the kite Project

kids integrated technology education - sept '09 - may '11

Kite Project  

 

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Abstract

The Aylesbury Vale Academy is dedicated to exploring how emerging technology can help improve the education we deliver and constantly strive to discover new, innovative solutions that can enhance our teaching and learning.

As part of this commitment, in collaboration with our partners Buckinghamshire New University, The Aylesbury Vale Academy applied for and won an education grant offered by HP in 2009, valued at approximately $100,000 USD. Comprising of tablet PC technology and wireless connectivity, the grant initiated and facilitated the KITE project, a two year project with an objective of developing a transparent and natural integration of computing technology into the daily teaching and learning regime of The Aylesbury Vale Academy.

The main focus of the KITE project includes the development of problem solving skills for KS4 students across maths, science, ICT and technology within the Academy. The technology will be deployed to enhance course delivery methodology, maximising the effective use of classroom time and student engagement with a long term aim of improved student awareness of careers within these fields.

RATIONALE

The Aylesbury Vale Academy, formed in September 2009, is in a period of transition. Continued improvements and some major redevelopment over the coming months will culminate in the relocation to a new development in 2012.

Essentially our senior students will only have limited exposure to the benefits of the exciting new infrastructure; consequently the technology supplied by the grant will help provide the best possible experience to these students before this time. In addition, teaching and support staff will be able to develop their pedagogy to enhance the student learning experience via the opportunities that technology enhanced learning can provide.

The KITE project will contribute enormously toward our vision and plans for the deployment of mobile technology solutions in our new learning environment. Crucially the project will prepare staff and students (both current and future), on how to maximise the opportunities provided by these technologies and thereby provide a foundation on how to effectively utilise new technologies presented in the new educational infrastructure.

Issues to be addressed:

  • The digital learning environment of the Academy currently lacks the flexibility and mobility that is required to enable the students to experience learning at the point of contact where knowledge takes place. The KITE project will provide the capacity to extend the learning environment and link into the Academy’s VLE – taking the learning to the student.
  • The Academy aim to utilise the technology to provide a direct link with a developing school in West Bengal – enabling students to ‘buddy up, providing a much richer learning experience and provide further education provision for staff students to engage with. The ability to involve students, staff and partners the Academy extends and enhances engagement to a much wider audience.
  • The design and research experience of the students will be improved by the project through the development of enquiry and study skills. Cross discipline skills of handling large amounts of information and the most appropriate methods to gather, synthesise and analyse information will be developed. The skill of presenting information by students will be enhanced by gaining experience in using technology to clarify and deliver their work.
  • The project will provide opportunities to gain knowledge and experience of the wide range of important future employment areas that maths, science and technology serve through the use of the technology provided by the project and the accompanying relationships with partners such as Bucks New University and other professional bodies.

IMPLEMENTATION

The project will be implemented focusing on the following:

Use of Web 2.0 Technologies
Teaching staff will be able to develop resources and teaching materials in a collaborative manner convenient to staff involved i.e. time and place restrictions lifted through the use of the mobile technology and Web 2.0 technologies available at the Academy (e.g. staff forums/VLE/SharePoint) – improving time efficiency and overall staff engagement.

Mobile use of VLE
The mobile technology, in conjunction with the Academy’s VLE, will enable teaching staff to expand their current range of teaching delivery beyond the confines of the traditional classroom space, enabling the utilisation of distributed locations and providing the ability to ‘deliver on the move’ from dispersed locations around the school and externally.

Mobile Research and Analysis
The mobile technology will improve the link between research data and conclusions, often found difficult in the early formation of enquiry, by offering a more efficient and iterative method of ‘real time’ research and analysis.

Higher Education/Career Awareness
Highlighting career awareness is best achieved by experiencing the diverse, challenging and beneficial effects the application of sound technological based solutions can bring to real world problems encountered in today’s world. Professional links provided by our partners, Buckinghamshire New University, will be continue and become more accessible, over time, to all Academy community members.

Other Technologies
The introduction of teleconferencing facilities, to enhance the communication both within and external to the community based will be implemented utilising the projects technologies.

CONTACTS

Project Leader - Dayalan Anandavasagar (Director of Learning Technology) Email:danandavasagar@bucksgfl.org.uk

Useful Links
©2009 The Aylesbury Vale Academy