managing ict managing ict
Increasing choice and flexibility
Open source case study – blogging in Spanish
nottingham High School is an independent school for boys with around 900 pupils aged
11 to 18. nottingham High’s use of open source blogging platform Wordpress goes far
beyond student blogs. the school has created a complex content management system to
deliver educational content and manage digital resources.
Wordpress is a well known blogging platform, although, in this case study, it was used
as a content management system that allowed the school to deliver educational content
over the internet and manage digital teaching resources.
nottingham High School’s modern foreign languages department decided to trial
Wordpress to provide their Spanish students with online access to grammar explanations,
interactive exercises, games, podcasts, and listening and reading resources which could be
readily accessed both at school and from home.
nottingham High School does not yet have a virtual learning environment (VLE) and,
therefore, has had to look to alternative solutions to deliver the sort of functionality that a
VLE would otherwise be expected to provide.
the school opted to use Wordpress because of the intuitive nature of its interface,
making the adding of new resources easy and therefore more likely. it also offered great
functionality in terms of adding resources with sound and video, including podcasts.
By concentrating more on the content management features of Wordpress and less
on its blogging capabilities, they created a website which focused on content organised
according to topics and key stages, as well as on easy and intuitive navigation.
the idea was that the website would be a gateway, not only to their resources, but
also to selected external web-based resources, providing the Spanish students with an
attractive one-stop-shop for all their learning needs.
as well as providing educational content to students, the school also sought to bridge the
home-school divide, not only in terms of access to language materials, but also in terms of
showcasing pupils’ work to a wider audience, not least their own friends, parents and family.
they therefore decided to make the most of
Wordpress’s blogging functionality by adding
a blog to the main site which would serve
the dual purpose of communicating
current information to students and
showcasing their work to their friends
and family.
Wordpress and other open source
content management systems have the
potential to be used across the curriculum,
not only in languages but also wherever a
platform is required to deliver educational
content online.
Visit www.nottinghamhigh.co.uk
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Learning lessons from Europe
the Comenius in-service training (ist)
I returned to school refreshed, with renewed
confidence and enthusiasm and armed with lots
programme provides opportunities for
of new ideas. I have integrated many of the course
schools and colleges to introduce or
activities and active learning approaches into my
everyday teaching, which has resulted in more
strengthen the european dimension in
vibrant and relevant lessons. The knock-on effect
their curriculum. Comenius in-service
of this has been noticeable, with students who are
more involved and motivated. The opportunity to
training grants are available to all
look outside the box and gather new and creative
members of staff working in school
ideas not only for myself but for other members of
my department has been very timely in light of the
education and allow you to attend a
implementation of the Northern Ireland Revised
professional development course or
Curriculum and I will certainly be keeping a careful
eye out for further courses.
european conference abroad, or to job As a school we recognise the importance of
shadow colleagues with the aim of
both teachers and students learning about, with and
from others across the world as being a contribution
sharing best practice. to our success and providing our students with the
Here, sharon McBride, a teacher of
best possible education. International programmes
are not just for those subject areas with an obvious
french at Bangor academy and sixth international focus, as the school uptake of
form College, shares her experiences of
Comenius IST and other programmes has already
provided opportunities for a number of teachers
the Comenius ist programme. teachers were able to apply for grants to fund competitive spirit, wine-tasting and free time to from across the curriculum in areas such as English,
course fees, travel expenses and subsistence. explore the local village and surrounding area. drama and ICT.
The pace of the course was fast, lively and On a personal level it was a pleasure to spend There are many people to whom I would like
‘
N AuguST 2008, my colleague and I lots of fun, as over the course of a week a full a week in this most beautiful part of France with a to extend my gratitude for making this experience
I
attended an immersion course for teachers programme of educational and cultural activities had really interesting and lively group of teachers. As so successful but it would be most remiss of
of French from across Europe. This formed been organised for the group. We attended classes they say in Ireland, ‘the craic was great’ and one of me not to mention our fellow participants. They
part of Bangor Academy and Sixth Form daily that dealt with topics ranging from games my favourite memories is of sitting on a minibus were absolutely fantastic. I will never forget their
College’s commitment to developing to grammar, culture to creative writing, tenses to hurtling through the undulating French countryside camaraderie or humour during our week.’
the knowledge and skills necessary to interact technology and media to music. Each member of the to Rocamadour having a good old sing-song to
successfully in the global community among class was fully engaged and his or her contributions distract from any travel-sickness. The group was A training activity in another European country not
its staff. In keeping with this commitment, the and questions welcomed and encouraged. What I supportive, warm and very welcoming. only improves your practical teaching skills, it’s
Principal and senior management team encourage thoroughly enjoyed most was the opportunity to I would have no hesitation in recommending also a great way to create lasting links with schools
and facilitate their staff to broaden their horizons interact with colleagues with differing perspectives this course to other teachers of French. The training and colleges across Europe. Whether you are
and deepen their expertise through participation and experiences from so many countries. provided was relevant and realistic. I found the whole interested in outdoor environmental education, art
in relevant international professional development In addition to the professional nature of the experience very motivational. The opportunity education and new technologies, or updating your
programmes. course, a cultural programme had been designed that it provides for networking, extending teachers’ skills in the teaching of foreign languages, there
The course, which took place in Salignac in the included: guided tours to the beautifully preserved linguistic competences and repertoire of teaching are a huge variety of courses taking place. Find
Dordogne, was organised by le Français en Écosse medieval towns of Sarlat and Rocamadour, an strategies, cultural awareness and knowledge of out more at www.britishcouncil.org/comenius-
(lfee), and through the Comenius programme, evening of Pétanque which brought out the ‘friendly’ this region makes it very worthwhile. in-service-training
british council.indd 6 22/6/09 11:42:39
SecEd • June 25 2009 11
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