E-Learning at Ashford School

Adventurous Learning

E-Learning at Ashford School

Anytime, Anywhere and Anyhow

Ashford School • E-learning at Ashford School • Anytime, Anywhere, Anyhow

Digitally Speaking MICHAEL HALL HEADMASTER OF ASHFORD SCHOOL

As you will know, part of our aim for your children is that they should leave Ashford School ready for the next stage of their education and early adult lives. Part of that preparation is ensuring a thorough grasp of the opportunities that technology offers and that our children are able to assess and handle the inherent risks of the digital age. In partnership with you, we will train them to make the best, sensible and safe use of this powerful tool. Technology, as we use it at Ashford School, is a medium which we use when and if appropriate – it does not of itself improve learning or guarantee improved exam outcomes. However, in the hands of children guided by expert teaching and knowledgeable adults it can and should open doors to the future.

Ashford School has been commended for its’ excellent and appropriate use of technology in the classroom. We are GESS Education Award Finalists and have been shortlisted for the 2019 TES Best Use of Technology award.

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Ashford School • E-learning at Ashford School • Anytime, Anywhere, Anyhow

E-LEARNING AT ASHFORD SCHOOL

DR. NEELAM PARMAR

E-learning, simply put, is learning through the use of various electronic technology which can enable learning to take place anytime, anyhow and anywhere. As our students advance in their use of digital technology, the way they work, think and act has had profound effects on the way they learn. In education, these changes have offered both teachers and students unlimited creative opportunities, as well as worthy challenges. The more directive, traditional model, of a teacher imparting knowledge to students in a passive rote-like fashion, has turned itself around. With their world shaped by digital technology, our children have been newly empowered as independent learners who are confident in seeking answers to their own questions online and bringing their knowledge back into the classroom.

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The practice of e-learning at Ashford School includes the combination of several technologies to access the educational curriculum outside of the traditional classroom.

These range from a common Virtual Learning Environment to the 1:1 iPad scheme for all students; to preparing students with 21st century skills and teaching them to be safe on-line. As our students enter this new world, it is our responsibility as teachers and parents to equip our students with up to date knowledge so that they will make intelligent decisions about their use of technology and the impact it can make on their lives, both educationally and personally.

This e-booklet has been created to provide you with an understanding of how and why we use new technology at Ashford School.

You will find details about the opportunities for your students as online learners, and also information about the various forms of technology at the School. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Neelam Parmar, Director of E-Learning on parmarn@ashfordschool.co.uk.

Ashford School • E-learning at Ashford School • Anytime, Anywhere, Anyhow

1:1 iPad Scheme Everything that we do at Ashford School has at its heart a commitment to preparing students to flourish independently in their lives after School. As it stands, the world is becoming more information-rich, globally more interconnected, and more innovative than ever before. With this in mind, the 1:1 iPad Scheme uses technology that already plays a big part in the students’ lives.

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Ashford School is committed to using technology only where it enhances the student’s learning and development. While our mission at Ashford School is to provide students the best e-learning opportunities through the use of the iPad, we are also committed to providing a holistic approach to learning, by blending more traditional teaching practices with new digital experiences.

Using iPads in classrooms brings education to life. The students have at their fingertips access to valuable information, such as online Digital Britannica Learning Resources, which were once only available in printed format. They are connected all the time: sharing ideas, video clips, webpages, blogs, and creating web content.

Using technology that they are familiar with makes learning more engaging and memorable.

As part of the E-Learning Strategy, the 1:1 iPad Scheme ensures:

The students are safe while accessing the Internet.

New technologies are used responsibly, productively and creatively.

The teaching staff are prepared to support and engage in new teaching and learning practices.

An E-Learning Department and a digital learning representative is allocated for each faculty.

Insurance Claims, Procedures and User Agreement Policies are prepared and established.

Ashford School • E-learning at Ashford School • Anytime, Anywhere, Anyhow

Firefly - A Virtual Learning Environment Scheme VICTORIA CULSHAW

INFORMATION SYSTEMS SUPERVISOR

A VLE, Virtual Learning Environment, in its most basic form is an internal website or intranet that students and teachers use to communicate, access information and promote deeper learning.

At Ashford our VLE is called Firefly and was introduced in September 2014. Firefly helps students and teachers organise their homework, and create and access resources from anywhere.

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Firefly has a wide range of features, which are easy to use. Teachers and students are able to build their own website pages and embed video, images, word documents and more. They can also create online forms and create their own blogs and voting polls. Teachers can pose questions and start debates using group forums as well as create online discussions between students about a new topic before the lesson has begun. It’s a great place to post useful links and revision notes to share them with friends.

Students are encouraged to build up their own spaces within Firefly, creating areas like the KS3 Zone and the IT Corner. Firefly is a great ‘safe place’ for students to demonstrate their IT skills, by designing webpages and starting blogs. New students, and boarders in particular, find it a useful tool to get to know about life at Ashford School.

Ashford School • E-learning at Ashford School • Anytime, Anywhere, Anyhow

Future Learning in Ashford Classrooms Our teachers have already made rapid progress with integrating mobile technology into their lesson plans. Listed below are some of the ways this has already been observed in classrooms. Along with this are some more examples of what will be possible for all Ashford students when they have their devices with them at all times.

E-LEARNING AT ASHFORD SCHOOL

In English, classroom discussions are enriched by the use of online blogs and conversations using the Virtual Learning Environment (Firefly). Online forums help give students a voice and encourage collaboration with all members of the classroom. Comments can be included and critical feedback can be offered online. This gives the teachers the option to provide personalised feedback and offer a chance for students to reflect on their work.

In Maths, the students work with their iPads using various mathematical related apps to enrich their numerical skills, progressing from one stage to the next in levels of difficulty. As the students’ progress to the Senior School, they are able to utilise advanced math applications such as, Sling Note and GeoGebra in their lessons to complete their homework.

In Science related subjects, digital devices will be used for online project work which teachers will be able to monitor in real time and provide personal feedback. At the Senior School, teachers are using E-Chalk software and are able to demonstrate online 3D simulations with a focus on learning through fun. With their own individual iPads, students are encouraged to carry on their own project work at a time and place which suits them best.

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Humanities students will have access to a large library of e-textbooks and digital resources, which can be downloaded and accessed from their own iPads. Geography students will have instant access to online maps, including historical data of the world and UK energy demand maps.

Art students have access to the online Tate Modern Gallery and can create their own digital image galleries to share with both friends and external audience. Using Macs and working through the Pinterest social media channel, they are able to discover new and contemporary topics of interest to be shared in classroom. Design and Technology students will use their own devices for technical drawings using specialist online design CAD software.

Learning Support teachers are able to use ‘Quizlet’ flashcards and utilise apps that can aid in learning and development on the students’ iPads. Modern Foreign Languages have instant access to online quiz software called Kahoot, in which students answer questions in real time and play against each other. Some other students use Google Translate and Camera Translation to help resolve ambiguity in sentence construction and understanding.

PE and Drama currently use mobile technology to video and capture demonstrative techniques to illustrate effective techniques and acting to the students in the classroom. These mini movies can be shared simultaneously across devices using Air Drop so that students can work through their own videos individually and learn through best practice.

Ashford School • E-learning at Ashford School • Anytime, Anywhere, Anyhow

E-Learning Guiding Principles DUNCAN RICKS IT MANAGER

Integration of mobile technology at Ashford School has been carefully planned and the School has set in place a technical strategy to ensure that students can access appropriate information useful to their education, whenever and wherever needed. In 2015, the School took the decision to introduce a 1:1 iPad Strategy where all students from Years 3 and above received an iPad to use in class. This has allowed the School to plan how mobile technology, relevant in the 21st century, can be responsibly integrated into School life.

E-LEARNING AT ASHFORD SCHOOL

The School has installed several safety features for when devices are connected via the School’s network. Web filters have been installed at the School to provide safe guards against the inappropriate websites on the internet.

With regard to the School’s 1:1 scheme and iPads, there are also safety restrictions on what apps the students can download on the School controlled devices, making sure that only apps suitable to the student’s age can be downloaded and installed.

Each user is identified individually on the network so accounting can be enforced and tracked if inappropriate behaviour is reported.

Most devices will connect to the School’s wi-fi, however a security certificate must be installed on each device as laid out in our School connection policies, and the device must allow proxy server settings to be inputted in some instances.

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The School has developed its IT Infrastructure in anticipation of the Virtual Learning and 1:1 iPad scheme: Secure wi-fi access across the School, which is currently used by 1000 students daily.

School internet access limited to safe sites IT/Mac workspaces and Digital Device friendly library. iGenius Bar where students are first line of contact for technical and educational inquiries.

Wireless printing from digital devices - to be introduced by Christmas 2015.

The School recognises that striking a balance between protecting and mollycoddling is a clear responsibility. We educate students to become resilient users of the internet and all the resources and opportunities it offers, so that they have the confidence and skills necessary to navigate, learn and explore online. The introduction of new learning digital technologies is a truly exciting way forward for the School and will give students access to information and acquisition of skills in a way that has never before been possible.

Ashford School • E-learning at Ashford School • Anytime, Anywhere, Anyhow

Staying Safe Online LISA SULLIVAN COMPUTING TEACHER AT PREP SCHOOL CHRIS NEWTH COMPUTING TEACHER AT SENIOR SCHOOL

E-Safety and internet etiquette is taught to the students from Year 1 to 6 as part of the Computing Curriculum. The lessons follow the Digital Citizenship scheme of work by Common Sense Media, as well as stories, apps and videos. The students will learn how to use technology safely and respectfully, to recognise acceptable and unacceptable behaviour, to keep personal information private, and where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content and contact.

E-LEARNING AT ASHFORD SCHOOL

For the younger students, stories such as Webster’s Email, Webster’s Bedtime, Dot, Chicken Clicking and The Internet is like a Puddle will be used to compliment the curriculum and introduce the concepts in an age-appropriate way. For older students, there is a variety of information on websites aimed at specific age groups.

Adults can also find out how to help their students be safe online through various websites, including childnet.com, vodafone.com, thinkuknow.co.uk, and saferinternet.org.uk In the Senior School, e-safety is covered in computing lessons and in PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic education).

As well as teaching students how to stay safe online, the importance of maintaining a good digital reputation is discussed and emphasised. Many of our resources are taken from CEOP’s1 ‘think u know’ website (thinkuknow.co.uk), which is updated regularly and contains excellent, ageappropriate videos that are shown to the students. Through our e-safety education programme, students will learn how to use the internet safely, recognise, report abuse and understand what it means to be a good digital citizen.

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Child Exploitation and Online Protection

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Ashford School • E-learning at Ashford School • Anytime, Anywhere, Anyhow

Digital Learning Resource Centre JOANNA HAYES LIBRARIAN DONNA DAVIDGE LIBRARIAN

The Learning Resource Centre provides free access to eBooks which the students can borrow by either downloading to their device or by reading online from terminals in the Centre. There is a wide range of materials available including core texts, which can display interactive notes attached by teachers, as well as a broad choice of fiction for all abilities to read for pleasure. All books have been purchased and vetted by the School Librarians so that content is deemed suitable and relevant to the current curriculum.

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The library is currently embarking upon a project for creating our very own Ashford e-books in specialised subject areas. Ashford School e-books will offer a full-screen experience for students which will look to include interactive photos and videos. No longer limited to static pictures to illustrate content, it is envisaged that students will be offered a digital platform with 3D animated images which can bring depth and illustrative value in learning.

Along with the e-books, the librarians are also working alongside teachers to curate all resources into a common platform on the iPads, using the iTunes U course manager. From the use of paperbased teaching materials to video, integration of e-books and online discussions, students can submit their work directly from School related supported apps to an assignment into their own personalised iTunes U account. As both teachers and students are working on a 1:1 iPad platform, all work is organised in one place, making it easy for the students to carry out their independent learning and for the teacher to review, provide feedback and grade in real time.

By creating our very own bespoke e-resources, we wish to offer students a more personalised learning platform and will be in a position to keep up to date with copyright, delivery and availability of information. With the intention that all students will have their resources on a single iPad, it is hoped that students will have no problem taking them wherever they go.

Ashford School • E-learning at Ashford School • Anytime, Anywhere, Anyhow

Digital Parenting Our students are growing up in a digitally enhanced world.

However we choose to tag the new generation – Digital Natives, Generation Y or Multi-Media Taskers, they live in a very different world to the one that we, as Digital Immigrants’ grew up in. While some of us have conveniently used this as an excuse to sit back and watch, we can, and should, no longer do so.

Many parents, grandparents and people who look after students tell us that they feel baffled by what young people do in the digital world. At Ashford School, we take this seriously and look to empower parents and guardians with digital knowledge so that you can become more involved with the technologies the students are using and to discuss them as a family.

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Technology will be second nature to your children by now. The School will offer digital evenings for parents who wish to stay up to date with new technology, social network, websites, and best tips and advice for managing the use of technology at home.

Additionally, the Digital Parenting Guide is also a free online magazine, that sets out to dispel the myths, explain the jargon, and provide trips for parents and guardians on how to help their children get the most of the web while staying safe online.

Some more useful resources full of information include: vodafone.com Techmums.co Theparentzone.co.uk Childnet.com

Students are encouraged to build up their own spaces within Firefly, creating areas like the KS3 Zone and the IT Corner. Firefly is a great ‘safe place’ for students to demonstrate their IT skills, by designing webpages and starting blogs. New students, and boarders in particular, find it a useful tool to get to know about life at Ashford School.

If you have any questions, please contact

Dr. Neelam Parmar Director of E-Learning Prep School: +44 (0)1233 620493 Senior School: +44 (0)1233 625171 Email: parmarn@ashfordschool.co.uk

Adventurous Learning