While the majority of pupils have returned to learning in school this September, potential local lockdowns or second waves of the virus mean that remote teaching and learning may well form part of the new academic year. In fact, the Department for Education (DfE) expects schools to have a contingency plan in place by the end of September so they can offer immediate remote education for all pupils at home, if they’re asked to close due to a local outbreak. As a result, the DfE is still offering funded support for schools to get set up on one of two free-to-use digital education platforms: G Suite for Education or Office 365 Education. Many schools have already successfully used such platforms, but for those that haven’t already got one set up, it’s worth exploring what the benefits could be and getting to grips with what’s on offer from the DfE. So what is a digital education platform? In the event of being unable to have pupils physically in school, it’s as close to a real classroom as you can get. It’s a place where your pupils’ learning experience at home can continue as close to normal as possible. The platforms are purpose-built for remote learning in a way that a school website isn’t. For instance, teachers can communicate directly with pupils, set individualised tasks, let pupils work together,
and easily give personalised feedback. There’s no statutory requirement to have a platform or sign up to the DfE scheme, but there are plenty of benefits if you do.
Why get set up now? Only you can decide on the approach to learning that’s right for your school Safe and secure community. However, having a digital You have full control over the features pupils education platform in place means you can access on a digital platform. For example, can be confident that any potential if you don’t want pupils video-calling each transitions back to remote learning will other unsupervised, you can customise be as smooth and non-disruptive as these tools to keep your pupils safe. If possible. Here are a few of the reasons you’re worried about family why schools have already adopted them: members going rogue in Firstly, you can keep the special the background on connection between your teachers In the e v e a call, you can set and pupils. Many pupils will n t of being house rules, just want to see their teachers and u n a ble to have as you have in have that sense of normality. pupils physica place in school Digital education platforms lly in sch anyway, to set allow pupils to video-call ool, a digita expectations their teachers for remote l e d u cation platform about behaviour, lessons, and have supervised is dress and so group calls to catch a real cla as close to on. You’ll also up and check ssr as you c oom have an audit in with each an trail of chat logs other socially. get. and recordings, It’s easier for just in case there’s teachers to keep ever a problem. that personal touch You’ll still need to adopt sensible when they give pupils safeguarding precautions when using the feedback, too. platform, as you would in school. E Using a digital platform means you don’t need to compromise on pupils’ learning.
Issue 25.5 | EDUCATION BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Written by Amy Cook, director of content at The Key
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to evolve, schools need to make sure they still have a plan in place for remote education. Amy Cook from The Key takes a look at the benefits of getting a digital education platform set up and explains the ins and outs of the DfE funding scheme
IT & Computing
Planning for remote education
Whether you want to drip-feed tasks to pupils, or are keen for pupils to log in for a full day of lessons and submit work, a digital education platform has you covered. Teachers can also easily give pupils personalised feedback. This means that pupils can keep learning new skills and concepts from home, rather than focus only on consolidating knowledge. Digital education platforms also allow you to stimulate pupils with a wide range of activities. They allow teachers to provide a package of resources for their pupils, ranging from videos to interactive whiteboard drawings, all in one place. They give pupils a place to submit creative tasks of all levels of complexity, too. This might be a photo of their latest artwork, or a video of a Tudor house they’ve built in Minecraft. Pupils can also use shared documents and interactive whiteboards to work together on group projects. When it comes to classwork, the only limits are your teachers’ and pupils’ imaginations.
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