Ensure Equitable Use of Tools and Content

As coaches we can lead staff to tools to expand high impact learning opportunities, and through pupils’ more personalised experiences, and the greater independence that is fostered, they can then be the digital champions that feel empowered to suggest learning tools to their teachers.

According to ISTE coaches are change agents which means they are coaches ‘who inspire educators and leaders, and other relevant educational stakeholders, to use technology to create equitable and ongoing access to meaningful learning. In standard 4.1b, ISTE explains that coaches should facilitate access to resources educators can use to expand high-impact learning opportunities for students (e.g. experiential learning v memorisation); meeting the needs of learners regardless of their ability, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, language, or physical needs. ‘

High impact, or meaningful learning can take many forms including interleaving, use of gamification, micro-learning, experiential learning, collaborative learning, retrieval practice, discussions, project-based learning, fieldtrips, real-world problem solving, self-directed learning, and learning that acknowledges cognitive load theory. A coach should facilitate access to resources that support these, and other high-impact learning opportunities. The coach should ensure the needs of all learners are met, regardless of their ability, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, language, or physical needs.

Resources that coaches can lead educators to include use of QR codes or hyperlinks on learning menus with differentiated resources so pupils have choice in their learning and can access the material most suitable for them.

Quizzes in Microsoft Forms can be used for knowledge checks, and to help educators out these can also be self-marking. Another activity is for pupils to create their own quizzes to help remind them of what they have learned so far, and to share them with the rest of their class.

V.R. headsets and virtual field trips and following learning pathways in Minecraft Education also allow for pupils to be curious and to learn, and to not be limited by their reading and writing capabilities.

Micro-learning can be practised through educators creating Flip videos of bite size information, or pupils creating the videos themselves. Stream videos or Clipchamp videos shared in Teams is another option.

Reading Coach is another great tool for self-directed learning- pupils love to engage with the A.I. storytelling element, and the reading level options means that pupils can work to their most suitable level.

The personalised learning experiences that these tools foster, also helps foster greater independence in students. As coaches we can lead staff to tools to expand high impact learning opportunities, and through pupils’ more personalised experiences and the greater independence that is fostered they can then be the digital champions that suggest great learning tools to their teachers.