#23 with Kirsty Tonks, Principal Designate at Shireland Technology Primary School - 'Flipped learning and a new tech school'

'Flipped learning and launching a new tech school' 

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What's in this episode?

• Intro, what’s in this week’s episode, new venue for the launch party, and other news items
• Interview with Kirsty Tonks, Principal Designate at Shireland Technology Primary School, UK ( a new ‘flipped classroom’ primary opening in 2018)
• Kirsty Tonks own journey over 22 years of working in education; how the ubiquity of tech has made explaining the benefits to teachers, parents and students easier
• Roadmap for the Shireland Technology Primary School, UK ( a new ‘flipped classroom’ primary opening in 2018)
• How Shireland believes in ‘using technology in a mundanely clever way’
• How to use audio and video feedback to halve teacher marking times
• How to create a school ethos to create ‘smart creatives’ of the future able to select tools appropriately for each task
• The questions to ask before purchasing tech
• Why sustainable change towards innovation has to be systemic, not just based on a few
• The opportunities of being an academy or free school
• How ITT trainers can provide better teacher training
• How to create an expectation around using impactful tech methodologies in the classroom and to save time in school processes
• Kirsty’s desire to see a broader curriculum with innovation across all subjects not just ‘computing’
• Working with Sir Mark Grundy, and the history of tech in education
• What’s Maths Flip and how can it help with the ‘efficacy’ of tech for education?
• Kirsty Tonks’ Summer Reading list

Sample quotes

• ON TECH:
• • it isn't the tech itself but the impact it could have
  • my philosophy has always been if i can do it again body can do it
  • we talk at Shireland about using technology in a mundanely clever way..
• ON OPENING AN ENTIRELY NEW FLIPPED PRIMARY SCHOOL:
• • it’s exciting because it’s a blank piece of paper, but it’s terrifying because it’s a blank piece of paper as well
  • ‘if there is anyone in the west midlands area who’s interested in being a smart creative then please do make contact.
  • ‘we want technology to underpin all aspects of learning not just a pigeon hole of computing.’
• MESSAGE TO ITT PROVIDERS:
• • from a teacher training perspective i still think there is a way to go
  • don’t focus on the sexy bits
• GETTING TEACHERS ON BOARD:
• • ‘it’s about having that conviction’
  • ‘for sustainable change it has to be systemic, not just about a few creative teachers.’
• FOR THOSE PROCURING TECH:
• • What’s going to make the most impact with the least investment?
  • Test things first in the classroom

Further reading: 

• Kirsty Tonks, https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsty-tonks-b3a3621a   Shireland Technology Primary School, http://www.thelearningbank.co.uk/shireland/HighTechPrimary/HighTechPrimary.htm
• Flipped Learning Explanation, http://www.nesta.org.uk/blog/flipping-learning-schools
• Education Endowment Foundation Toolkit, https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/evidence/teaching-learning-toolkit
• Alan November, http://novemberlearning.com/educational-services/educational-consultants/alan-november/
• SSAT, https://www.ssatuk.co.uk/ and Bett, http://www.bettshow.com/
• Estelle Morris, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estelle_Morris
• Sir Mark Grundy, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Grundy
• Maths Flip, https://twitter.com/mathsflip
• Andy Buck, Leadership Matters, http://www.johncattbookshop.com/leadership-matters-how-leaders-at-all-levels-can-create-great-schools
• Andrew Morrish, The Art of Standing Out, http://www.johncattbookshop.com/the-art-of-standing-out-transforming-your-school-to-outstanding-and-beyond
• The Girl on The Train, Paula Hawkins, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Girl-Train-Paula-Hawkins/dp/0857522310
• Jon Bergmann, http://jonbergmann.com/
• FlipconUK, http://flipconuk.co.uk/

Loughborough University London to host The Edtech Podcast Launch Party! 

Delighted to announce the venue will be Loughborough University London. Last few educator tickets available via eventbrite. #edtechpod

Loughborough University is ranked as a top 10 university for research excellence, with almost 66% of the work of Loughborough’s academic staff judged as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. This year Loughborough University topped the Times Higher Education Student Satisfaction survey; an interview focusing on Loughborough Universities UX strategy was released on episode 10 of The Edtech Podcast.

The Loughborough London campus opened 6 months ago and the course focus on Design Innovation, Digital Technologies, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, and Media and Creative Industries make it a perfect fit for the communities involved in education technology.