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Cullercoats Primary School, North Tyneside won the Personalisation Primary Award at the 2011 Northern Grid ICT in Education Awards

Emerging technology can often be more commonly associated with a secondary learning environment, and Gavin Storey, (Headteacher, Cullercoats Primary School), and Roger Neilson, Director at Marden CLC, North Tyneside, were keen to investigate if handheld devices could have a positive impact in a primary school learning environment.

The school were eager to move to a child-centred, personalised learning environment, and away from a traditional teacher-centred approach. The CLC provided the school with 60 iPod Touch devices, one for each child in year 5, and the school installed Wi-Fi across the school site as part of a wider ICT refresh - to help ensure each child had unlimited web access anytime and anywhere across the school day.

Cullercoats Primary School launched an iPod Touch project within a whole year group of their school. They were very keen to provide instant access to learning to their Year 5 children through the use of these handheld devices and evaluate the effects on children’s motivation and learning.

Of particular interest was whether there could be further improvements in the numeracy levels of all the children by the end of Year 6.

Wendy Smith and Jane Mearns, Year 5 teachers, attended a handheld learning conference in Oldham, with Roger Neilson, prior to the project starting. This was to help each of them plan for deployment within their own classes, and provide some assurance that the project would be of value to their children.

By the end of the project, Jane was convinced of the added value the devices brought to her teaching;

The investment in wireless access within each classroom was essential to enable the iPod Touches to be embedded across the whole curriculum. Apps were chosen carefully, to ensure they were purposeful and age-related. The iPods were used to motivate children in Numeracy lessons; for example, mental maths and times tables apps were used to develop children’s quick thinking skills and their understanding of their tables, and the ‘Paper Toss’ app was used for data collection and corresponding follow up data collection activities.

The iPods were used to promote creativity in the classroom; various art and drawing apps enabled the children to produce some great examples of art work. For example, a study of Italian artist Arcimboldo in the classroom led to the children producing pictures in the style of this artist using their iPods. Derrick Welsh, an Associate Drawing Fellow from Wimbledon College of the Arts, came to work with the children and observe them drawing using the iPods; he inspired everyone with his unending enthusiasm and he was really excited by what he saw during his visit.

Having the Internet in the palm of their hands proved to be invaluable to the children throughout the project. Children were able to access the World Wide Web to research topics such as World War Two, within seconds; allowing for personalised, independent learning and allowing children to work at their own pace. Children used their iPods to research WW2 aircraft, Anne Frank and World Cup countries; amongst a host of other topics. The iPods also provided the children with instant access to the North Tyneside Learning Platform, allowing this to be embedded and used in classroom. The above are just a few examples of how the iPods were used across the curriculum and to enhance teaching and learning

The iPod Touches proved to be a great motivational tool in the classroom; motivation and enthusiasm of children to complete tasks using the iPods was extremely evident amongst all learners, including those sometimes reluctant to learn. Improved concentration and engagement was also very apparent amongst all learners regardless of their ability; this was observed by all visitors who came to see the project in action, including SCITT students and other professionals.

The iPods also taught children responsibility; responsibility for their own learning and responsibility for looking after the devices themselves and using them appropriately. An acceptable use policy was devised by staff and children; children were fully aware of these rules and always keen to abide.

Feedback was sought from parents during the project; this feedback was very positive, with parents embracing this new way of learning. Confidence in ICT skills amongst the children has been boosted as a result of the project and peer to peer learning developed hugely, as children taught one another how to use various apps and shared with each other tips and advice. The two classrooms where the iPods were being used were often observed as buzzing positively with children excited to chat, share and discuss their iPod use.

The success of the project exceeded all expectations. The positive buzz surrounding the project, and the achievements and attitudes of the children and staff involved, were exceptional!

Cullercoats Primary IPod Project from Greg Houghton on Vimeo.

Marden CLC iTouch Project – Cullercoats Primary School

Cullercoats Primary School, Marden Avenue, North Shields, NE30 4PB Headteacher: Gavin Storey Staff involved: Jane Mearns and Wendy Smith

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