eLearning Laura

Here are six pieces of advice I would pass on to anyone leading the Teaching and Learning side of an iPad deployment. I’ve learned as much from our successes as our shortcomings and hope you find this helpful. 1. Start with the learning Bringing new technology into your classrooms will evoke change, but it won’t [...]

Neoteny, one of my favorite words, means the retention of childlike attributes in adulthood: idealism, experimentation and wonder. In this new world, not only must we behave more like children, we also must teach the next generation to retain those attributes that will allow them to be world-changing, innovative adults who will help us reinvent [...]

    “All change please – the Internet is coming!” I attended my first ISC ICT conference this week, which was hosted at Berkhamsted on Wednesday 7th December. It was a fantastic day and I felt very privileged to speak about the work I am doing in my department on colaborative learning using iPads. Click [...]

My team is currently developing our vision for what ICT should look like at our school. It’s shaping up as follows: Our school will provide a technology enriched interactive environment which acts as a hub for lifelong learning in our community. Learning will be high quality, engaging and aspirational, and will prepare learners for economic [...]

I was recently asked by a friend to share tips and advice on how to approach applying for senior leadership posts in school. Here is the list so far, thanks to kind colleagues for sharing. What would you add? 1. Go through the job spec and person specification and methodically answer every part of it [...]

Open Source Software (OSS) is computer software that can be used, changed and distributed by users. It’s usually free of charge, and it’s becoming increasingly popular. So why should school leaders pay attention?  Mark Clarkson, ICT teacher explains:  “Open Source tools make it easy for students, parents and staff to access software without the need [...]

Watch the video. This is 20 minutes worth of inspiration, and whilst some teachers will find the weight of the moral responsibility Schwartz gives us hard to bear, I am finding him difficult to disagree with! Any work that you do that involves other people is moral work, and any moral work depends upon practical [...]

On both sides of the Atlantic we are facing a school leadership vacuum as the Baby Boomer generation heads towards retirement. Ambition doesn’t have to be a dirty word, and there is a recipe for success in moving up the hierarchy in school which benefits everyone. If you are in the early stages of your [...]

I am a Fast Track Teacher on my final year in the programme. I am currently Faculty Leader for MFL at Westfield Community College in Watford, and aiming for my first senior leadership post. For the past year I have been using Twitter to develop my Personal Learning Network. I have found that in combination [...]

I have been gathering thoughts on marking. There is nothing new here, and that is part of the problem! In my school we need to review and refresh our lapsed marking policy, and as part of the process I have drafted the following memo for SLT as an overview of my thoughts and practice/policies I [...]