Abstract
A radical change to how and what children in Wales are taught is underway 26 years after the National Curriculum was first introduced. The Successful Futures report recommends computer programming and I.T to be on an equal footing with literacy and numeracy in all classes (Donaldson2015). Whilst pupils with learning difficulties could struggle with technology requiring high levels of cognitive competence it is reassuring to note that technological advances can also allow those pupils access to educational opportunities unavailable to them in the past. Following a whole school review of pupils’ access to the curriculum through ICT, it was agreed to undertake a whole school investment in the use of iPads as a tool for teaching and learning. Staff received training and each iPad was personalised to match the needs of each individual pupil and Apps purchased . The school used an assessment package to assess pupil’s progress in ICT. At the end of the school year the analysis software used the data recorded by teachers to produce a report and graphs. Conclusion Individualised school iPads helped to improve pupils’ ICT skills with attainment in ICT improving by over a P Level (1.1) from 19% of P5 to 28% of P6 for the 2014-2015 academic year, compared to an increase of 0.6 for 2013-2014 academic year. The rapid improvement in pupil attainment within the area of ICT from January 2015 –June 2015 was likely to be due to the introduction of individual school iPads.
Author Information
Ange Anderson, Ysgol Pen Coch, UK
Sian Griffiths, Ysgol Pen Coch, UK
James Murphy, Ysgol Pen Coch, UK
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