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Personalisation: Secondary - Winner

Entries should have shown how ICT has been used to support the personalised learning agenda. This includes how ICT is helping every child to meet their potential. Examples could include the creative use of remote learning, use of learning platforms, individualisation of resources using ICT. Submissions should have included feedback from teachers, pupils, parents or other users of the system.

Personalisation - Secondary was sponsored by Hedley 2000

Winner

School:
St. Hilds School

Name:
"Anytime Anywhere Learning using PDA's"

Packages Used:
Acer PDA's, Sums Online software, Wi-Fi internet connectivity, Interactive Whiteboard.

Objectives:

Increase pupils engagements in learning using a mobile device - E-Mature
Improve attendance
Bridge the learning gap between home and school
Impact on reading
Increase pupil's level of confidence to use and apply ICT independently and where appropriate

Information:

Context

A group of thirty Year 8 students, a maths and a geography teacher from St. Hilds School participated in a pilot project to explore new ways to use mobile technology to meet the needs of learners. The students worked independently and with others to indicate a vision of the future where handheld technologies will become a norm in education.

Who Was Involved

Coordinator Assistant Head - Breffni Winwood
Local Authority Lead Officer - Vinay Thawait
Classroom Staff - Maureen Coulter (Maths) and John Carlton (Geography)
Pupils - One class (30) of Year 8 pupils

Main Focus of Project

Use of PDAs as an individual pupil tool for Internet access. Software access, personal organisation and communication with particular reference to maths and geography but the possibility of use across the curriculum should the pupils wish to do so.

Curriculum Links

ICT, Geography and Maths with extension into other areas depending on pupils use.

What Happened

The pupils were provided with a Microsoft based PDA for their personal use giving them access to Bluetooth communications, Internet via the school network, Microsoft Office suite and personal tools such as file storage, diary notebook etc. The unit has handwriting recognition capability. They were also provided with a home charger, SD card for storage and a roll out keyboard for extended input. Additionally access to specific software was facilitated through the use of SD card based applications such as Sums Online.

The units were introduced to pupils and staff at the beginning of the Autumn term through ice breaker sessions run by LA support Vinay Thawaite.
They have since been used for specific activities in class lessons in Maths and Geography e.g. sums online, BBC bytesize, data collection in geography, internet research but also generally by the pupils for note taking. To do lists, internet access, written and numerical work, personal diaries, inter machine file transfer (messaging was disabled), calculator, spell checking(found particularly useful for some dyslexic and dispraxic pupils).

Educational Outcomes

More effective attainment of targets through application of the PDA facilities.
Developed ICT skills and capability.
More effective communication
Extended access.

Physical Outcomes

PDA provision for these pupils.

Images

Videos

Using PDA's in a Maths Class