TEACHING METHODS
and mathematics. While some of the ways technology is used are visually captivating, including screens with projected images for drama productions and maths classrooms covered in floor-to-ceiling equations, much of the work that goes on is about making the learning experience an increasingly effective one that removes barriers, allows faster feedback and makes it far easier to share information and collaborate. For Darrell Chart-Boyles, deputy head of academic at Gresham’s, an English lesson where pupils have to annotate a poem might sound relatively routine, but thanks to a nifty bit of software – in this case Microsoft One Note – it’s anything but, allowing pupils to work interactively and show their work to the rest of the class. “The pupils like this way of working and it’s something they’re keen to show off,” he says. “We can share resources directly with their devices, either in or ahead of lessons. They’re annotating the poem in class. Before this, sharing a piece of writing would have been hard, but now they can ping their screens straight on to the whiteboards and we can all see their work and celebrate it.” Making it so easy to share work and resources and get feedback has, he says, broken down barriers and made everything much faster, as well as changing the way he teaches. “I now teach from the back of the classroom more and can see what they’re doing on their screens, so it’s changed the classroom environment as well.” Other benefits include real-time marking. After all, why wait until later when the teacher can both see and comment on a student’s work during the lesson? “I can be literally marking their work from my device as they’re writing. I don’t need to wait until they hand in their books at the end of the lesson, but can add my annotations in the margins as they’re working. I think those kinds of things are brilliant,” says Darrell. Gresham’s also makes extensive use of Microsoft Teams to set homework online, complete with deadlines and links to extra resources. “Before, as an English teacher, I would have had to photocopy extracts and readings – now I share them electronically, which is huge,” he adds. As he stresses, clever use of technology can make interactions between pupils and staff speedier and more effective. “We work hard to teach the children how best to use their devices and what they’re most useful for, as well as having that personal connection with them.” COLLABORATIVE APPROACHES Gresham’s (above) disrupts the narrative that young people must choose between science and the arts; at The Perse (right), expeditions teach transferrable skills
64 JULY 2025 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
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