MANAGING ICT
Assistant head Dominic Tester on how ICT can be used
to engage with parents and keep them up-to-date with their child’s learning and the school’s progress
either using ICT to engage with parents already, or were planning to update their ICT systems to engage with parents outside of normal teaching hours. Parental support at home is highly beneficial for
P
motivating students, supporting and encouraging them to learn. However, most parents may be a little rusty on some of the subjects their children are studying, particularly with maths and science. Additionally, some subject matter may be completely new especially in dynamic subjects such as ICT. Parents may be hesitant to help with their child’s
homework because they think they may not fully understand it or that they will teach their children differently from how they learn in class. It is important that schools recognise the need to support parents to ensure they are comfortable providing support when it is required. It is therefore vitally important for schools to equip parents with enough information to guide students in the completion of their assignments. The most direct way to provide learning content and
resources to students and parents is through the internet. Instead of shying away from using technology, which can be perceived to be unfamiliar to some parents, my school, Costello Technology College, has used it to engage parents in students’ learning content. Costello has a virtual learning environment (VLE),
which is used by students to access learning materials, homework and coursework aids outside of school. This sits alongside a Parent Portal, which parents can access to view various resources relevant to their child’s courses. Parents also have access to discussion forums where they can view and engage with key academic data, such as attendance and online reporting. The resources on the school’s VLE are created
by teachers and have been specifically designed for home study. Learning content is mostly produced using screen-casting or “lesson capture” software. Teachers record a video of the activity on a computer screen,
with a voice commentary of the lesson being delivered overlaid on the video recording. This allows teachers to explain what is happening as the video is played back or provide a narrative over a PowerPoint presentation. Costello originally used screen-casting to demonstrate how to use specific software programs or processes such as podcasting, meaning that students can spend lesson time creating a podcast instead of learning how to use such software. The same can be applied to parents; they can
view how students are learning prior to helping them, meaning they are much more able to offer support.
ARENTAL ENGAGEMENT through ICT is at an all-time high in secondary schools, according to a recent survey at BETT 2011 by TechSmith. The study showed that 84 per cent
of those surveyed from primary and secondary schools reported they were
Casting a wider net
Additionally, by including content on the actual lessons students are being taught, parents can jump to the area that requires assistance and work through it with their child, while maintaining a consistent teaching method to what the student is receiving in the classroom. As many parents are “digital immigrants”, we
needed to find a way to reduce their hesitance to use the platform by making sure they were confident with the technology. As such, a screencast video has been created to show parents how to use the Parent Portal. The video guides them through how to navigate through all the different aspects of the Portal, from homework assignments to supporting materials and student diaries and schedules. It also has the secondary benefit of increasing
parents’ confidence in using new technologies. There is the potential for new systems and technologies to be demonstrated on the Portal, further increasing the number of channels through which teachers can engage with parents. Each department within the college has a dedicated
presence on the Portal, so parents can access the subject-specific content that is relevant to their child. Discussion forums for all subjects are also available, so parents can communicate directly with individual teachers to ensure support across the entire curriculum. Costello is now looking at how it can further
improve its parental services to encourage engagement across the board. The VLE has proven very effective in engaging parents with their child’s education, but there are always new technologies that emerge with the potential to aid with education. According to the survey at BETT, 24 per cent of the teachers and ICT co-ordinators put mobile devices at the top of their ICT wish list for 2011, with responses covering both SmartPhones and newer technologies, such as tablet PCs. As the cost of these devices drop, they will become
more commonplace in the home, perhaps even replacing desktop PCs and Macs. Costello is looking at the possibilities of extending learning materials to include mobile devices. By having mobile content available on the move, both students and parents can access learning content at home, while commuting or just when they have a spare moment. This flexibility is especially important for working parents as it allows them to fit in learning engagement around their busy schedules.
SecEd
• Dominic Tester is assistant headteacher at Costello Technology College in Basingstoke. Costello uses screen-casting software called Camtasia Studio.
activating ability
ePace gives teachers a profile of how each pupil learns via a 45 minute assessment which examines how each pupil processes information – helping teachers to realise the true potential of every pupil.
Pupils are taken through a suite of 14 online tests, to assess attainment, cognition and efficiency. Results are rated from one to six, in 11 key areas essential for effective classroom learning; including auditory and visual memory, focus, processing skills and decision making.
The package comes with checklists, strategies and resources to improve performance, making it a practical help in every classroom. ePace is suitable for KS2 and above.
Get 3 FREE tests and try ePace in your school!
Each pupil is given their own report, perfect for sharing with parents, which explains the profile in child friendly language.
Go to
www.epaceonline.com and click on the free trial button to create an account. We’ll credit your account with 3 free tests so you can try the ePace assessment on some of your pupils and see for yourself how ePace could help your school. Don’t worry, there’s absolutely no obligation to buy.
Results from each pupil’s ePace assessment are fed into a unique class profile which gives teachers an instant picture of the talents and challenges of every pupil.
Please visit
www.epaceonline.com or call us today on 0333 123 1810 ePace sec ed
ad.indd 3 SecEd • May 5 2011 27/04/2011 16:20:00 11
Pupil Profile Name John Smith Your ePace Profile
Well done for completing the ePace assessment. We have developed a report just for you to help explain what all those tests were actually measuring and how you did on them. The graph below shows how you managed.
Everyone is unique with their own strengths and weaknesses so do not be put off if you have scored better in some areas than others. Your teacher will also be able to see your results and will be able to help advise you in areas where you seem to be struggling, so don’t be afraid to talk about the results with them.
1 2 3 4 5 6
1
Assessment Date 10 Mar 2008
5
3 2 1 2 2 2 2
3
3
1
2
Below average performance
3 performance Average
4
5
6
Above average performance
© ePace 2010. All rights reserved
Page 1 of 4
Auditory Memory
Memory Listening
Literacy Mental Speed
Decision Making
Emotional Control Focus
Impulse Control
Hand-Eye Coordination Timing
Visual
For a limited time you can buy a bundle of 30 ePace tests for just £150!
Visit
epaceonline.com for details
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16