Technology

Virtual Reality in Schools

Reading time: 3 minutes

With the advancement in digitalisation, educational institutions have started using newer technology, such as virtual reality, in their learning modes. Modern learning environments utilise virtual reality in open learning methods to make education more accessible to learners.

There are several ways of integrating virtual reality into learning modes. One example is incorporating the technology of VR into the medical demonstrations, where the learners learn the medicinal terms without coming in contact with any bacteria or harmful substances.

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Virtual reality in vocational subjects in schools

Reading time: 3 minutes

Virtual Reality is the use of computer technology in the creation of a simulated environment that can be explored in 360 degrees. Hence, virtual use creates an assisted reality where people can explore the concepts around them according to their terms. Virtual reality is being increasingly integrated into new teaching methods in various educational institutions across the world. This integration facilitates the students to immerse in the alternative world and grasp the concepts in a fun way.

Virtual reality can be used in the classroom in two ways. One way is when a student explores a virtual environment using a computer. The other is where a student explores using some input device, such as a controller or virtual reality headset. The latter setup completely immerses students through the use of a head-mounted display.

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The future of virtual classrooms

Reading time: 3 minutes

In the next ten years, significant shifts will be made to how we acquire knowledge. Recent developments in digital media, communication, and bandwidth have made it feasible to provide education at a much-reduced cost compared to more conventional methods. Students have access to a wide variety of materials on the internet, including text, audio, and video content, as well as interactive and collaborative tools. When polled, eighty-five per cent of today’s online students responded positively to whether or not they thought distance learning was on par with or even better than conventional classroom-based courses. The human connection is an essential component of classroom instruction that video-on-demand or virtual classroom courses do not have and severely miss.

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Does gamification assist primary school children learning?

Reading time: 3 minutes

The use of game mechanics in settings that are not intended for gaming is called gamification. It is done to improve the user experience. It is not a simple effort to create a learning environment that encourages creative thinking. Teachers often adhere to more conventional methods during language instruction, such as the chalk-and-talk method. Lessons conducted using pen and paper are less appealing to primary school children of the 21st century, who would rather participate in activities that are more like games. Because of this, the use of gamification in the classroom would immediately result in passion and interest, leading to the learners’ eagerness to study.

What is gamification?

The use of game-design components and game-play principles in settings unrelated to gaming is what is meant to be understood as “gamification.” For instance, the acquisition of virtual “points” or some other form of currency, as well as the completion of a series of tasks or activities to advance to the next level, are both elements that can be used in contexts other than gaming to provide a learning environment that is both enjoyable and stimulating.

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Should social media have a place in our curriculum?

Reading time: 2 minutes

Social media is here and there’s no getting away from it. While it will necessarily evolve in future years, there is little doubt that social communication online is here to stay.

The question for teachers and school leaders is how to integrate that into the curriculum and, indeed, whether it should be integrated into it at all.

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Using social media as an aid to learning

Reading time: 4 minutes

Modern students spend a lot of time online. In particular, they spend a lot of time on social media. For some teachers, this can be frustrating, hindering their attempts to persuade pupils to engage with homework and content beyond the classroom.

Here are a few ideas you could use to get social media working for you and your class.

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Safeguarding: teacher and student interaction via social media

Reading time: 3 minutes

The majority of schools now have in place safeguarding rules for acceptable behaviour and teacher-student interaction on social media.

These focus on the safety and security of the children but sometimes don’t cover in as much detail what teachers should do to ensure that their own online interaction (even with friends and family) does not conflict with school policies.

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Using social media to raise your school’s profile

Reading time: 3 minutes

With the average school now managing multiple accounts, social media has probably been a key part of your school’s marketing and communication strategy for some time.

Whilst most users of social media understand how to use their chosen networks to communicate, not all schools use social media well, especially if there is no-one with relevant marketing experience available.

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What is Game-based learning (GBL)?

Reading time: 2 minutes

Make no mistake – the game-based learning (GBL) market is doing a roaring trade. Global revenues hit $2.6 billion this year, reports the Serious Play Conference, and are expected to reach a mind-boggling $7.3 billion by 2021. Key consumers are today’s schoolchildren; the first true generation of digital natives.

Do you know your GBL from your gamification, and how to get up to speed with the latest developments?

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Is technology making people less sociable?

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When the question is posed – “are people becoming less sociable because of technology?” – we often conjure up an image of a child playing a video game, ignoring their parents’ shouts to come down for dinner, and failing to socialise with other kids. However, the question is a lot more complex than you may think.

There is little denying that technology has advanced rapidly over the past few years, and it is now an integral part of daily life. Technological advancements have changed the way we communicate, and whether it is for better or worse is not so straightforward.

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Seven Essential Tips for Staying Safe Online

Reading time: 2 minutes

As a member of a generation that has grown up alongside the likes of Facebook and Twitter, you probably feel as though you’re continually told of the dangers that the online world can present. It can all feel, well, pretty repetitive.

Yet the dangers are very, very real – so despite it being more interesting to read about the latest celeb gossip, the following seven online safety tips make for pretty important reading…

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Could Online Learning Ever Replace Schools?

Reading time: 2 minutes

Recently, legislation was put forward in New Zealand that allows for school-ages children to take part in online learning courses, potentially reducing (or even eliminating) the amount of time spent in a physical school environment.

Since the motion was put forward, there has been heavy debate about whether or not this will benefit children, or damage their education. 

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Technology and social media – they’re changing the way we talk

Reading time: 2 minutes

Technology has never experienced such a rapid pace of progression – today, we stand on the cusp of realising Virtual Reality, driverless cars and Artificial Intelligence.

Equally social media is now entwined within our everyday lives – over the course of a decade it has revolutionised how we conduct our social lives, how we connect with others and how we communicate with the world around us.

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Technology and how it can test knowledge and understanding

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Technology in 2015 offers a number of ways to be a motivational teaching aid. It’s a very flexible and customisable tool and can provide incredibly varied ways to expand learning experiences.

The testing of knowledge and understanding of what has taken place in a lesson can be achieved through a good mix of written and verbal feedback, question and answer sessions, written or verbal tests or self-reflective activities and projects such as diaries. Technology adds another layer to be able to assess the levels of understanding and can provide very personalised results.

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Textbooks in the classroom

Reading time: 3 minutes

With the rise of the use of technology in the classroom – in particular handheld devices such as tablets – there are questions being increasingly raised as to the future of the printed textbook and whether it has a place in the classroom now or in the near future.

Textbooks have been the mainstay of teaching for over a hundred years and give structure to teaching sessions and markers for pupil progress and achievement.

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Staying up to Date with Technology; both as a Teacher and by Integrating into Classroom Time

Reading time: 2 minutes

It’s only a generation since classes used blackboards and the IT room was only really utilised by the IT teacher. The world of tablets, laptops, smartphones and whiteboards were future ideas in the minds of the technology world and certainly weren’t seen to be a definitive tool to be used on a daily basis within schools outside the computer room.

Technology now is everywhere; tablets for all pupils, the use of sites such as Facebook for social learning and text books replaced by interactive learning software. For teachers who have limited knowledge of current technology, it can be daunting to be presented with new hardware to use or be expected to teach a class skills barely understood themselves.

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Social Learning

Reading time: 3 minutes

Social learning is a big trend within education. For any students using Twitter, Pinterest or Facebook as part of projects and research work, they are already participating in this area of teaching.

Many teachers may be unaware of the underpinning basics of what social learning is and how it can best be utilised in lesson time.

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Identifying and understanding cyber bullying

Reading time: 3 minutes

It’s a sad fact that bullying has always been a part of school life. Schools work hard to identify and address the issue in partnership with parents and organisations which specialise in eradicating bullying, but the magic bullet of how to make bullying disappear is yet to be found.

The way bullying takes place has also changed. Whilst it still happens in physical confrontations, there’s now the growing issue of cyber bullying through online and mobile phone interaction.

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5 Simple Strategies…to Reduce Cyber Bullying in the Classroom

Reading time: 2 minutes

Cyber bullying is a very real part of school life and sadly one that is on the rise.

With growing numbers reporting that they have been subjected to some kind of pain through the actions of a cyber bully, often with the added stress that they have no idea of who is carrying out the harassment due to the ease of remaining anonymous when making threats or defamatory comments, the school has a pivotal role to play in reducing this terrible form of treatment towards peers.

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The use of tablets in schools

Reading time: 2 minutes

The use of tablets in schools is currently at its highest ever level, with no sign of a downturn.

Technology charity Tablets for Schools has recently released the results of a study examining the use of the hardware in both primary and secondary sectors. The figures show that of the 671 schools sampled, tablets are in use to some degree in 68% of primary schools and 69% of secondary schools.

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The future of maths in schools – are computers the way forward?

Reading time: 3 minutes

The traditionally taught methods of maths are being challenged by those who feel that the future of the subject should be less about the mechanics of maths and more about the concept of the subject and the practical uses. There are calls for maths to become more about everyday use than currently taught and less and less about the theory behind how the maths works.

In essence, the thoughts are that learning about what algebra is should be replaced completely in the future with how it’s used in everyday scenarios.

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Safer Internet Day 2014

Reading time: 4 minutes

Safer Internet Day 2014 is the perfect time to plan your approach to making the internet a safer place for your pupils. Adults and young people alike are exposed to countless threats on a daily basis whilst surfing the net. By identifying these threats and devising methods to combat them, we can start making the internet safer for young people.

Safer Internet Day is a great initiative for raising the awareness necessary to protect young people from the dangers encountered online. The day serves to “promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially amongst children and young people across the world.” (Insafe, 2014).

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Computing Curriculum 2014 – Digital Technology in the Classroom

Reading time: 2 minutes

Digital Technology and its place in the classroom has been a hot topic in education over the last few months. From September, when the new coding curriculum will come into effect, England will be the first country in the world to make this mandatory in both primary and secondary education (The Telegraph, December 2013). One country that embraced digital technology before many other countries is Estonia, where children are already taught programming, robotics and generating QR codes for their smartphones (BBC, 2014).

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