ICT
Digital citizenships skills key for student development Exploring the future of IT in the classroom at ECIS Technology Conference 2013
O
ver 550 international teachers, educational leaders and IT experts discussed the role and effective integration of IT in the 21st century classroom at the recent European Council of International Schools Technology Conference 2013. Marc Prensky, founder of Spree Games, argued that educators are only now discovering the power of online networks and today’s iGeneration - those born in the Internet age. He urged delegates to accept the reality that digital and virtual content will only accelerate the need for change. Controversially, he argued that today’s children cannot get enough screen time, in much the same way as previous generations read books, challenging delegates to consider these learning platforms with equal approval. Jeff Utecht, a Google Apps for Education Certified Trainer and keynote speaker, rallied delegates to treat students as digital citizens and equip them for a more open society, which has been created through information shared over the Internet. Similarly, Julie Lindsey a global educator and creator of the Flat Classroom project, one without walls and open to the world, explained that there were three key ingredients to becoming a
Groupcall Emerge provides excellent communication for education sector
G
roupcall has fast become one of the education sector market leaders in communication and data extraction tools since its launch in 2002.
The company was co-founded by Sir Bob Geldof and its product portfolio comprises of Messenger, Emerge, Xporter and Alert. Groupcall was initially created to improve general and emergency communication between a school and its parents. Its award- winning parental communication system, Messenger, is currently used in more than 2,500 schools throughout the UK and has proven to successfully reduce unauthorised school absences, as well as improve parental engagement, lower costs and improve efficiencies.
Emerge is an intuitive app available on Apple iOS and Android devices, enabling schools to have an up-to-the-minute copy of their MIS data instantly and securely available in the palm of their hand for access anytime, anywhere and is fully integrated with Groupcall Messenger. Registration can be taken simply and written directly back to the school’s MIS along with behaviour and achievement write-back for SIMS.
Student information including timetables, attendance, minutes late, absence notes,
medical information, behavioural and achievement data can be accessed wherever the teacher is located (even in another country) without the need to rely on a desktop or laptop computer.
In addition to Emerge for Teachers, there will be a new Emerge for Parents app available this summer. The app will allow parents to view up- to-the-minute MIS information on their child/children at school, including automatic notifications for attendance, achievement or behavioural issues directly to their mobile device.
However, don’t just take our word for it! “I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Groupcall Emerge. For any school wishing to explore mobile technologies whilst empowering staff to have instant access to invaluable information, then Emerge is the tool they need!”
truly ‘flat classroom’. Firstly, teachers must encourage students to embrace technology and use it to connect with other learners. Secondly, students should be taught to become good online learners with knowledge of different digital tools, and finally, be able to use these tools to collaborate with other students over the web.
Chandran Nair, CEO and Founder of the Global Institute For Tomorrow, a pan- Asian globalisation think tank, made an impassioned presentation, to an enthralled audience, sharing his vision of a world where the basic requirements of humanity are not surpassed by the consumption of the wealthy. Teachers and staff from all four ACS International Schools also led workshops during the packed conference schedule. ACS Cobham’s student volunteers, part of the conference’s ‘iGeneration’, were on hand to demonstrate how they utilise technology in their learning and develop digital citizenship skills, following the school’s recent introduction of its one-to-one iPad programme.
uFor conference videos, visit
www.youtube.com/acsinternational1
uFor further information or to receive a free, no-obligation trial, please contact: 020 8502 7344, email:
emerge@groupcall.com or visit:
www.groupcall.com.
10
www.education-today.co.uk March 2013
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 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32