Opinion: Vic Goddard on STEM, BETT and other acronyms

​​We have the technology…but are we using it to the best effect in our classrooms? Vic Goddard shares some pre-BETT musings

When we find time to stop worrying about curriculum reform, pension change, Ofsted, league tables and all the rest of it, many schools are battling with understanding and unlocking the power of new technologies to improve the education journey of our students. Here at Passmores, like many schools, we are trying to use bits of hardware like iPads, Raspberry Pi and other mobile devices whilst also striving to develop the use of the rapidly emerging new software as well as old favourites like Twitter.

Those that visit the BETT Show regularly, like me, will have seen the ‘latest’ technologies shown off year after year; the temptation from the ‘once in a lifetime’ offers to sign up often seem too good to miss and some are. However, what we have learned over time is that buying new bits of kit and putting them in classrooms can often be a total waste of money. I have seen some very expensive equipment, such as interactive whiteboards, being used in exactly the same way and with exactly the same impact as the piece of whiteboard that cost £40 – schools can no longer afford to spend without a really clear understanding of the impact of the investment.

ICT obviously provides a powerful tool with the potential to enhance the educational opportunities and life chances of all students. It can break down some of the barriers that lead to underachievement, student disaffection and educational exclusion… but only if used appropriately. Technology remains the servant to the most powerful instrument in improving young people’s lives: the influence of highly skilled teacher.

We have a variety of research and development work going on around our school to trial the use of different ICT solutions; for instance I have teachers from across subjects looking at iPads, others investigating the use of social media in lessons, and a school-wide look at BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). I will always refuse to ban mobile devices, including phones, from school as that seems to defeat the object of our educational philosophy – unlocking the potential of all of our learners both young and old. We actively look for partners from the world of technology to work with, for the mutual benefit of their company and our learners.

The biggest lesson I have learned is that just because you can it doesn’t mean you should, unless the staff involved are comfortable with the potential shift in their classroom pedagogy or the technology is a natural fit for them. There was a really interesting review of research literature carried out and published by the DfES and BECTA a while ago, which highlighted just that. In the conclusion of the report, however, the research evidence is clear that

“The benefits include: enabling pupils to challenge their preconceptions; giving them the means of providing more powerful explanations; helping them develop better reasoning strategies; developing their confidence in their ability to communicate their knowledge to others; helping them achieve more autonomy in their learning; and helping them relate their learning in a wider

context.” ICT and Pedagogy published by the DfES and BECTA as part of the ICT in Schools Research and Evaluation Series – No.18

“Technology remains the servant to the most powerful tool in improving young people’s lives: the power of highly skilled teacher”

• To try and completely change the way we do something to help students access the learning.
• To try and enhance a specific aspect or aspects of learning about a particular topic or area of the curriculum.
• To help with the engagement of our young people; we have seen specific strengths in this area with regard to boys and reading.
• To ensure that real life contexts are used as appropriate, and this includes ‘industry standard’ technology.

The real potential for new and emerging technologies is still hard to quantify but I know how much my own professional practice has been enhanced by embracing the use of Twitter as a CPD tool, for example. I take part in #SLTchat on a Sunday night at 8pm, which is a forum for sharing thoughts and ideas about specific topics and I know that advice is only 140 characters away if I want an external opinion on something or need a bit of ‘best practice’ advice. This has definitely enhanced my ability as a teacher and leader in my school.

Ultimately ICT is already enabling teachers and students to be active learners together. In my opinion it will always be the servant to real education carried out by professionals alongside the young people they serve – but it can certainly make the journey much more colourful and interesting.