined Education Scotland on a visit to find out how schools were integrating Adobe Express into their classrooms. We found some very exciting lessons going on across P5-7 at Bankton Primary School in Livingston.
What made the lessons stand out was the seamless integration of digital tools that enhanced the high quality teaching and learning which was already going on in the classrooms.
Highlights included:
“I think Adobe Express is great because it helps you to create an image. You can choose what you want it to look like and you learn a lot. It’s fun making things and I like it. There’s still so much to learn on it. It’s easy to delete it if you don’t like parts of it. You use lots of creativity!”
P5B Learner
Adobe Express is accessible through the tile on your school Glow launchpad.
Click here for more information.
Included in this article:
AI, or artificial intelligence, is when machines, especially computers, try to mimic how humans think and learn. This includes gaining knowledge, making decisions based on that knowledge, and correcting mistakes. There are two main types of AI:
While AI offers many benefits, it also raises important ethical questions. Issues such as data privacy, bias in AI algorithms, and the need for transparency must be carefully managed to ensure that AI is used safely and responsibly:
BEFORE USING ANY NEW AI TECHNOLOGY, APPLICATIONS OR SERVICES:
The use of AI in education is still evolving, but its potential to transform how we teach and learn is exciting. By using AI appropriately, we can create more personalised, efficient, and inclusive educational experiences for all learners. However, we must explore with caution and ensure we are using emerging technologies safely and responsibly.
SQA GUIDANCE
The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has also provided guidance on the use of generative AI in assessments in response to concerns about the potential for AI-generated content to increase the risk of plagiarism. As they continue to explore the implications of AI in education and assessments, schools are advised to implement robust methods to authenticate the originality of pupils’ work. For more detailed information, you can visit the SQA’s official page on generative AI in assessments here.
We recognise that there are challenges ahead as we develop policy and guidance alongside a rapidly developing use of technology. We are taking a balanced approach which includes:
Research
We recognise that AI has potential to transform learning and teaching and we are participating in the Learning Beyond Boundaries Research Project to help us explore the benefits, mitigate risks and access resources to enhance learning and teaching using AI technologies. We also have a group of staff working with the AI Futures for Scottish Education project, exploring the ethical use of Generative AI.
Here are some examples of how practitioners are already making use of AI functionality using existing resources to enhance learning and teaching:
Personalised Learning
AI can tailor educational content to meet the individual needs of pupils. By analysing data on pupil performance, AI systems can identify strengths and weaknesses and provide feedback on how to improve.
For examples of this, read more on the Microsoft Learning Accelerators
Providing data and insights
Reflect uses AI to facilitate regular emotional check-ins with pupils.
AI analyses the responses from these check-ins to provide teachers with valuable insights into their pupils’ emotional wellbeing. This data helps identify trends and areas that may require additional support, enabling targeted interventions more effectively. Reflect is also integrated into Microsoft Teams, making it easy for teachers to create check-ins and access the insights.
Inclusive Education
AI can help create more inclusive learning experiences by providing tools that support pupils with diverse needs.
Immersive Reader uses AI techniques to enhance reading comprehension and accessibility by:
Dictate uses AI to convert spoken words into text, making it easier to create documents, emails, notes, and presentations. It uses AI technology in the following ways:
Reducing Workload for Staff
Some practitioners are exploring the use of an AI Planning Tool to reduce the workload associated with planning. AI tools like the Inspirational Pedagogy Assistant can help teachers by providing suggested learning experiences. These should always be used with a critical lens and adapted to meet the needs of individual learners.
Co-Pilot is available to West Lothian staff who have a Glow login, however, it is a standalone Microsoft product which is continually evolving. Users may experience frequent changes to the interface and functionality as Microsoft continues to develop this product. A full data privacy impact assessment (DPIA) is underway and in the meantime, current guidance is to sign in using Glow credentials and ensure that no personal or sensitive information is shared.
Microsoft have removed access to under 18s while they investigate data privacy and safeguarding required for its use by young people.
Creativity
We encourage creativity and innovation and all staff and pupils (P4-S6) have access to Adobe Express using their Glow login details. Adobe Express uses AI in several innovative ways to enhance creativity and streamline the design process. Some key features include:
For information on live lessons and professional learning using Adobe Express, make sure you’re part of the Digiken Team and switch on notifications for the Adobe Express Channel.
These are not endorsements of practice or guidance and they should be accessed with professional criticality. Before using any new AI approach, application or service ensure a DPIA has been completed.
For any questions, comments or to share your learning about the use of AI in education, email the digitallearningteam@westlothian.org.uk
