EDUCATE LAUNCHES NEW #EDTECH RESOURCE

A new scheme is being launched to help schools make sense, and better use, of educational technology (EdTech).

The pilot is being set up by the EDUCATE programme, based at UCL Knowledge Lab, whose researchers want to work with teachers on dispelling some of the myths and fear of using EdTech in the classroom.

The scheme will also help teachers to make the most of the technology they already have and advise them on purchasing EdTech that is effective and useful in teaching and learning.

The EDUCATE for Schools programme will be launched at the Bett Show, which takes place from January 23-26, in London. Schools will be invited to register their interest in the scheme, which will involve them assessing their technology needs and priorities against the school’s development plan.

Dr Kristen Weatherby, the EDUCATE researcher who devised the scheme and will be working with teachers and schools, said:

“Schools often waste valuable resources on EdTech that gathers dust on a shelf or is locked in a cupboard because no one really knows what to do with it.

“EdTech is a growing industry and will become increasingly more important in the teaching and learning process, but we need school staff to become more informed and confident consumers and users of technology.

“From our experience of working with schools and technologists, we have learned that teachers are sometimes fearful of technology or may not quite grasp how it can help them, or they may not know what questions to ask to ensure it meets their needs.”

Dr Weatherby has been working on an initial trial with Hammersmith Academy in London. Gary Kynaston, the headteacher, said:

“Working with EDUCATE for Schools has been really helpful in teaching our staff how to identify and prioritise our needs around EdTech. I now feel more confident that we’ll be able to find technology solutions that are really fit for purpose.”

*Schools wishing to find out more can download a guide at: educate.london/competition. Those doing so during the days of the Bett Show (January 23-26) will be automatically entered into a prize draw for a free two-hour EDUCATE for Schools staff workshop with a member of the EDUCATE research team.

About EDUCATE: An ERDF-funded programme launched in January 2017 to support EdTech development, and innovation and entrepreneurship in education through evidence-informed product or service development. Based at UCL Institute of Education, EDUCATE makes research and expertise accessible to enterprises and individuals who want to explore their ideas on how teachers and learners can benefit from the latest scientific advances. It shows them how to use research to inform their ideas, and to demonstrate impact to teachers and learners. Working with our partners we promote and support innovators with research, business and product development training. By the end of 2020, EDUCATE aims to have worked with 250 start-ups and SMEs, as well as entrepreneurs who work in teaching and research, to create and perfect their concepts. Over time, we plan to expand our work to four new regional centres in locations around the UK. EDUCATE believes that enriching learning through technological innovation is vital if the UK is to maintain its place as a global leader in education.

EDUCATE is a partnership between UCL Institute of Education; UCL Engineering; BESA (the British Educational Suppliers Association); Nesta and F6S. It is part-funded through the European Union’s European Regional Development Fund.

About UCL and UCL Institute of Education: Set up in 1826 in the heart of London, UCL was the first English university after Oxford and Cambridge, and pioneered the promotion of inclusivity in higher education. It was the first to welcome students of any religion and the first to admit women on equal terms to men. Today, it is among the world’s top universities in international performance rankings. The UCL Institute of Education (IOE) was founded in 1902 and is a world-leading centre for research and teaching in education and social science. It was ranked first globally in education for the last five years, and has been judged by Ofsted as ‘outstanding’ on every criterion for initial teacher training programmes.