Samsung Digital Academy for Teachers at Harborne Academy, Birmingham

2014-08-15T01:50:00.001-07:00

The Samsung Digital Academy for Teachers

The spectacular design showpiece of Samsung Technology within Harborne Academy is an innovation in learning technology and is available for training primary school teachers to promote technology in education to enhance teaching and learning in the classroom and beyond.

The technology landscape continues to evolve and bring new opportunities for educators. Whether it is smart phones or tablets, e-readers or applications, learning management systems or social media networks, the range of new technologies and digital content continues to transform education.

Today’s pupils are digital natives – expecting a higher level of technology and digital interaction than ever before. The teaching and learning environment needs to develop to respond to these innovations and utilise the possibilities in a way that makes education ever more accessible and inspirational. The Samsung Digital Academy for Teachers at Harborne Academy is an excellent example of new technologies benefitting learners by supporting educators to provide a learning environment that reflects the next generation of interactive technologies.

Working with Samsung, we have developed a structured programme around the use of technology within a teaching and learning environment to enable teachers to effectively engage with, and be confident in, the use of new technologies to create a more stimulating and effective learning experience.

The Samsung Project Outline

The main focus of the Digital Academy for Teachers is to showcase new technology and engage and develop teachers by working in the state of the art Samsung suite, equipped with the latest Samsung products, to provide a showpiece of innovation and technology-enabled learning. There will also be opportunities for Harborne Academy’s Samsung Digital Academy E-Learning Specialist to liaise with schools and support teachers in improving their development of learning technologies in the classroom.

This three year project is sponsored by Samsung Electronics and will be measured by key performance indicators agreed between Harborne Academy, Birmingham Metropolitan College and Samsung Electronics, which include the following:

1) The number of teachers from primary school, Harborne Academy and Birmingham Metropolitan College who engage in training and development activities within the centre.

2) The number of teachers qualified to a minimum intermediate level in the use of the new Samsung Smart School technology

3) Training for teachers to raise awareness and mastery of teaching in a digital world

4) The development of innovative lessons and master classes

5) Training for teachers of Key Stage 2 and 3 Computing to enable them to prepare appropriate and engaging activities that meet curriculum targets

6) Collaborating with the virtual community to share content and so increase the pool of resources available

‘An exciting training opportunity funded by Samsung that will support schools to create a 21st century environment where teaching and learning is innovative, interactive and inspiring.’

What we can offer teachers and pupils at The Samsung Digital Academy for Teachers

As part of our commitment to inspire the young people of Birmingham to Aspire, Believe and Achieve, we would like to share this exciting digital experience with you and show you how the Samsung Smart School experience and a greater awareness of teaching in a digital world can enrich your classroom.

The Samsung Smart School experience

We would like to invite you to bring a class of your choosing and let our Samsung Digital Learning Specialist teach your class a computer science lesson that incorporates the core subjects of English, maths and science and which are relevant to their age and ability. We guarantee it will be educational, relevant, engaging and fun!

This is what your visit to the Samsung Digital Academy for Teachers might look like

0930 hrs Arrival at Harborne Academy

0930 hrs to 0945 hrs Introduction to the Samsung Digital suite and the equipment

0945 hrs to 1030 hrs Interactive Session 1

1030 hrs to 1045 hrs Refreshments

1045 hrs to 1130 hrs Interactive Session 2

1130 hrs to 1145 hrs Thoughts and reflections

1145 hrs Plenary

Teacher training at the Digital Academy for Teachers

We would also like to involve your staff in the new professional development programme we have developed in collaboration with Samsung Electronics. It consists of four free short courses that will prepare your institution for teaching and learning in a digital world. Ideally, this will be delivered in our Samsung Digital Academy for Teachers at Harborne Academy, but if you think this may be difficult, our Digital Academy e-Learning Specialist can discuss the possibility of training within your school.

Teaching in a Digital World

Module One of this course introduces the idea of interactive technology, effective use of technology in the classroom, the devices that are available, their respective app stores and the features of tablets that can have a positive impact on teaching and learning, as well as an overview of essential apps and web tools for today’s teacher. Module Two moves to look at subject-specific sessions using learning technology and how to prepare innovative and exciting lessons for our ‘digital native’ learners. It also introduces teachers to the idea of collaborating with a wider community online to not only tackle issues, but also to share good practice and resources.

Teaching with the Samsung Smart School Solution

Module One of this course introduces the Samsung Smart School solution and how educators can use it to upload and control lesson content, as well as providing interactive collaboration through the learners’ tablets. It also covers how feedback and assessment can be managed in and out of the classroom using features like quizzes, polls, assignment submission, forums and discussions. Module Two will expand on this by seeing how the concept of online learning and the ‘flipped’ classroom can be put into practice with the Samsung Smart School solution, as well as looking at how to design content for working in this way. It will also raise awareness of sharing content and resources with the wider digital community, as well as how to access it to improve teaching and learning. Although this course is based around the Samsung School solution, it would be beneficial to all those who are teaching today and does not require any commitment to purchase Samsung equipment.

Teaching Key Stage 2 Computing

Module One of this course explores the changes to the computing curriculum and what this means to primary schools. It will provide an overview of platforms that can be used to deliver the curriculum, while also making lessons engaging and interactive. Module Two will focus in more detail on how programming, app development and robotics can be integrated into Key Stage 2 and give examples of computer projects that meet curriculum targets.

Teaching Key Stage 3 Computing

Module One will also look at the curriculum changes and how they impact on secondary schools, as well as introducing appropriate platforms and computer projects for teaching computing at Key Stage 3. Module Two then moves to look specifically at the potential of Raspberry Pi in teaching computing at this level and also greater consideration of app development. This module will also explore the careers that these skills prepare our learners for, how to teach them about these careers and how to use this as a powerful motivator in the classroom and beyond.

With all of these courses, our involvement does not end when you complete the short training course, as we are working towards creating an active digital community that both shares and supports its members and we would also like to stay in contact to see how application of the training is progressing.

How to book a session

If you are interested in booking any of these offers or would like to discuss any of these options further, please contact digitalacademy@harborneacademy.co.uk or phone us on 0121 464 2737.