VIEWS & OPINION


Supporting teachers with virtual training


during distance learning Comment by RICKY YE, CEO of DFRobot


The coronavirus pandemic has transformed the way students are learning across the globe; with the majority of schools and universities now closed, teachers have been working hard to implement distance learning measures and minimise disruption for students as much as possible. In this exceptional situation, it is


essential that we work together to share guidance and best practices which support teachers and help them to


prepare ahead of the return school. With this in mind, we began developing online lessons specifically for teachers following the school closures in China.


Live lessons for teachers Since the start of February, most schools in China extended their winter holidays to keep students and staff safer at home. Equipping pupils with everything they required to continue their studies from home was the priority, but we also realised that teachers needed just as much support with their training, development and mental wellbeing during this difficult time. We began running free, real- time virtual lessons aimed at STEM teachers, but available to pupils too, to help them upgrade their skills and knowledge about new technologies. The live lessons covered various subject areas such as coding,


Internet of Things (IoT)and artificial intelligence (AI), with DFRobot instructors offering step-by-step tutorials on how to build different STEM projects, as well as more general lessons covering the practical skills of coding with Python, micro:bit and Arduino. Similarly, to other distance learning resources for students, we incorporated project-based learning in the live lessons to give teachers hands-on experience. This enabled teachers to put the theories being discussed into action via physical projects, with the opportunity to ask questions and get feedback through Q&A sessions. Training and development opportunities are useful at any stage in


a teaching career, especially when it comes to more complex topics such as AI. Indeed, many of the teachers who participated have requested that we continue the lessons even after schools return. 40 per cent of the teachers who attended the live lessons were from primary schools, while 16.6 per cent were from secondary schools, suggesting that many are keen to introduce coding and AI to younger learners in an engaging and interactive way. With enriched skills and confidence, teachers can offer a richer learning experience for their pupils in the classroom. Since the pandemic has become a worldwide issue, we are


developing a website offering free access to the virtual lessons as well as STEM-based lesson plans, for teachers around the world to access. The challenges of working from home, whether that is feelings of isolation or sharing limited space with family members, can affect teachers just as much as pupils. The virtual lessons are a valuable opportunity for teachers to connect with other educators, refresh their knowledge and have fun working on a creative project which are all important during isolation. Teachers will also be able to access a selection of lessons on YouTube for free next month, including step-by-steps of our Boson Science kit and HuskyLens projects.


For more information and to keep up to date with the teacher training resources website launch, please visit: https://www.dfrobot.com/


April 2020 E-learning Supplement


Helping students stay focused during distance learning


In recent weeks UK schools have made the transition to distance learning as part of the Government’s social distancing strategy, in order to better protect students and staff and slow the spread of coronavirus. As we get to grips with working from home, helping students who have been busy preparing for their GCSEs and A-level exams will be key, whilst ensuring measures are in place to support our hardworking teachers. In these unusual times edtech has become a vital tool for students


to access learning materials, collaborate with their peers and link in with teachers from any location. The GCSEPod service is bespoke to the needs of each individual school, from MIS integration through to exam board filtering. Any school or college taking out a subscription to GCSEPod will have additional time added on to their subscription to cover the length of the school closure period.


Supporting Year 10s For Year 10s who are at a pivotal stage in their learning and GCSE preparation, the 3-5-minute revision videos are a fun way to maintain their progress. With a huge amount of content needed in preparation for next years exams, using this time productively is critical. GCSEPod provides a Netflix-style layout so students can create a playlist of videos for any areas they need to improve which teachers can add to as needed, helping to motivate those who are struggling to engage with traditional textbooks. The pods further allow students to re- watch and test their knowledge in order to deepen their subject comprehension.


Aiding teachers We can all agree the dedication of teachers has been inspiring; from assisting pupils via digital learning platforms to planning new home- friendly lessons and offering mental wellbeing support. As such we should assist them as much as possible to make their workloads more efficient and effective. For instance, the ‘Check and Challenge’ feature in GCSEPod helps students that may be falling behind slightly since it allows them to self-assess and have additional learning video pods assigned to them; all without the need for a teacher to be at their side.


In the UK we might also look to schools in countries such as China


who have been implementing distance learning for several months now. Carol Camargo, Director of Studies at Nord Anglia International School Shanghai Pudong, closed early on in the coronavirus pandemic and harnessed GCSEPod to deliver some continuity: “Students find the system easy to use and as senior leaders we can


be sure that they have quality and consistency in the work set. We are able to monitor how engaged the students are as well as the assignments set by teachers, therefore we are able to quality assure remotely. “Overall, it has given us a consistent platform to use with our


examination groups that students have been able to access using whichever device they had with them when abroad. As we have been providing e-learning for seven weeks now, we have had to expand the work we set our students, however, GCSEPod is still the platform we use to start the learning for each week in most subjects.” Even if the classroom is now virtual, there is no reason why pupils cannot continue to receive a first-class education.


GCSEPod is a multi-award-winning digital publisher of in-depth curriculum knowledge for over 27 GCSE subjects. Any school or college purchasing GCSEPod for the first time, or renewing their subscription, from the 1st March 2020 will be eligible for our ‘free closure period guarantee’.


www.education-today.co.uk 19


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