After having
visited Shirley Warren Primary School and being shown around by Tom I was
amazed at the vast quantity of media equipment and resources that the school
had readily available. I found it hugely impressive the way they have brought
the school into the 21st century and really embraced the positive
impact technology can have on our teaching.
I liked that the whole school seemed to be incorporated in this love of
technology rather than just a small number of the staff and the fact that is
was integrated into daily life within the school. Marsh et al (2005) found that
there was a digital divide which influences teachers’ confidence in using technology,
however Tom stated that is just a fear of the unknown. He solves this by
ensuring all the teachers are trained with all equipment and by running
technology drop in sessions on a fortnightly basis so his knowledge is readily
available allowing teachers to ‘become learners themselves, and
discover the digital world’ (21st CFP: 4). Despite the fact that some of the projects
undertaken by Shirley Warren, such as the radio station, were time consuming
all staff seemed to be on side and get involved.
The
technologies available to the class teachers were of a wide variety which, as
an ICT specialist, was really interesting for me to see how they valued the
very simple technologies up to the more technical media. I found it very
inspiring to see such a committed, enthusiastic ICT coordinator and think that his
passion is very much reflected throughout the school; the children are very
lucky to have such access to the equipment. I have never had the fortune of
working in a school with such passion around ICT but wonder whether, if all
schools had such technologies available to them, they would put them into good
use?
Marsh, J. Brooks, G. Hughes, J.
Ritchie,L. Roberts, S. Wright,K. (2005) Digital beginnings: Young children’s
use of popular culture, media and new Technologies University of Sheffield
The 21st century Fluency
Project Understanding Digital Kids II
Yes Tess it is totally amazing to see someone like Tom in a school and I am sure that it is his successful implementation that has made the use of ICT such a high priority in the school but how can we capture that and put it in our own schools and even more to the point as an ICT specialist how could you implement what he has done in his school in your own school. How could you see your role as an ICT manager, what learning do you think you need to be as confident and assured as Tom
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