Digital Education
In retrospect, it is simple to argue that efficient use of technology in schools should be a top focus. I’ve had the good fortune to work with several leaders who saw the need of building a strong technology for learning strategy and supporting all of the Trust’s schools in this way. This meant that when we went into the first lockdown in March 2020, our staff and students were well-prepared to transition to online instruction.
That isn’t to say it hasn’t been difficult. The transition from fully remote learning to a hybrid approach required all employees to modify their teaching and practice. I’ve been blown away by how some instructors who would have previously classified themselves as “technophobes” have adapted to working in an online setting.
To assist staff who may lack confidence in technology, it has been critical to first illustrate the advantages of using technology in their teaching practice, but also to offer several opportunities for them to upskill themselves.
It has been exciting to observe how different new techniques of teaching have arisen during remote learning sessions and have then been employed after students returned to the classroom. As an example:
- Many staff meetings are being held online rather than in person to make better use of everyone’s time and to allow for greater collaboration regardless of location.
- By implementing an online learning environment in all of our schools, students may access their learning, interact with their teachers, and submit work regardless of whether they are physically present at school.
- Using more online video and audio capture capabilities, with teachers recording explanations and demonstrations for students, may boost understanding and generate an useful collection of resources for reviewing information.
