2. 2
Why is it so
important to keep
brushing up staff
digital skills?
‘Thriving’
in a digital
world.
3. Thriving
How do we thrive? What do we need to thrive? How do we
ensure that our learners thrive?
How do we create an environment for them to reach their
full potential?
3
They need…
• To have their basic needs like eating and drinking
healthily, a good nights rest…
• To feel safe in their surroundings, to have basic
resources to learn…
• To feel loved by family and friends, peers that they
can relate to and talk with, a sense of love and
belonging
• An environment that will enable them to grow in
confidence, to achieve, to respect others and have
respect, a self esteem.
• A space that encourages crea
10. Struggled throughout school. Not a high achiever.
Best results in Art, Biology and Sport. Undiagnosed
dyslexia. Feeling of failure, a disappointment.
Scraped a place on a Btec ND Graphic Design course. Found
my vocation. Started achieving decent grades and winning
design awards. Finally, a sense of achievement.
First family member to not work in the mill or a factory. First
generation to study at HE level. Different kind of
intelligence. Feeling of independence and empowerment.
Worked in top design/advertising agencies across
Manchester/NW. Felt equal and worthy.
Work placement students invited me to speak at college,
which was the beginning of my teaching career. Found my
happy space, my Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. I began to
grow in confidence, unafraid to pitch new ideas, break rules
which resulted in winning awards.
Programme leader for both FE and HE design related
courses. Used a variety of methods including digital to
reach my unreachables. 25% of students achieved 1st class
honours per year for 4 consecutive years. 10
My journey…
11. 11
Technology provides opportunities for removing, or
reducing barriers to learning, may that be
geographical, financial or a difficulty/disability.
15. 15
96%of your learners own a
smartphone (Ofcom)
34hrs
16-24 yr olds spend
online per week
48%Access their VLE from a
mobile device (Jisc)
Did you know?
19.2%Of working age disabled ppl
do not hold a formal qual.
Compared to 6.5% of non-
disabled ppl.
16%Of your learners have
a 'disclosed' disability. 1
in 10 dyslexic
Learners have a legal
entitlement to access their
work in diff. formats.
+
New Digital Accessibility in FE
coming soon.
22. Immersive Reader
PERFORMING ARTS STUDENT – Reducing a disability
Talented Level 3 performing arts student with severe
dyslexia.
Struggled to learn lines.
Dependent on friends and family members to read aloud
for her to learn and remember.
Immersive Reader gave her independence. She is now
learning her lines when commuting on the bus.
22
23. Twitter
CONSTRUCTION TEACHER - Networking/donated resources
Staff member set up a Twitter account for the
course/department.
Local company saw the engagement on Twitter and began
to engage with the tweets.
The company donated £16,000 worth of resources to the
course and offered a work placement.
23
24. GoogleTranslate
HOSPITALITY STUDENT - Student capability/confidence
A very, shy Level 1 student recently moved to UK. Speaks
English as a second language.
Uses digital resources to translate, learn how to pronounce
words and ensure that she has a voice in a debate and
around class discussions.
Enables her to feel confident when participating and
articulating ideas in online group discussions.
24
25. SeeingAI
HE HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE STUDENT – Reduce a disability
Visually impaired student. Struggles to access content in
general.
Introduced to SEEING AI and released it potential
immediate… this will change my life! Tears of joy!
25
Think about your favorite teacher… what was it about that teacher that made them your favourite?
Mine: 1979. Aged 11. Big School. Miss Johnstone
She was only 23 yr old. It was her first teaching role. Taught Art. My tutor for 5 years.
Very strict. A fiery red head but really strong and supportive.
Set standards and high expectations.
Made me aim higher, believe in myself. She talked to me about personal issues, she was my safe and happy space.
She is now a family friend and has been the inspiration to my own teaching methods.
Firm but fair
Passionate
Empathetic
A sense of fun and playfulness
Instill independence
My education has been a different path to yours.
FE study and employment was the space where I found my way.
A place where to be brave.
I realise now how we in education can transform lives of individuals, families and communities.
• my dyslexia,
impact on me before diagnosis,
after diagnosis, best apps/programs that made a difference,
importance of universal inclusion ...
• Lead into work being done ie Hector Minto #accessibility ...
Technology provides opportunities for removing, or reducing barriers to learning, may that be geographical, financial or a difficulty/disability.
When I became a Programme Leader I decided to do as much as possible to ensure that ALL of my students could achieve.
I lay firm foundations such as:
always to work hard
Live a healthy life: eat, drink, sleep, exercise
Never miss a deadline
respect others opinions
set high expectations.
• Today we’ve got our students of all backgrounds, shapes, sizes, abilities, likes and dislikes... I could make up a description and one of you has probably taught that person ... are we meeting everybody’s needs? Do we all know what tech can help someone overcome barriers to education?
• examples for apps to help students overcome :
Distance
Physical disability (mobility issues)
Dyslexia
Spectrum disorders
Impaired sight/hearing/speech
Psychological illness
• Are we doing our best? Are we finding out as much as possible to help our students?
• Importance of leader investment and commitment ...
consequences for individuals and society if student potential not fulfilled ...
skills shortages
financial loss
impact on confidence
mental health
impact on future generations if parents not thriving in digital world ...
comment on my experience of positive committed and innovative leadership and its benefits for staff and students versus poor funding, poor decision making, lack of leader engagement ...
• Are we doing our best? Are we finding out as much as possible to help our students?
Barriers I encounter trying to get teachers to embrace new tech...
isk of students not getting jobs because not digitally literate... how hard it will be for young people to catch up and overcome that later on... impact on potential... impact on earnings, impact on self ...
Talented Level 3 performing arts student with severe dyslexia.
Struggled to learn lines.
Dependent on friends and family members to read aloud for her to learn and remember.
Her tutor was introduced to Immersive Reader.
He immediately thought the tool could help his students, in particular the one with dyslexia.
Her response was a very emotional one.
Tears initially, and then as she realised its potential a eureka moment.
Immersive Reader gave her independence.
She is now learning her lines when commuting on the bus.
Staff member set up a Twitter account for the course/department.
Local company saw the engagement on Twitter and began to engage with the tweets.
The company donated £16,000 worth of resources to the course and offered a work placement.
A very, shy Level 1 student recently moved to UK.
Speaks English as a second language.
Uses digital resources to translate,
learn how to pronounce words
and ensure that she has a voice in a debate and around class discussions.
Enables her to feel confident when participating and articulating ideas in online group discussions.
Visually impaired student. Struggles to access content in general.
Introduced to SEEING AI and released it potential immediate… this will change my life! Tears of joy!
“Deborah (aged 9 ¾ ) will never be outstanding
or make anything of herself”
Parents evening. 1977. Mrs Silson.
• Are we doing our best? Are we finding out as much as possible to help our students?
Hands on hearts now are we as teachers learning enough everyday to give our students the best possible future?
Now hands up who wants to banish REGRET from the experience of education? Who wants to THRIVE? Who wants their students, the future architects, builders and caretakers of our communities, societies, and our world to THRIVE?
So embrace the technology, discover the opportunities, develop your potential and theirs will soon follow and we can all thrive in the digital world. Thank you.