Innovative ideas from an international consultant on leadership, careers, science and use of the new technologies from around the world. Observed many distant learning lessons during lockdown and shares her learning with educators across the world.
Innovative ideas from an international consultant on leadership, careers, science and use of the new technologies from around the world. Observed many distant learning lessons during lockdown and shares her learning with educators across the world.
IRP- magnetism - differentiation tool - recently improved. This is one of a family of 14 resources aimed to encourage independent research skills for more able students. Recently improved in response to a review. There is a blank template and example topics including: ac generation, batteries, electromagnetism, graphene, industrial processes, magnetism, metals, nanotechnology, newest elements ( atomic numbers over 100), polymers, rocks, solar energy, wind generation. Also a two page teacher’s guidance (basic, intermediate and advanced) for using it as a differentiation tool plus a page of resources (basic, intermediate and advanced).
This a one of many differentiation tools available to teachers. Research topics can be done in class, with books, in libraries, in rooms with computers or tablets. These topics would make an ideal cover lesson.
Research could be published in a school newsletter, the school website or blog or in student publication magazines and blogs.
Duration: This depends on the age and ability of the students. For youngest students it could be for a week’s homework. As students get older the tasks could be set for half a term, even a whole term, could be linked with a science fair, STEM activity, open evening, assembly or business or commerce event,
Teachers have been amazingly creative using software for distance learning! All the software listed on the spreadsheet is being used in classrooms during the pandemic lockdown. It has transformed learning and many teachers will continue to embrace the benefits of using the new technologies to improve the learning experiences for young people when they return to the classroom. But in the meantime, there are many various and exciting ways to provide asynchronous and synchronous learning.
The spreadsheet is a tools for school leaders, middle managers and teachers, It has four tabs: software suitable for early years and primary schools; for secondary schools; across the age range and a range of teacher tools. There is a wealth of knowledge here that can be spread across schools and communities.
Using a range of software will help school capitalise on five key benefits from distance learning.
Learning can take place anywhere/anytime
The management of the control of learning has changed
There is an increased diversity of learning opportunities
More parental involvement is easily achieved
Students are working in a grownup world
Other resources available can help schools build on these benefits
Benefits of distance learning – after lockdown
Catch up after lockdown
International learning opportunities
SEN modifications for distance learners
Family projects
Audit knowledge
Audit student
Audit parents
Audit teachers
As Senior Leaders prepare to return to their school buildings and get ready to address and solve Post pandemic problems these documents are designed to help understand what has been happening to learning. The documents are based on current monitoring of over fifty Distance Learning lessons in a wide variety of schools, across all ages and abilities.
The resource consists of a series three audits; one for parents, one for students and one for teachers. These will help you to identify some problem areas and some positive areas on which to build! This one is for students. One for teachers. One for parents,
Further help is available
Advice to parents
Benefits of distance learning – after lockdown
Catch up after lockdown
For some children writing is a nightmare. Imagine their joy, if you can offer A PROJECT THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE THEM TO WRITE ONE WORD! This resource does just that.
This is one of a range of guides for teachers supporting young people with a variety of Special Education Needs, especially those in mainstream classrooms. For example, autism, dyspraxia, visual and auditory impairment, moderate, severe and specific learning difficulties. Although the activities will also be useful to teachers in special schools.
There are templates and teaching guides for primary and secondary pupils.
There are six guides in the series:
Primary -Independent Research Projects using pictures (suitable for pupils with reading and communication difficulties) ****** THIS RESOURCE *****************
Primary -Independent Research Projects using sound apps to speak and listen (suitable for pupils with difficulties reading and writing)
Primary - Independent Research Projects using kinaesthetic activities (suitable for AHDH, autism etc )
Secondary - Independent Research Projects using pictures (suitable for students with reading and communication difficulties)
Secondary- Independent Research Projects using sound apps to speak and listen (suitable for students with difficulties reading and writing)
Secondary - Independent Research Projects using kinaesthetic activities (suitable for AHDH, autism etc )
There are also primary and secondary BUNDLES available. These can be used as a whole school resource.
Differentiation tool with teachers’ guide. This resource aims to encourage independent research skills. Ideal for learning during the lockdown or catching up when schools return! This is one of a series of three blank templates, for Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6.
Year 6 - the differentiated template mark scheme that helps pupils and their teachers focus of what is required for a research task. The basic document shows that the teacher expects: a title page; fifteen fun facts in their own words, (teachers can train pupils NOT to copy and paste); three website or books used to be listed; ten questions to be designed; a date for completion.
Plus advice for pupils with additional needs and cross curricular ideas.
This a one of many differentiation tools available to teachers. Research topics can be done at home, in class, with books, in libraries, in rooms with computers or tablets. Research could be published in a school newsletter, the school website or blog with appropriate permissions.
Five resources using the concept of alphabetic animals. The Alphabetic Animals – teachers sheet has about 1000 animals listed. An amazing resource for any science teacher! Will help you with quizzes, competitions, vocabulary improvements etc. The youngest children can draw animals starting with a single letter. Animal challenge encourages younger children to collect animals and get stars; animal usage gives ideas to teachers; alphabetic animals sheets encourage students to build up their vocabulary until the end of primary education. Plan for the pupils to keep it and improve from year to year.
Differentiation tool with teachers’ guide. This resource aims to encourage independent research skills. Ideal for learning during the lockdown or catching up when schools return! This is one of a series of three blank templates, for Y4, Y5 and Y6.
Year 5- the template is a differentiated marking scheme that helps pupils and their teachers focus of what is required for a research task. The basic document shows that the teacher expects: a title page; ten fun facts in their own words, (teachers can train pupils NOT to copy and paste); three or more books used to be listed; five questions to be made up; a date for completion.
Plus advice for pupils with additional needs and cross curricular ideas.
This a one of many differentiation tools available to teachers. Research topics can be done at home, in class, with books, in libraries, in rooms with computers or tablets. Research could be published in a school newsletter, the school website or blog with appropriate permissions.
Differentiation tool with teachers’ guide. This resource aims to encourage independent research skills. Ideal for learning during the lockdown or catching up when schools return! One of a series three blank templates, one each for Year 4.
**Year 4 **- the template is a marking scheme that helps pupils and their teachers focus of what is required for a research task. The basic document shows that the teacher expects: a title page; five fun facts in their own words, (teachers can train pupils NOT to copy and paste); two books used to be listed; three questions to be made up; a date for completion. Topics can be chosen by pupils to fit in with their interests and could be used to provide independent learning experiences. In addition to writing points, pupils could take digital photos, record their information, draw pictures or use pictures from a google image search. ‘Pictures save a 1000 words!
Plus advice for pupils with additional needs and cross curricular ideas.
This a one of many differentiation tools available to teachers. Research topics can be done at home, in class, with books, in libraries, in rooms with computers or tablets. Research could be published in a school newsletter, the school website with appropriate permissions.
Help pupils keep up and catch up! Independent research topics for children to learn about topics they are interested in. Structured templates for use by teachers and parents.
This is one of a range of guides for teachers supporting young people with a variety of Special Education Needs, especially those in mainstream classrooms. For example, autism, dyspraxia, visual and auditory impairment, moderate, severe and specific learning difficulties. Although the activities will also be useful to teachers in special schools.
There are templates and teaching guides for primary and secondary pupils.
There are six guides in the series:
Primary -Independent Research Projects using pictures (suitable for pupils with reading and communication difficulties)
** Primary -Independent Research Projects using sound apps to speak and listen (suitable for pupils with difficulties reading and writing)**
Primary - Independent Research Projects using kinaesthetic activities (suitable for AHDH, autism etc )
Secondary - Independent Research Projects using pictures (suitable for students with reading and communication difficulties)
Secondary- Independent Research Projects using sound apps to speak and listen (suitable for students with difficulties reading and writing)
Secondary - Independent Research Projects using kinaesthetic activities (suitable for AHDH, autism etc )
There are also primary and secondary BUNDLES available. These can be used as a whole school resource.
Digital literacy is increasingly important! This resource has two record cards for teachers to track students literacy and digital literacy from starting school to adulthood. This document has many uses and possibilities and can be used in all curriculum.
Distance learning has many benefits but students in mainstream classrooms may have additional needs to help them succeed. This resource is designed to help teachers find ways of supporting children with auditory needs, autism, dyscalculia, dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, physical and visual needs.
During lockdown families benefited from engaging in family projects. Once back at school teachers can encourage them to continue. This resource provides a list of ideas across a range of subjects and age groups that teachers can use to do this. Topics include art and crafts, drama, music and science. Build on the increased awareness that parents have of their children’s learning.
Other useful resources:
Advice to parents
One post pandemic lesson we have learned is that learning online can be a global experience. We are all experiencing the same difficulties and have all had to adjust the way we learn and teach. Back at school we can capitalize on the benefits of distant asynchronous and synchronous learning. The spreadsheet provides a huge range of international opportunities for students across the age ranges. There is a guidance sheet for use provided. These ideas can be incorporated into a catchup curriculum! Think in terms of bridging courses between years and independent research projects over the school holidays or weekends.
See also Benefits of distance learning – after lockdown
Catch up after lockdown
SEN modifications for distant learners
Family projects
Knowledge audit
Audit student
Audit parents
Audit teachers
Can’t use the labs because of lockdown and distance learning? There are lots of interesting and exciting websites that offer science learning experiences – virtual physics labs, animations, videos, simulations. This resource has collected the information together in one place to save you time and effort.
This is part of a series of virtual labs - biology, chemistry and general science
Virtual biology labs Virtual chemistry labs
Involve your students in REAL science through citizen science experiences. Citizen science biology Citizen science chemistry Citizen science physics
Citizen science bundle https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/citizen-science-projects-all-three-sciences-12245471
Benefits of distance learning – after lockdown https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/benefits-of-distance-learning-after-lockdown-12320055
Catch up after lockdown https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/catch-up-after-lockdown-12320060
Find out what your students learned during lockdown Students Audit post pandemic
Take your students out on a virtual visit
Can’t use the labs because of lockdown and distance learning? There are lots of interesting and exciting websites that offer science learning experiences – virtual chemistry labs, animations, videos, simulations. This resource has collected the information together in one place to save you time and effort.
This is part of a series of virtual labs - biology, physics and general science
Involve your students in REAL science through citizen science experiences. Citizen science biology
Citizen science chemistry
Citizen science physics
Citizen science bundle
Other post pandemic resources
Learning after lockdown
Benefits of distance learning
Catch up after lockdown
After lockdown, when people return to school, suddenly digital literacy has become really important for both students and their teachers. As education is catapulted into the 21 century digital skills are at a premium and are developing rapidly. This resource provides a series of audits for schools derived from the UK government’s Essential digital skills framework which defines the digital skills adults need to safely benefit from, participate in and contribute to the digital world.
There are 12 FREE documents in the series:
• Digital Foundation skills audit for teachers
• Digital Foundation skills audit for students (this one)
• Digital Communication skills audit for teachers
• Digital Communication skills audit for students
• Digital Handling Information and content skills audit for teachers
• Digital Handling Information and content skills audit for students
• Digital Transaction skills audit for teachers
• Digital Transaction skills audit for students
• Digital Problem-Solving skills audit for teachers
• Digital Problem-Solving skills audit for students
• Digital Being Safe and Legal Online skills audit for teachers
• Digital Being Safe and Legal Online skills audit for students
The wording for teachers, as the adults, is taken directly from the framework and turned into a checklist for schools to use. In the students’ checklists the wording has been slightly modified and the changes, made by the author, shown in red. The documents are in Word format to allow teachers to easily simplify and modify for their settings.
Also available is detailed teacher guidance about how these documents can be used in schools, including strategies to develop skills gaps found through the audits and ideas about comparing and addresses mismatches between teachers and students’ digital skills.
After lockdown, when people return to school, suddenly digital literacy has become really important for both students and their teachers. As education is catapulted into the 21 century digital skills are at a premium and are developing rapidly. This resource provides a series of audits for schools derived from the UK government’s Essential digital skills framework which defines the digital skills adults need to safely benefit from, participate in and contribute to the digital world.
There are 12 FREE documents in the series:
• Digital foundation skills audit for teachers (this one)
• Digital Foundation skills audit for students
• Digital Communication skills audit for teachers
• Digital Communication skills audit for students
• Digital Handling Information and content skills audit for teachers
• Digital Handling Information and content skills audit for students
• Digital Transaction skills audit for teachers
• Digital Transaction skills audit for students
• Digital Problem-Solving skills audit for teachers
• Digital Problem-Solving skills audit for students
• Digital Being Safe and Legal Online skills audit for teachers
• Digital Being Safe and Legal Online skills audit for students
The wording for teachers, as the adults, is taken directly from the framework and turned into a checklist for schools to use. In the students’ checklists the wording has been slightly modified and the changes, made by the author, shown in red. The documents are in Word format to allow teachers to easily simplify and modify for their settings.
Also available is detailed teacher guidance about how these documents can be used in schools, including strategies to develop skills gaps found through the audits and ideas about comparing and addresses mismatches between teachers and students’ digital skills.
After lockdown, when people return to school, suddenly digital literacy has become really important for both students and their teachers. As education is catapulted into the 21 century digital skills are at a premium and are developing rapidly. This resource provides a series of audits for schools derived from the UK government Essential digital skills framework which defines the digital skills adults need to safely benefit from, participate in and contribute to the digital world.
There are 12 FREE documents in the series:
• Digital Foundation skills audit for teachers
• Digital Foundation skills audit for students
• Digital Communication skills audit for teachers
• Digital Communication skills audit for students
• Digital Handling Information and Content skills audit for teachers
• Digital Handling Information and Content skills audit for students
• Digital Transaction skills audit for teachers
• Digital Transaction skills for audit students
• Digital Problem-Solving skills audit for teachers
• Digital Problem-Solving skills audit for students
• Digital Being Safe and Legal Online skills audit for teachers (this one)
• [Digital Being Safe and Legal Online skills audit for students](Digital Being Safe and Legal Online skills audit for students)
The wording for teachers, as the adults, is taken directly from the framework and turned into a checklist for schools to use. In the students’ checklists the wording has been slightly modified and the changes, made by the author, shown in red. The documents are in Word format to allow teachers to easily simplify and modify for their settings.
Also available is detailed teacher guidance about how these documents can be used in schools, including strategies to develop skills gaps found through the audits and ideas about comparing and addresses mismatches between teachers and students’ digital skills.