‘‘TECHNOLOGY HAS TO BE INTEGRATED THROUGH ALL THE CURRICULUM’’ Devoted to sharing technology with a generation that find it second nature, Teaching award winner, Ben Tipton, is at the vanguard of helping his school achieve ‘outstanding’ results across the board through the use of technologyin the classroom... 14
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r Tipton deservedly scooped the Pearson Award for Outstanding use of Technology in Education at last years National Teaching Awards. His accomplishment came at no surprise to his colleagues or pupils. His effect on the school’s learning platform has completely transformed learning and teaching at Sacred Heart RC Primary School at Westhoughton, in Bolton. The school has been, and continues to be, developing immensely and Ben’s contributions towards this have been
astonishing. Many schools are now using online platforms to gather and share useful resources, but thanks to Ben, Sacred Heart are taking that one step further every time.
Going the extra mile Ben explains: “I’ve always a been a great advocate of using ICT, an hour a week in the ICT suite isn’t enough anymore. It needs to be integrated throughout the whole curriculum really. I use it English lessons, maths lessons, science, topic work, just as much as possible. At Sacred Heart we have a great emphasis and lots of resources and
money and myself being able to step out of class to develop ICT and bring in other things like the learning platform.” From an in school radio station to forums and video sharing, the school really is embracing the use of communicative technologies to make the most of education in their classrooms. It is not just the odd I pad here and there at Sacred Heart. The school is lucky to have green screens, a full radio suite and a leadership team that can’t get enough of technology. Ben is great advocate for technology in the classroom and encourages
Using technology to assist learning and excite pupils is a massive priority at our school BEN TIPTON, AWARD WINNING TEACHER
teachers at Sacred Heart to use it at every possible opportunity. The excessive use of technology is really paying off in this ‘outstanding’ school, and it is down to the fact that it gets children excited about learning. Ben explains: “If I say ‘were going to be using the radio suite today they get really enthusiastic, it really excites them. And this transfers into their work and learning. If I were to say ‘were going to write a radio script and read it out’ oppose to do ‘were going to write a script and broadcast it on the radio and our website for everyone else to listen’ the class tend to show a lot more interest.” It is clear from Ben’s success that technology and ICT excites and engages school children and the pupils, and their achievments, at Sacred Heart are a shining example of this.