Putting learning first: unlocking the potential of technology and educators

Louis Coiffait CEO, NAHT Edge@louismmcoiffait

Agenda - 20 mins

• Are we putting learning first?

• Four ideas to help unlock the potential of tech AND educators

1. Plan and test innovation

2. Invest long-term in the capacity of educators

3. Make the most of data

4. Pick the right partners

Are we putting learning first?

A little context, by the numbers

429Total number of machines per school on average,

86 new ones per school

2.72mTotal number of ‘computers’ in UK schools, 38,000

more than last year (even with fewer desktops)

0Best-case scenario for changes to UK school budget

(regardless of who wins in May’s general election)

716m£ UK school spend on soft/hard-ware this year, a

record high. £14k per primary, £65k per secondary

2bn$ investment in Education technology (EdTech) in the

US in 2014, 55% above 2013, five times 2009 figure

“If you buy thirty of

these you get a

20% discount”

Hardware Supplier

“But why can’t Rupert bring his iPad

in to school?”

Advantaged Parent

“I can’t afford that App

and we don’t have

internet at home”

Disadvantaged Parent

“98% of students love our service”

Software Supplier

“I want to use Dropbox for papers”

School Governor

“You have to upgrade

your systems again”

IT Consultant

“Umm…”

School Leader

“I’ve taught for 40 years

without any Tweeting thanks”

Experienced Teacher

“Oooh shiny!”

New Teacher

“We looked at your website and…”

Ofsted Inspector

Technology can help learning, but…

1. it isn’t the only tool in the box, there’s an opportunity cost

2. it has to prove itself at some point, demonstrating impact

3. only when it aligns with your values, principles and ethos

4. it needs long-term buy-in and engagement from school leaders

5. is best when planned and tested as a whole school, or many

6. it can be a slow, iterative process, requiring commitment

7. is most effective working WITH staff, able to ‘own’ changes

8. are we all always prioritising learning (over anything else)?

There are four areas which I think could best help technology and teachers to reach their potential together – on behalf of the students they both serve…

1) Plan and test innovation

We’re not talking ‘direct to [learning] consumers’

1. There are examples where just giving technology to students seems effective

2. There’s a growing edtechmarket direct to students and families

1. There are examples where just giving technology to students seems effective

2. There’s a growing edtechmarket direct to students and families

3. But realistically that’s not relevant to education providers

4. We need more structure and less risk, public funds and parents are involved, think evolution over revolution…

Build strong foundations for success

1. Is there buy-in from the whole senior leadership team?

2. Have you done your homework, who else has done this?

3. Create options and flexibility e.g. leases and pay as-you-go

4. Work across your whole organisation, or even beyond

5. Understand needs and concerns among students and staff

1. Is there buy-in from the whole senior leadership team?

2. Have you done your homework, who else has done it

3. Create options and flexibility e.g. leases and

4. Work across your whole organisation, or even beyond

5. d

6. Get everyone round the table

7. Keep expectations low and realistic, best to pleasantly surprise

8. Identify a modest impact on outcomes to measure success by

9. Focus on a small change at the start, not wholesale revolution

10.Evaluate thoroughly and collaboratively, learn from failures

Excite people but be pragmatic

2) Invest long-term in the capacity of educators

Lead your team through change

1. Take a long-term view

2. Plan your communications

3. Change takes time, you won’t win everyone over, not at first

4. Apply teaching expertise to staff as well as students

5. Be open, collaborative and allow people to own changes

Work with advocates, most others will follow

1. X

2. d

3. D

4. D

5. d

6. Do it with staff, not to them

7. Make the case for changes

8. Highlight successes from the start

9. Focus on how technology can help student learning

10.Make educator learning and reflection part of the process

3) Make the most of education data

Be mindful (not paralysed) about risks

1. Be cautious of data privacy but don’t be scared into inaction

2. It often comes down to common sense

3. Would you do it in the real world with non-digital content or data?

4. Would you do it with your own children?

5. Think about who owns the data and who needs access

Data can save time and generate insights

1. X

2. D

3. D

4. D

5. d

6. Data can help you be innovative and efficient (not just be used for accountability purposes; exams, Ofsted, league tables etc.)

7. You need to create a ‘data democracy’, building staff skills

8. Come to agreement about the language used about data

9. Are you preparing learners to be data-literate?

10.Remember what counts can’t always be counted

4) Pick the right partners

Take the time to find the right fellow-travellers

1. Discuss shared values, what are you both trying to achieve; how, when and why?

2. Make sure all parties are committed, then document a summary of that commitment

3. Spend time with each other, getting into the nitty gritty

4. Develop and agree processes for collaboration

5. Evaluate the partnership regularly

Thank you.

Discussion and questions