Extraordinary learning with and about technology

The maths forum provides an opportunity for maths subject leaders to share their expertise and investigate new opportunities for digital technologies to support maths teaching and learning in class and online at home. The forum combines discussion with colleagues about school-wide progress in mathematics, with hands-on activities led by a CLC teacher, demonstrating how technology can be used to support maths. Activities will include programming in Scratch 3, which offers a practical way to illustrate and explore key mathematical concepts such as shape, space, position and direction.

Discover how digital technology can change the way we assess pupils’ work. We will demonstrate how teachers can use technology to monitor, evidence and respond to pupils’ progress in school and learning online remotely, and how pupils can use technology to present and reflect on their learning. We will outline a range of approaches to help assess and evidence learning across the curriculum.

This programme is designed for primary teachers who have recently taken on responsibilities and leadership for technology and computing. It will cover curriculum planning, tools and resources, methods for supporting colleagues and progression and assessment. Colleagues will be expected to attend all three sessions. The third session will be held in a school and will include classroom visits.

Further details for sessions 2 and 3 to follow:

Session 2: 9.30-11.30am Thursday 27 January (virtual)

Session 3: TBC (in person)

Scratch can be a great way to teach computing in KS2 and is well suited to blended learning; however, it can take some getting used to. This session is designed to give teachers the confidence and understanding to get the most out of Scratch. We will begin with the basics: getting to grips with the drag-and-drop programming interface as well as the key concepts that underpin computer science. We will discuss ways pupils can progress and think about different project ideas that can form the basis of classroom activities. In addition, teachers will be given the opportunity to review some of our favourite activities and teaching resources, including materials from the EEF-funded ScratchMaths research project.

This conference, scheduled in the lead up to Safer Internet Day 2022 (Tuesday 8 February), is for headteachers, SLT members, designated child protection teachers, computing subject leaders, school governors and members of the school leadership team. It will bring together a variety of external resources with expertise from within the CLC team to help schools get to grips with the complexities of online safety, with reference to the safeguarding implications of remote learning solutions. The day will combine keynote talks with practical sessions covering all aspects of online safety from policies and procedures, curriculum development, blended learning and leadership responsibilities, to staff development and infrastructure considerations.

This training session will help teaching assistants develop the skills and confidence to support learning in the KS1 computing curriculum. Practical workshops will embed the principles of the computing curriculum in a variety of hands-on activities using a range of appropriate hardware and software. This session will also include information on how to support blended learning using digital tools.

Teaching assistants who attend this training session will work with CLC experts to further develop their understanding of the role of technology and computing in learning at KS2, including the use of tools that can support blended learning. They will be invited to participate in discussions and practical activities designed to build confidence and encourage collaboration with colleagues.

Learn how technology can help children develop their ideas, express themselves, share a love of literature and review and reflect on their work using a range of digital tools. This forum, for English subject leaders and teachers interested in using technology to enhance their pupils’ learning, will combine practical activities, group discussion and expert input from CLC practitioners. We will share findings from some of our research projects and explore the resources developed by partner organisations. Topics covered within this session will also address the challenges and solutions for schools within the context of blended learning.

Scratch is CLC’s go-to tool for teaching KS2 computing in a way that is flexible, encourages creativity and provides the complexity to challenge pupils and teachers alike. Scratch is also well suited to blended learning. This session will help teachers gain a more detailed understanding of Scratch, including some of the new features available in Scratch 3. It will link these new skills to some of the big ideas in computing, with classroom activities that exemplify these links.

CLC’s science forum is an opportunity for primary science subject leaders to share their expertise and work with a London CLC tutor to investigate a range of digital technologies that can support science teaching and learning in class and at home. The open forum format allows teachers to discuss a range of issues, and share their ideas and solutions. The discussion will be followed by a CLC-led practical session, which will demonstrate how pupils can use digital technology to research, test and present scientific ideas.