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A Project for the Innovative Development of ICT - Oakley C of E Combined
School Contact: Mrs Irene Dixon
- To build a computer suite with 15 on line computers and an interactive whiteboard to enable whole class teaching in an under used classroom.
- To open the facility to the wider community in the form of an Internet Café.
- To enhance a proposed liaison project with an independent school.
- To offer the facilities for a teacher training resource, possibly for CPD.
- Whole class teaching across the curriculum at both Key Stages to raise the standards of teaching and learning.
- Enhance the proposed liaison with an independent school.
- Give opportunities to develop projects with schools at home and abroad via e-mail/Web site in all curriculum areas.
- Provide an additional facility for a village community.
- Achievement levels will rise for children and Staff.
- Opportunities for liaison will expand.
- Wider knowledge will be readily accessible.
- Useable resource for the village.
- Facility for local business could bring additional revenue.
The Headteacher and ICT co-ordinator will evaluate against pre set criteria including time lines, curriculum levels, raised levels of expertise, exciting projects undertaken by the children and other agencies.
Breakdown of proposed expenditure
- 15 computers @£699 = £10,485
- Electrical work and ISDN line = £500
- Benching/Installation = £12,500
- Décor/Carpet/Blinds = £800
- 30 chairs @£30 = £900
- Interactive Whiteboard = £2,850
- Total = £28,035
We expected to contribute £13,000 towards the project from our own funds. We applied therefore to cover the outstanding costs of £15,000
After I had applied for the project in March I was somewhat taken by surprise to find that we had been awarded sufficient funding to complete the entire project. Although all this was very exciting, I am no ICT expert (my colleagues would agree with that) and I began to find the venture a little daunting especially as my ICT co-ordinator had decided to take early retirement and that left me to take on the full responsibility.
I began by visiting schools in the area who already had computer suites and some that had decided against suites and had ICT on line provision in most classrooms. I found the help of ICT co-ordinators invaluable. Gradually I was able to build up a picture of what I felt would be best for my school. As we already have 5 computers on line in one classroom I decided to continue with the idea of a separate suite. I should add at this point that we have 4 vertically grouped classes and approximately 100 children on roll. I very much liked the idea of whole class teaching across the curriculum and I could see a way towards achieving this, especially as we were given a whiteboard too. I also felt that if we were to make the facilities available to the local community by holding adult education classes in the evening, a suite would be easier to secure and supervise.
It was made clear from the outset that I would have to write this report by the end of April 2002 and state publicly how we had progressed. I was therefore, extremely aware of how quickly time was passing. However, organising builders, electricians, carpet fitters and benching installation took simply ages. Although initially I was on target to receive the computers from RM at the end of June, the suite was not useable until the second week of the autumn term due to problems with the installation time- table falling over the summer break. The computers arrived before the electrical work was completed and I began to think that the idea of a computer suite was a huge mistake.
I had already had long discussions with RM as to the best way to proceed to ensure value for money and in September found myself on the first of three RM training sessions at Didcot. The training was excellent (the food superb) and after three very intense days I was told that I was more than capable of running a RM Connect network. Once back at school I provided twilight sessions for a willing but very anxious group of teachers.
In the meantime I managed to find a teacher willing to teach adult evening classes and sent questionnaires home to find out how people would like to be able to access the facilities. Sadly there was little support for an Internet Café. I also walked around the village and dropped leaflets through many doors advertising free taster sessions at the school. The interest shown was frankly quite disappointing.
The next problem that I encountered was time. By now
6 months had passed since I had initiated the bid and Staff needed time
to learn about the programmes available, plan lessons, explore the vast
quantity of materials available as well as the intricacies of an interactive
whiteboard.
We decided to make ICT the focus of the two Inset days at the beginning
of September. The idea was to update planning, try out the equipment,
enabling everyone to move forward and prepare for the term ahead. However,
as previously stated the suite was not ready and everything had to be
put on hold.
Once term began, obviously parents and more especially children were keen that we gave children immediate access to the suite. The facilities look fantastic and although we were all still very concerned about our own lack of knowledge we decided that the best thing to do was to take a leap of faith and just do the best we could. We spent all staff meeting time in the suite and virtually all other business was put on hold. The Staff have had to learn, prepare and try to keep one pace ahead of the children with very short periods of non contact time and have in the main used hours of their own time after school. This has been a very real problem. In our small school my Staff co-ordinate several subjects each, as well as running after school clubs most evenings. Other staff at small schools reading this would know exactly the sort of problems I mean. There have been problems with the equipment too and in the first two months I spent many hours at the end of the telephone help line trying to get problems sorted out. RM is helpful in the main but the amount of time needed to oversee the smooth day to day running was far more than I ever thought. Luckily in the spring term I managed to purchase the services of a private ICT technician This has proved an invaluable source of help to me as I am not trying to sort out problems myself with little confidence and knowledge to be able to rectify them.
As the weeks have flown by, I know that the Staff I have grown in confidence and I am not quite so worried that I am going to break something or destroy everyone's hard work. I am happy to report that the initial training received at Didcot has proved invaluable. I am quite surprised at just what I can sort out by myself but finding the required time can still be a problem. I would thoroughly recommend that a training programme with RM should be made a priority for the person with ICT responsibility and to try to find funding to get technical support from wherever you can.
The most frustrating element of all this has been the time factor.
It takes a while to advertise information into the community and sometimes the lack of response to initiatives can be very disappointing. I tried to make contact with a school in France but this did not work out and quite honestly I have not had the time to do everything that I had hoped to do.
We have not made as much progress in the first year as I would have liked, but there again we have only had 6 months with the equipment in place. My target for April is to establish a web site for the school and I fully intend to make contact with another school out there who would like to compare life with children in a village community within the next few months. Any offers gratefully received.
On a more positive note, within the last 6 months we:
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Have introduced a timetable that enables each class access to the suite for a lesson every day. |
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Have enabled every child to access a session of RM Maths every day |
| Introduced evening classes for members of the community |  |
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Have started NOF training for all teaching Staff. Are able to give each class a lesson in the suite every week for ICT, Science, Numeracy, Literacy and Topic work. |
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Regularly access the Internet for information for children and Staff. |
| Begun to use the whiteboard to enhance teaching skills. |  |
| Run an after school club for parents and children to learn together. | Have leased a session one morning with the Workers' Educational Association. |
The best element is that the children think it is fantastic and enjoy
all the sessions we can offer. Staff are willing to have a go and have
gained in confidence as more lessons are being taught in the suite than
I ever thought possible. Children are composing music, accessing the Internet
to explore relative web sites to enhance their knowledge in Science, RE
and Humanities. In Numeracy we assessed all children using RM Snapshot
and are hoping to show a marked improvement in attainment in Numeracy
over the next year. My Year R children are confident and have made amazing
progress, most of them have already achieved at level 1.
Kitty is a Year R child. She had to make an insert for an Easter card using Talking First Word. Kitty copied given text but was able to change the letter size/style/font and colour for each letter. She then changed the printer to colour and printed off her work by going into file and using the drop down menu. Kitty was then able to exit the programme. She then accessed RM favourites and began work on her next task in My World 3.
· This is Kitty's (d.o.b. 21/10/96) Easter Card
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As I read this I am really quite amazed at what my school has achieved in a short space of time.
Would I do it again? The answer most probably is yes.
The best advice that I can give to anyone in a similar situation is,
Visit other places, talk to people and listen to their advice - then make up your own mind.
Give Staff as much time and encouragement as you can.
Give Staff the opportunity to visit other schools - I didn't but I am arranging visits now.
Don't panic - if it breaks someone else can fix it.
Don't try to do too much at once. On reflection I set too many objectives
Finally relax, my children think it's the best thing ever and maybe I do too!