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BESA CORNER


This month, in our ongoing feature highlighting the work of members of the UK education suppliers’ trade body BESA, we hear about student autonomy from MEI; and ZENERGI explain how schools can reduce their energy footprint.


Embracing student autonomy in post-


pandemic education Comment by ANDY LUMLEY, Head of Learning Technology, MEI


In March 2020, teaching changed around the world at the drop of a hat. Schools were closed and no longer could students rely on their teacher to help and guide them through their course in face-to-face lessons. The pandemic was here. Two and a half years later, we are back to ‘normal’ school but there are questions that remain over what we have truly learnt. Like so many people, I was teaching remotely during national lockdowns. Teaching everything from Year 7 through to Year 13 meant adapting to the students’ needs, trying new things, discovering new tech products and deciding what worked and what didn't. No matter the age of the student, however, there was one clear


thing that was appreciated. Student autonomy. As teachers, we are all guilty of slipping into the complete spoon-


feeding of students, no matter how much we hope and try to avoid this. During the lockdown, my school varied from live lessons to setting work to complete, and everything in between. In one of the times back in school for face-to-face teaching, one of my Year 10 students was saying how she really enjoyed working from home because she could just get on. This was after the time when we weren't doing live lessons, as such, we were offering live support, but lessons were set through Google Classroom. I would spend an hour or so before school recording my teaching videos for the day and then share them with the students. This Year 10 girl said she really liked the ability to pause my video to think about what I had said ("I can't pause you in class, Mr Lumley, it would just annoy everybody") or even rewind and listen again - particularly on examples. Being back in class had taken these choices away from her and removed her autonomy. Did she still need me whilst remote learning? Yes. She would always come to the drop-in sessions to ask for help or clarification just like she can in class. The difference was that she had formed better questions to ask as her time was her own and there was no need to speed through things like so often happens in class. One of our roles in teaching A level students is to prepare them


for the world of work or further study. If we merely spoon-feed our students are we truly getting them ready for independence that is expected by life? It became clear to me that student autonomy needs to be


embraced, particularly at A level. Giving the students access to platforms that allow them to self-study and support the teaching they receive at school empowers them and increases their readiness for the future. One such platform for A level Maths and Further Maths students


is Integral, MEI’s online learning platform. Schools can take out a subscription for their students and give them access to interactive books, levelled exercises, teaching videos, online assessments and much more besides. An Integral account allows students to feel in control of their learning away from school and make the transition to work, apprenticeships or university feel much smoother. To learn more about how an Integral subscription could benefit your students, visit integralmaths.org and book a tour!


14 www.education-today.co.uk


Achieve your energy and carbon reduction goals with Zen Zero


The education sector can no longer ignore its responsibility to act on what could possibly be the biggest threat humanity has ever faced. As a minimum, it is undoubtedly the single biggest challenge facing our generation. Tackling climate change is a truly global challenge, but everyone has a role to play and can make a difference, no matter how small or large. For many schools, the pressure of reaching net zero adds to many other


challenges that are putting a strain on the sector. Rising energy bills continue to take over annual budgets, with increases reaching as much as 300% or more. And with prices expected to further increase in 2023, schools have no option but to seek ways to mitigate costs.


Going back to basics To maximise investment in energy efficiency, there is plenty that can be done to engage staff and change behaviours. Effective behaviour change can reduce energy usage by up to 20%, and with this opportunity at arm’s reach, it can be hugely beneficial to implement a strategic staff behavioural training programme. Holding regular workshops is an engaging way to educate staff members on the importance of energy-efficient habits. But consistency is key, which is why regular training must be scheduled into annual plans. Having this in place will ensure staff are frequently educated on the topic and are more likely to turn learnt behaviour into long-term habits.


Net zero as a route to protecting your school’s budget Although effective, energy efficiency training can only take net zero goals to a certain point. With staff overwhelmed and overworked, schools need to implement technology that relieves their staff of any further pressures.


Investing in renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency measures can generate revenue, keep energy costs under control, and accelerate net zero goals. However, doing this effectively requires the right people, knowledge and resources and a strategic achievable plan. Zenergi’s Zen Zero three-step framework is a proven approach that will deliver sustained benefits across your school…


Step 1: Measure Creating a strategic outline of your facility’s energy efficiency objectives is critical to the success of what will follow and will act as the blueprint of your long-term plans. However, this needs to be backed up by the relevant data, to fully understand your school’s current energy usage. Step 2: Prepare During the preparation phase, further data collection is needed. However, this needs to be quality checked to ensure any data gaps or inconsistencies are closed. A site audit will offer detailed insights, recommendations, and industry benchmarking to establish where you sit relative to your peers. This aims to define a timeline and strategy for your net zero journey. Step 3: Deliver Getting on track to net zero is no longer optional, and with the growing pressures facing the education sector, it can be a difficult task to manage and deliver. Seeking support with your energy efficiency goals can leave more time to focus on other vital priorities. Zen Zero If it hasn’t already, your school’s journey to net zero can start today and Zenergi can support your organisation every step of the way. We pride ourselves on delivering reliable and practical advice, which is then underpinned by credible solutions with clearly identifiable benefits. Put simply, not only does this mean we can help you get started by creating a baseline and setting a net zero target, but we can also work with you to define and achieve the roadmap that meets your objectives.


For more information visit www.zenergi.co.uk/our-services/zen-zero September 2022


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