managing ict managing ict
A game of two halves
Paul Stevens
from The
Minster School
explains how
they use their VLE and
introduces the concept
of ‘interest space’ and
‘learning space’
t the Minster School, we are
A
fortunate enough to have some
very talented staff and learners who
make up our community. In 2007,
we received our inspection from
Ofsted. Our 1,650-pupil school was
given at least a “good” rating on all
aspects, with some elements, such as partnership work, An interest in learning:
achieving an “outstanding”. But we had a vision – we Students at The Minster
wanted to be outstanding across the board, so began School can use their VLE
identifying new ways to reach this ambitious target. anytime, anywhere
to become an “outstanding” school is not without
its challenges, and for us, these included developing
systems for greater personalisation of learning, new facilities and valuable investment – including designed to enhance the learning experience. But the within the VLe using assessment tools, as well as
enriching the learning experience for students, and £2.2 million for ICt investment – we had to seriously one thing we needed to underpin this development was data that is manually entered from paper-based tasks,
remodelling the working culture at the school. It may assess our needs, and identify how we would reach our an innovative learning platform that would enable us to practical work and classroom observations. It gives us
sound like three very simple steps, but to get it right, we goal of becoming an outstanding school. collaborate, share resources, and promote an “anytime, a really smooth and consistent way of tracking progress
needed to lay a solid, reliable foundation. It quickly became clear that we needed a new ICt anywhere” way of leaning. – and the results have not gone unnoticed.
infrastructure – a strong foundation that would see us Part of Minster’s philosophy is that technology plays But what does this look like on the ground? Recently,
Investment and our new VLE
through the various stages of development. We needed an integral part in the teaching and learning experience, a number of staff from a wide range of subject areas,
I
12399_UNIS SYC 136.5X188_NW_B 16/10/07 09:58 Page 1
n September 2007, as part of a £34 million innovation, but we also needed flexibility. both in the classroom and beyond, so we needed a tool including Pe, food technology, science, ICt, modern
redevelopment project, we relocated to a new school We embraced a whole host of new technologies from that enabled us to embrace our philosophy. foreign languages, and geography, opted to take part in
build. this was only part of the journey and with interactive whiteboards to visual and audio devices, all the virtual learning platform (VLe) was seen as key an enriched VLe workshop.
to our development. It allows us to import most of the these subjects do not traditionally use technology, but
digital resources we need, from third party resources all of the teachers demonstrated how they have used the
to those created by our teachers, quickly and easily. It VLe with students or how they are planning to use it. As
also allows innovative resources such as videos to be such, they accessed training material via the VLe, used
uploaded either directly or by importing the resources it to complete administration tasks, and used it to train
as a content pack. Most importantly, it provides the others in producing a digital course similar to their own.
students and staff with 24/7 access to content, helping to these workshops operate on a “for teachers, by
promote anytime, anywhere learning. teachers” basis and are run by members of staff who
But how has the platform affected learning at have embraced the learning platform technology. As
Minster School? Since the installation, we have made such, their experience is invaluable in developing
significant progress in its use and application. At further uses for the VLe. Feedback from the sessions
Minster, it is a game of two halves as we use the VLe in has been excellent, with 100 per cent of staff rating
two ways – “interest space” and “learning space”. them as either very or extremely useful.
Interest space Outstanding here we come
Our interest space is an area of the learning platform the introduction of the VLe has already had a dramatic
where users receive news, can follow links to relevant impact on the school. In the summer of 2008, we
external websites, access key documents from our received our best ever performance at key stage 4,
document library, use the discussion board, or develop with 84 per cent achieving five or more GCSe grades
a collaborative wiki. A* to C.
Size and strength are often useful.
Recently, year 7 students used the ICt interest space the VLe has enabled us to streamline the way we
on the VLe to develop a class wiki based on a cross- work – from sharing materials, to designing courses,
curricular project theme called Brazil Weeks. It marked executing projects and providing ongoing assessment.
the international collaboration between schools in both For the pupils, they reap the benefits of 24/7 access to
countries in preparation for the Olympic Games. resources, including documents, guidelines, and useful
During this time students were engaged in projects weblinks to external sources.
with a connection to Brazil. For example, in maths, the platform has also allowed us to introduce some
students looked at the mathematical properties of the innovative new technologies, such as the tools used to
Brazilian flag, and in Pe the focus was on developing create wikis – which can only benefit the development
a Brazilian dance. We used the VLe to bring together of the young, tech-savvy learners of today.
all of the activities taking place in the various subject Looking to the future, in order to develop engaging
areas and shared them with the Brazilian students. the interactive resources we are turning our attention
project was a huge success and the learners thoroughly to using an animation product via the VLe. Using
enjoyed it. special software it allows teachers to generate computer
animated lessons with teacher narration. these resources
Learning space
will be placed on a VLe course for anytime, anywhere
Our “learning space” on the VLe – also known as our learning.
portal – provides us with a way to supply our learners Other areas for development include using the VLe
with resources with greater personalisation, as well in conjunction with a video software solution for video
So is friendly and approachable. as giving them individual feedback as part of their analysis in Pe, as well as supporting peripatetic music
ongoing assessment. lessons and various courses in science.
Our learning space element is still in the early We are also looking to invest in training each
stages. the first step has been to teach staff about the department assistant on how to support their curriculum
learning platform so we can create champions for each team leader in building and populating courses, as well
school department, allowing them to appreciate and as enrolling students.
communicate the benefits of the system. With the foundation set, we have a whole host
As follow-up, staff were trained to use the system of ideas for Minster. having been accredited with
in three or four modules of further study, starting with the ICt Mark and the Becta excellence Award for
lessons on how to build courses on the VLe, followed teaching and learning, we are confident, enthusiastic
by how to populate the courses with resources, how to and committed to exploring and developing the use of
UNISON has over 1.3 million members and is the largest union for school enrol students, and how to use the mark book. new technologies. SecEd
and early years staff. And when we talk we need people to listen. But Interactive mark books record information from a
when we’re helping or advising individual members,we prefer the more wide variety of assessment opportunities – and it has • Paul Stevens is the assistant head of e-learning at
friendly one-to-one how-can-I-help-you approach.
really helped us to streamline the way teachers gather The Minster School, a mixed voluntary aided Church
Tobecome a member and get the backing of many or the support of one,
and present learner feedback. of England Comprehensive School in Southwell,
call 0845 355 0845 or visit www.unison.org.uk. UNISON – All for one.
the VLe facilitates the automatic inclusion of Nottinghamshire, which uses the Kaleidos learning
information from online tests and assignments set platform.
10 SecEd • July 9 2009
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