EDUCATION-JAN10-PG34:Page 6 05/01/2010 16:13 Page 34
BETT Highlights
First ‘iPhones-for-pupils’ scheme to aid learning
3
0 pupils at a London secondary school were last month supplied with After one week, the feedback from pupils has been overwhelmingly
iPhones in the first project of its kind in the country. Girls in years 7 to 11 positive. Emma Hardy, a Year 10 pupil noted:
at Gumley House Convent School in Hounslow, will use the phones in class “I’ve really enjoyed having the iPhone in this first week. I’m taking my time
over the next 7 months, as part of a trial to understand how mobile devices deciding what to spend the £15 voucher on as I want to make sure I get the
can be used to facilitate learning. right applications. So far I’ve downloaded some free ones that have already
The trial is the result of a 2-year research project based on the use of come in useful at school. I’ve been using Quick Graph for Maths, and periodic
technology in a learning environment carried out by an education expert, table applications for Chemistry. I’ve also downloaded a tube map application
Professor Michael Gibson. Brentford City Learning Centre (CLC) partnered that really helps me get from A to B!”
with Academia Ltd, a leading provider of technology solutions, to implement
the roll-out. Gumley House was selected after a competition to design the uAcademia Ltd
classroom of the future revealed a high interest in technology among pupils. u08456 120118
uwww.academia.co.uk
Simon Elledge, Manager at Brentford CLC commented:
“In most schools mobile phones are viewed as distractions and banned from
the classroom. But, as technology becomes more integrated into our daily
lives, we wanted to understand how it could be used positively in the learning
environment. The girls on the trial are encouraged to use the iPhones as
much as possible, with permission from teachers of course. They will be
monitored using questionnaires, spot checks and individual feedback and the
data collected will be independently analysed and shared with the other 104
CLCs nationwide to the benefit of pupils throughout the UK.”
The handsets, on pay-as-you-go accounts with O2, were presented to
the students at an event last month. Mark McCormack, Apple
business director at Academia commented:
“The iPhone is currently the best in its market, and with its 3G internet
connectivity, pupils will have the web to hand for any learning requirement.
The girls will have access to thousands of different applications to aid
learning, while also bringing an element of fun to the classroom.”
The pupils were selected based on their submission of essays outlining how
they felt the iPhone would aid their education. They cited the use of
applications such as ‘Periodic’, allowing access to the periodic table and the
use of the calendar and tasks for personal planning.
Stephen Byrne, assistant head teacher at Gumley House said:
“The girls are already downloading applications for document management,
language translations and anatomy study. We are offering monthly prizes for
the pupil who can find the most creative use of apps for learning. This is all
part of Gumley’s commitment to being at the forefront of technology in
education, and we are hoping it will lead to the ability to easily produce
blogs, podcasts and DVD presentations. It’s all about embracing the
technology as opposed to outlawing it. We are anticipating this will minimise
the ‘texting-under-the-desk’ culture that exists in so many schools and instead
encourage pupils to use their mobile as an academic aid.”
34
www.education-today.co.uk January 2010
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