Coventry School Teachers Become Power Computer Users
One of CoventryÂ’s most respected high schools has adopted a technology service which started at the University of Warwick. The Meadoweb service helps make software technology a daily part of lesson preparation and administrative work for teachers. At the same time, Meadoweb helps make technology a normal part of education for school students while enhancing the learning process.
United Kingdom (PRWEB) November 19, 2004
As a region, Coventry has much to be proud of. The ICT in Schools initiative of DfES has taken root with every school now connected to the internet through broadband, thanks in part to the energy of the Coventry Local Education Authority (LEA) ICT advisor Ms Pauline Burton.
Leveraging technology for optimum teaching, planning and administration has long been a top priority at Stoke Park High School and Community Technology College. Many educational technology initiatives start in Coventry at Stoke Park and from there spread to other schools in Coventry.
In partnership with the LEA, Stoke Park has been offering the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) to a select cohort of teachers and students using a new educational software package from the USA.
English technologies are also making an impact with Meadoweb providing computer and software support to teachers at Stoke Park. While many of us experienced blackboard and chalk in our school days, the classrooms of the future may well be run with Powerpoint presentations, which are after all now commonplace in business meetings. Things might even go a step further with accounting and basic business skills being taught in school with an Excel spreadsheet projected onto a screen for the class to view.
School administration also benefits with teachers having more power at their fingertips in understanding student performance when using Excel to slice and dice student results data to compare students and performance across different subjects.
The question is – how does everyone, students and teachers alike, learn to use this technology? The DfES is clear that technology should become part of life in schooling, but exactly how people are trained to use technology is left open. Meadoweb assists teachers with expert technicians being available online and over the phone to explain the ins and outs of using Excel, Powerpoint, and other Microsoft and non-Microsoft software. When requested, Meadoweb technicians can see the teacher’s computer screen, control the mouse, and demonstrate exactly how to do things.
When asked what teachers use Meadoweb for, project leader and Deputy Head Teacher, Marie Harrison, said, “Every teacher uses computers in a slightly different way and so teachers have different needs. One of the great things about Meadoweb is that the Meadoweb experts help teachers with real work that they are doing – whether administration that is being done with Excel or lesson preparation that is being done in Powerpoint. Meadoweb technicians can see the computer screen and guide the teacher. Because it’s a real person who we can talk to on the phone or online, teachers really can and do ask about anything related to the software program they are using. It helps boost computer knowledge and productivity surprisingly quickly for teachers who use the service.”
Ms Harrison said, "Teachers book themselves in for support sessions using the Meadoweb online scheduler and can chop and change their bookings as their work requires."
Meadoweb started out supporting business users in using the more advanced features of technology, and in supporting business networks as well as ensuring that business systems are secure from spyware, viruses and other hazards. After some time in the technical support business, Meadoweb found a need for its services in schools.
Head Teacher Bill Wolger says, "Meadoweb has helped Stoke Park teachers become more expert in using MS Office applications. This has a concrete effect on the quality of education received by students. We look forward to making the service available to more teachers and eventually to Stoke Park pupils also."
While it is well-known that schools are on a limited budget, Mr Wolger said, "Meadoweb offered pricing which suits us and which is based only on our usage which is fair all round."
The Stoke Park account manager at Meadoweb, Kundan Misra, said, "Stoke Park has been a pleasure to work with and we are very excited to be making this contribution to the future of teaching and also to the younger generation of technology-users in Coventry."
Meadoweb can be contacted on 02476 323 373 or visit the website at www. meadoweb. com.
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