Log in / Register
You are not logged in.
|
Filed under:  This year, bee-it will be putting the kettle on and spending ten minutes getting the lowdown on technology in schools from teachers and other education professionals in a brand new feature called ‘Breaktime with...’
This week Bev Humphrey, Literacy, School Libraries and Technology Consultant, shares her thoughts...
Why did you get into teaching/education?
For me it was a matter of convenience – I could fit working in a school around caring for my young family at the time.
What’s the best thing about being a teacher/working in education?
Working with inquisitive, annoying, demanding but utterly wonderful young people and dealing with the challenges this presents.
What’s the most challenging thing about being a teacher/working in education?
Encouraging students to engage with learning and keeping that impetus going – our new digital world is not always conducive to building concentration skills so it is essential to keep finding new ways to retain the interest of our young ‘butterfly-minded’ pupils.
Which item of technology has most changed your approach to your joband why?
It has to be the iPad. I've never seen students so fascinated and engaged when using it and they learn without realising it. It has meant I have become much more versatile with my teaching and have been able to help with subjects that I am not a specialist in.
Which lesson(s) do you think technology lends itself particularly well to and why?
All lessons can benefit by the judicial use of technology, however it has to be technology for teaching’s sake and not for its own sake. I have used social networking effectively in many lessons and could see the benefits of using iPads, for example to show videos illustrating technique in Physical Education.
Do you think mobile phones should be permitted in school? Why?
Yes, definitely. Most of our students are carrying more sophisticated technology in their pockets than we could ever afford to buy for them to use individually, so why shouldn't we utilise these devices for learning? Some schools have invested in Flip videos for use in school but why not let the young people use their own phones to video – they are comfortable with uploading from them and excellent results can be achieved.
Yes, there are issues with mobiles proving a distraction and not every teacher is happy to be filmed, but as long as guidelines are put in place, allowing students to video pertinent bits of lessons can be a powerful revision aid for them.
Are you going to be trying anything new in your school using technology this year?
Although I am not attached to a particular school, I would like to explore the use of social networking for education this year.
Which future education technology developments are you most excited about and why?
A development that I would be over the moon about would be to see a loosening of the blocking that is done at borough level. This would free up so many amazing sites and allow teachers to decide their relevance. There are so many free resources out there but many schools just can't access them.
Who inspires you the most and why?
I can't pick just one, it would have to be two; Phil Bradley and Tim Rylands, both because they are constantly challenging me to learn new things and have such enthusiasm that they just sweep you along with them on a tide of technology and education.
If you could go back to your first dayworking in education, what advice would you give yourself?
Pace yourself, don't ‘live the job’ and make sure time off is just that. (I wouldn't have listened though!)
If you’d like to take part in ‘Breaktime with...’ and share your views with the bee-it community and beyond, click here to get in touch with the bee-it team. Alternatively, call 020 3384 6606.
To read previous ‘Breaktime with...’ articles, click here.
|
Copyright © 2012 bee-it.co.uk by BEE Digital Ltd. Company No. 07008163.
All Rights Reserved.