9 tips for investing in school technology wisely

I went to a recent event hosted by Westfields Junior School: 'Technology supporting creative learning in an outstanding school', to gain a bit more of an insight into a school that is renowned for its innovative use of technology.

Throughout the day, we were given a clear picture of how Westfields have embraced technology to support both staff and students and the strategy that surrounds this.

9 tips and advice for making good investments in school technology

Before you start looking at shiny objects, decide what learning outcomes you want to achieve and ask yourself whether technology is the right thing to facilitate this. 

To help you make this decision, you could take the following steps:

1. Research

   - Look at what's out there to find out the best option for helping you achieve the outcomes you want

2. Invite someone in to show you the technology 

   - to help you gain a good understanding of how it works, the costs involved and whether it really will meet your needs

3. Involve the full SLT 

   - inviting leadership and perhaps some of the other staff  to voice their opinions will open up discussion and create buy in at the early stages. It will also help you see wider potential as well as possible limitations

4. Go and visit or speak with others using the technology already

   - Westfields visited 4 or 5 others schools with a radio station before purchasing their own

5. Get the school IT techs involved early.

   - Look at your infrastructure and check whether you can  support the tech with what you have and if not, how can you achieve it?

6. Play devil's advocate 

   - ask yourself whether you really have the time to invest in ensuring effective implementation

7. Consider the technology's full potential

   - could it have other uses or replace something you already do? Westfields no longer have traditional assemblies; they now use the radio station for this. The school also have less teachers present in classroom observations, using video to save time and minimise disruption

8. Decide who will be responsible  

   - appoint a key person to take responsibility for ensuring the technology is used effectively

9. Measure the impact 

   - make sure to share your successes with others

   

Westfields have learnt many lessons about using tech, which they shared at the event. One teacher asked how on earth the school had afforded all of the tech they use? The response was clear... it has been a journey of 10 years to date, and is not a matter of having lots of money, it's a matter of planning and placing technology within the schools development plan. By starting with the desired learning outcomes, very little has been wasted on technology for technology's sake.

Find out how Westfields are using video technology to identify learning behaviours, resulting in unprecedented levels of progress for disadvantaged and vulnerable pupils.

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