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Hartburn Primary School, Stockton and Stockton CLC won this category.
Created by:
This was a teacher award Kath Collinson was nominated by Stockton CLC.
Packages used:
Elluminate
Moodle
Objectives:
Linking hospital with school
Background
Charlotte is currently 7 years old and has had to attend a hospital in Newcastle three times a week for dialysis. She attended normal school the other two days a week.
When her school heard about our work, they asked if it would be possible to link her normal lessons to the hospital. Over a period of a few weeks, the hospital was contacted with regard to downloading, installing and testing the software (all that is required is an internet connection and headphones, preferably with a microphone).
Meanwhile, Charlotte's teacher worked with the CLC to learn how to make best use of the virtual classroom tool.
The first lesson
On 8th May, 2006, Charlotte, along with the teaching assistant at the hospital, logged on to the live classroom - the link to this is in a secure virtual learning environment in which her teacher is also able to put other resources for Charlotte to use. The lesson was Music, and Charlotte was able to listen to her teacher, hear the singing and also contribute, both by writing messages or by speaking. There is an edited recording of the lesson which includes photos and video footage of her and the children in the class on http://vle.stocktonclc.co.uk/course/view.php?id=6 (click on 'Log on as a guest'). There are also examples of Press releases and a recording of a local radio interview.
Feedback
Charlotte was engaged throughout the lesson and took an active part in it, just as she would if she had been in the real classroom.
Her classmates were aware of her 'presence' and included her in the lesson too.
The teacher was able to teach 'normally' after the initial 'logging on' to the room and making sure Charlotte could communicate. The technology was 'seamless' and although the teacher had spent some time (but not a great deal) learning how to use it initially, she can see that it has easily been integrated into her lesson and can be used much more.
Further lessons
Charlotte enjoyed the first lesson so much that she asked if she could join the Literacy lesson that afternoon which had not been originally planned, but was able to join as the teacher felt confident that she did not have to make any changes to her lesson to accommodate this.
Having been part of that lesson in which a new topic was introduced, the teacher was confident that when Charlotte returned to school the next day, she knew about the new topic and was able to continue with it as if she had been at school when it was originally taught instead of having to try to 'catch up'.
A second teacher has now used the technology in a Numeracy lesson, and within that, the teacher was able to allow Charlotte to write on the whiteboard in the classroom (Charlotte was using a laptop in the hospital). All the children in the class were able to see Charlotte's writing and not only were they amazed, but the work Charlotte was writing (using a number line to subtract) was reinforced for the other children too.
The Future
Charlotte had a kidney transplant (the donated kidney was from her father!) in September and she is now back at school and does not need to join her lessons virtually! - but during this difficult time, through the use of technology, she has been able to maintain continuity not just in her learning but also in the social sense of being part of her class.
With respect to Kath, Charlotte's teacher, she is now working on another project with Stockton CLC on live remote observations where we are working with Durham University and ITT students.
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Labels: Awards 2007
