Kingswood School

JOHN DAVIES SENIOR DEPUTY HEAD AND VICE PRINCIPAL

At Kingswood, we take an evidence-based approach to teaching and learning in the classroom, including how we seek to use technology. We try not to pursue initiatives just because they seem like a good idea; we need to know that our use of time and resources will make a meaningful difference.

Design students at Monkton Combe School are increasingly using 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software to complete their projects.

The software allows our students to create complex 3D designs and models for a wide range of products and structures for projects ranging from architecture, engineering, product design, fashion and manufacturing. These can be manipulated and tested in real-time, with no need for expensive physical prototypes, allowing the students to test ideas, edit, and manipulate objects in a virtual environment. This has helped to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application and has also helped to reduce material costs and improved the speed and accuracy of the design process.

The software has also had a significant impact on how we deliver Design education through improved collaboration between our students and teachers as it provides a common platform for sharing designs and providing feedback.

The visualisation of ideas and creating models of complex 3D objects through CAD opens up creative opportunities for our

Year 5 pupils at Wells Cathedral Prep School produce an ‘Around the World’ immersive educational project, which incorporates a range of technological approaches and skills. Pupils firstly write their own informative script by researching online information about a range of countries’ or continent’s world music. As well as discussions about seeking reliable information kingswood.bath.sch.uk students to reach innovative outcomes of excellence and prepares them for university and careers in industries where 3D CAD is widely used. Universities are recognising the skills that our students are achieving in this field, with them gaining confidence in software such as Fusion 360. monkton.org.uk online, there is a cross-curricular (English) element, with pupils considering how to summarise information effectively. Then, using the online music production software ‘Soundtrap’, pupils develop their technical skills by collating audio examples of music, editing them, and recording their own scripts to accompany the musical extracts. The nature of technical skills then become more creative, as they employ Podcast-style production techniques such as ‘ducking’ (attenuating music so that dialogue can be heard), along with enhancing the global journey with aeroplane sound effects that pan from left to right - one country to the next! wells-cathedral-school.com

We feel great affinity with the guidance published by the Educational Endowment Foundation on technology use, particularly the idea that ‘to improve learning, technology must be used in a way that is informed by effective pedagogy’; in short, educators must use technology wisely and for a specific purpose, not just because it is there. There is no robust evidence that suggests that the more we use technology, the better the learning; indeed, the opposite can also be true, where too much technology can lead to inhibited learning.

That said, we are very keen that our teachers and pupils leverage wisely the best and most effective technological tools to enhance learning, such as AI-informed quizzing programmes or online collaboration software. These tools are useful and can certainly enhance the learning process. Of course, we, like many schools, made a very effective switch to online learning during the nationwide lockdowns. Whilst we were able to harness the power of Teams, OneNote and the whole suite of Microsoft apps, and continue to do so, this period of online learning demonstrated the power of the teacher-pupil personal relationship.

Most importantly, we believe that our young people need to learn to think about technology philosophically. Technology will play a significant role in shaping our children’s futures – it remains our priority therefore to help young people develop the human qualities that technology will never be able to fully replicate or replace: creativity, compassion and critical thought.

Again using Soundtrap, Year 6 pupils complete a ‘Found Sound’ project, in which they record everyday sounds around the school and, following traditional rhythmic conventions, produce unique tracks with these sounds. Facilitated by technology, children really appreciate the notion of ‘with fewer resources we have to be more resourceful’. This project is another example of how Music Technology is an excellent subject that enables children to develop an array of IT-based technical skills, from process-based to creative.