Developing Digital Skills
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Many schools have explored the benefits of using a range of devices to access online tools.
Sometimes, limited resources force schools to make tough choices.
However, the best outcomes for students are often seen when investments are strategically focused on providing the right digital tool to support specific learning activities.
'You can't predict what the future is going to hold,
but you can prepare children for it'
How and why should we develop future skills?
How and why should we develop future skills?
'When I was at school, I didn't think about what I'd be doing in 10 /15 years time. I don't think there are many children who actually really know. They are talking about what they want to be when they grow up, whether it's professional football or a doctor or they want to work in nature in some way. But how many of them actually achieved that?... You can't predict what the future is going to hold, but you can prepare children for it'
Simon Pile
Headteacher - Anson Primary
Developing a range of digital skills across different devices
Supporting project-based creative work with a mixture of devices
'we've had, for. a couple of years now, one-to-one devices in Upper Key Stage 2 have been incredibly powerful, allowing the children to be integrated into what the rest of the class is doing. Earlier this year, we bought a new set of class iPads. The idea of using this tech for filmmaking, animation projects, AR, and the idea that these were more mobile devices that could be used anywhere in the grounds because we're very lucky we have a field. We have used them to support children's independent projects without being stuck in a classroom. Our Winbooks have quite small storage, so actually this gives us greater flexibility'
Katie Usher
Deputy Headteacher
Lawford C of E Primary school
Developing an awareness of different digital tools.
Developing an awareness of different digital tools.
'I think with our Chromebook program, children are given their Chromebooks from a really young age. We've got children in year one and two that are learning how to use a Chromebook. By the time they get to year five and six, they're quite proficient in the use of their Chromebook, and actually we wanted to be able to provide them with something that could move their learning on further. We invested in some MacBooks to be able to provide them with other tools that can enhance, their digital knowledge, and also to make them realiae that in their whole life, they're not just going to use a Chromebook, they're going to use multiple devices, just as we do as adults'
'I think with our Chromebook program, children are given their Chromebooks from a really young age. We've got children in year one and two that are learning how to use a Chromebook. By the time they get to year five and six, they're quite proficient in the use of their Chromebook, and actually we wanted to be able to provide them with something that could move their learning on further. We invested in some MacBooks to be able to provide them with other tools that can enhance, their digital knowledge, and also to make them realiae that in their whole life, they're not just going to use a Chromebook, they're going to use multiple devices, just as we do as adults'
Cheryl Shirley
Director of Digital Skills & Computing
LEO Academy Trust
Developing Digital Skills at LEO Academy Trust
What is the LEO Digital Skills curriculum? PLEO 21a
'We've designed our own digital skills curriculum mainly to inform teachers about what sort of skills children will need to develop as they go through each year group. So in reception, they learn the small things like being able to take a photograph, but the idea is that they develop that skill within the provision to support them. They showcase the nice things that they've done, and they want to show their parents that they're able to develop those skills. But then when they move into year one, they've already got that foundational skills so that when they are required to take a photo, then they don't need to be learning that in that particular lesson.
Cheryl Shirley
Director of Digital Skills & Computing
LEO Academy Trust
'I'm a Year 6 teacher, so when we get to Year 6, they would have had digital skills embedded from the early year foundation stage, from nursery up from reception and in Key Stage One and Two, and those skills are continually developed. So, when they come to Year 6, they can type extremely fast. And some of our research has shown that they can type faster than they can write. This allows them more time to produce work and work collaboratively to get the best results for them'
Matt Clements
Teacher
LEO Academy Trust
What is the role of digital skills for pupils? PLEO 52
'I think one other thing that's been really important is about making sure that when you're talking to teachers who are less confident with the use of technology, that you think about the problems that they face in their classrooms. And you think about how technology can be part of that solution, which gets them more engaged and can see the actual benefit of utilizing the technology in their classes'
Cheryl Shirley
Director of Digital Skills & Computing
LEO Academy Trust
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