An EduGeek 'Free' School - What would you do?

[Dos_Box]

I see that the info on 'free' schools is now available on the DfE website with the first schools due to open in September 2011 (Free Schools - The Department for Education).

Now, as an excersise in planning, let's take up a theoretical example of an 'EduGeek' school. The focus of the school would (obviously) be in teaching real world IT skills to secondary age children. Now, what would those skills be? how many teachers with what experience would we require? The schools in the UK are the most advanced and IT equipped in the industrialised world, but (IMHO) largely wasted as the skills they teach do not refelect the skills that industry would require from techology courses being run there. Pupils we all know often voice their frustration about the lack of courses that actually teach them IT\computer skills that they know they will need. So how would you do it better?

[Dos_Box]

As a start I would devolve the teaching of word processing to English and spreadsheets\databases to maths. Perhaps even include a 'consumer technologies' course to teach various skills such as device integration\configuration, file conversion and a basic understanding of how new technologies work and fit into our daily lives.

[Dos_Box]

Oh, and courses will be cross platform!!

[jamesb]

Touch-typing, first and foremost.

 

Business Studies would have to involve how to spec, cost and write a business case for a new project. Ideally as a committee and, if there's enough money available, actually implemented on the network where appropriate/possible. Obviously this would probably be restricted to the higher level students, or even run as a competition each year.

[featured_spectre]

Touch typing. Microsoft digital literacy certification which covers security, privacy, all office apps, basics, internet etc. Touch typing, file conversion and formatting. Best programs for the job, and teach them about open source alternatives as well

[CAM]

Home Economics: how to make a decent cup of coffee.

 

I suppose the boring admin clerk side of IT (Word, Powerpoint, etc) could go to other subjects but how much time would it take up? And would the Exam Boards be happy with it? Always leave room for some real IT classes though showing the technical side of it. However, would scripting and server management really be necessary for Key Stage 3?

[Dos_Box]

Home Economics: how to make a decent cup of coffee.

 

I suppose the boring admin clerk side of IT (Word, Powerpoint, etc) could go to other subjects but how much time would it take up? And would the Exam Boards be happy with it? Always leave room for some real IT classes though showing the technical side of it. However, would scripting and server management really be necessary for Key Stage 3?

 

These new schools will be academies, which are publicly funded independent schools, free from local authority control. They will enjoy the same freedoms as traditional academies, which include setting their own pay and conditions for staff, freedom from following the National Curriculum and the ability to change the lengths of their terms and school days. All Free Schools will be accountable like other state schools via inspections and tests.

 

You get a LOT of freedom being a free school.

[daveyboy]

Whitelisting the web - only approved sites........

[tmcd35]

I think the best school ingrain ICT in other subjects, it's all cross curricular. So yes lots of WP, Presentations and DTP in English, French, German, History, RE and Geography. Excel and basic programming Maths. How about just doing away with ICT lessons all together? And definitely outlaw GCSE Business Studies as too many seem to think "Business Studies=ICT".

 

If there are to be ICT lessons at all then I think they should take the form of...."write an essay (using any WP) about the differences between Mac's and PC's", "Give a presentation with projected slides on the components of a modern computer", Lessons based around installing an OS in to a VM and then networking the VM's on a VLAN, Upgrading Ram/Graphics/etc, File system/WIMP/OS design theory, etc.

 

I'd like to see the day were every pupil as an iPad style device connecting them to the VLE, MIS (timetables, etc), e-mail and calendars, Internet (wikipedis, etc) in every lesson.

 

I think a good VLE and use of quality Flash/Powerpoint/etc media should be central to a modern schools way of working. The teacher should use a laptop connected to a projector to present a lesson from content held on the VLE that the pupil can also view in class on their iPad and access anytime from home.

[teejay]

Each pupil gets a laptop, but it has no O/S on it. They have to install Linux From Scratch, connect it to the school network and install all required software themselves. Give them ownership and responsibility for the laptop, it breaks they fix it with supervision from the ICT technicians.

Don't abandon ICT lessons, but teach some usefull stuff like building and repairing PC's, networking, programming etc.

[timzim]

Business Studies would have to involve how to spec, cost and write a business case for a new project. Ideally as a committee...

 

My free school would teach people to make their own decisions and not rely on committees at all. If we're talking about the real world then we need to get people beyond this childish obsession with committees. No-one in business makes decisions via a committee. They make decisions themselves because that's what they're paid to do.

 

(Sorry jamesb, my gripe is with committees, not with you)

[jamesb]

My free school would teach people to make their own decisions and not rely on committees at all. If we're talking about the real world then we need to get people beyond this childish obsession with committees. No-one in business makes decisions via a committee. They make decisions themselves because that's what they're paid to do.

 

(Sorry jamesb, my gripe is with committees, not with you)

 

I agree with your gripe, but I thought we were meant to be teaching practical skills? Most of them aren't going to walk straight into a senior position where they can simply make their own decisions. Teaching them that would be handy, but it'll be more effectively useful for most to know how an actual meeting where these proposals are discussed would work.

 

Of course, this is assuming that you're training them as general technical staff rather than public sector technical staff.

[GrumbleDook]

The problem is not committees ... it is making sure people understand the hierarchies do exist for a good reason and you have to accept that others will make decisions that you have to live with. If the decision making body is a committee ... then fine ... as long as they actually make decisions.

[HarryMonkey]

If there are to be ICT lessons at all then I think they should take the form of...."write an essay (using any WP) about the differences between Mac's and PC's", "Give a presentation with projected slides on the components of a modern computer", Lessons based around installing an OS in to a VM and then networking the VM's on a VLAN, Upgrading Ram/Graphics/etc, File system/WIMP/OS design theory, etc.

 

And just how much use do you think this will be to the majority of students? How many of them will be looking to take these skills out in the real world?

 

I think a good VLE and use of quality Flash/Powerpoint/etc media should be central to a modern schools way of working. The teacher should use a laptop connected to a projector to present a lesson from content held on the VLE that the pupil can also view in class on their iPad and access anytime from home.

 

If the presentation is being displayed via a projector, why do they need to use an ipad device to view it as well?

[timzim]

If the decision making body is a committee ... then fine ... as long as they actually make decisions.

 

A committee that actually makes decisions - in my experience in that's an oxymoron...

[CyberNerd]

No IT classes !

 

They are outdated and a waste of time. an 'e-mature' school should have IT embedded throughout the curriculum and not taught as a discrete subject.

[GrumbleDook]

A committee that actually makes decisions - in my experience in that's an oxymoron...

 

A proper committee should have a chair. Ultimately they are the person who makes the decision, the other members should advise, help rate different options, and so on ... if you are talking about a group who has to vote on collective decisions then they are a Board, not a committee. Both have a place and both are abused by people who don't know how to run them.

 

That is why a school has one Head / Principal and one Chair of Governors. It is not a democracy ... neither is the majority of the real world ... a free school still has to deal with governance issues and I've heard some interesting angles on it so far (some good, some just plain laughable).

 

1 - The group which sets up the free school do so as a co-operative where all have a say, but they employ a management / leadership team to make ultimate decisions. If they don't like the decisions then they can give a vote of no confidence and get rid of them. The terms of the co-operative are key in this ...

2 - The community all collectively decide on how the school is run and what is taught / what pupils learn. This can work in some communities (and has done in years past) and a limiting factor will be things like H&S more than having to follow a curriculum. However, it can go disastrously wrong too ... the lack of focus and in-fighting without a referee can rip such communities apart.

3 - All teachers deciding what they are going to teach. This can be inspiring but it can generate a massive amount of work compared to if they work closer together ... good and bad points and experience.

4 - The local community are happy to set up and run a free school (eg getting the local primary running again after the LA closed it) and are happy to support it ... whilst their kids are there... there is the worry that as children move to other schools there might not be the intake to keep the school viable, and this could waste a lot of money for very poor results. There are usually good reasons why schools are closed ...

[tmcd35]

And just how much use do you think this will be to the majority of students? How many of them will be looking to take these skills out in the real world?

I suppose that's a question of what you believe the role of the school is in teaching the young. Are they a) teaching to pass exams, b) teaching to gain employment, c) teaching to give the learner a broad knowledge base as a foundation for the rest of their lifes.

 

I believe in © with FE and Uni taking up the mantel of (a) and (b).

 

On this basis, since ICT is know deeply ingrained into our society, I'd say a good working knowledge of the technology is pretty essential now days. I'm not saying theres a need to go into great depth but think of how many support calls can be solved by the user actually having a clue?

 

 

 

If the presentation is being displayed via a projector, why do they need to use an ipad device to view it as well?

Are you against the projector or the iPad? I think the central use of a quality VLE is the main point here.

[GrumbleDook]

No IT classes !

 

They are outdated and a waste of time. an 'e-mature' school should have IT embedded throughout the curriculum and not taught as a discrete subject.

 

Nope, IT lessons are not outdated. The same way that Sports Science is not outdated even if people think PE is. ICT/IT can teach very specific concepts and skills which are either difficult or impossible to get into other subjects. Other subjects can be fantastic places to introduce concepts or further develop them, but there is not enough time during english lessons to teach all formatting skills, not enough time in maths to teach the variety of formulae in spreadsheets and where do you stick relational databases?

[Dos_Box]

And just how much use do you think this will be to the majority of students? How many of them will be looking to take these skills out in the real world?

 

 

 

If the presentation is being displayed via a projector, why do they need to use an ipad device to view it as well?

 

You forget, free schools are there to fill gaps in the education 'market' and do not have to be large establishments. In say a town the size of Preston (circa 60,000) there will be a gap large enough to fill at least 50 places with pupils with a desire to learn technology and IT, then take these skills into higher education. The point is there is a HUGE disconnect between high schools, colleges and the skills require when starting university courses. It is only a paper excersise remember, but bear in mind that the world is increasign computer relient and giving pupils with the right aptitude the righ knowlege to take further will benifit not only them but the UK technology industry as a whole. After all, the world games industry generates more revenue that the music and movie industry, and to not prepare children for this age is, IMHO, criminal.

[GrumbleDook]

On this basis, since ICT is know deeply ingrained into our society, I'd say a good working knowledge of the technology is pretty essential now days. I'm not saying theres a need to go into great depth but think of how many support calls can be solved by the user actually having a clue?

 

How many of use know how to replace brake pads? Spark plugs?

No ... we know how to fill it with oil (after checking), put air into tyres ... heck, many people don't even change their own tyres in the event of a flat anymore, but call on RAC or AA (other roadside recovery and maintenance services are available) and motor vehicles are pretty ingrained into society.

 

How many of us do a regular check of our vehicles? even ex-forces types who are used to first-parading vehicles each morning are glad to stop having to do that and accept that the car will have a warning light to tell us if something is wrong ... is that any different to OS/App updates or AV issues?

[Dos_Box]

The other advantage of free schools is that if you specialise then I suspect you will have more like minded pupils who want to be there and discipline and other areas that are often problamatical will not be such an issue. Also as they are treated as academies you can team up with local business for not only sponsorship, but with more relevant courses and access to levels of knowlege often denied to comprehensive schools.

Imagine real world web design courses, coding, network setup and administration as well as industry level qualifications to accompany the more academic courses.

My guess is that most of the peopel on this forum love technology, networking and all of the problems and problem solving that go with it. There are just as many teenagers out there who want to learn what we know, or even what we would like to know, ans a school specilising in these areas would be very popular. iOS and Android coding? Great, teach it, theres a huge developing market out there. The areas of web design and coding are expanding hugely as is the need for techies accross all areas, and the kids want these skills. It would be much better for them to lean them in a controlled and advised environment, than to struggle on their own at home and often get misguided or led astray.

[tmcd35]

How many of use know how to replace brake pads? Spark plugs?

No ... we know how to fill it with oil (after checking), put air into tyres ... heck, many people don't even change their own tyres in the event of a flat anymore, but call on RAC or AA (other roadside recovery and maintenance services are available) and motor vehicles are pretty ingrained into society.

 

While I'm as guilty as most others on this one it almost proves my point for me. How many problems can be solved with a little basic knowledge before having to pick up the phone to the AA? There's a fine line between changing a tyre and rebuilding an engine but maybe changing a tyre is something basic that should be taught. In deed I'm sure a lot these basics are now incorporated into the driving test. I remember at least having to open the bonnet and point to the radiator, brake fluid, windscreen wash, etc, before they'd give me the license!

[HarryMonkey]

I suppose that's a question of what you believe the role of the school is in teaching the young. Are they a) teaching to pass exams, b) teaching to gain employment, c) teaching to give the learner a broad knowledge base as a foundation for the rest of their lifes.

 

I believe in © with FE and Uni taking up the mantel of (a) and (b).

 

On this basis, since ICT is know deeply ingrained into our society, I'd say a good working knowledge of the technology is pretty essential now days. I'm not saying theres a need to go into great depth but think of how many support calls can be solved by the user actually having a clue?

 

Yes, I agree on C so do you think that setting up VMs on a VLAN is essential knowledge? For whom?

 

Are you against the projector or the iPad? I think the central use of a quality VLE is the main point here.

 

Neither, but using the technology simply for its own sake is a waste of resources.

[HarryMonkey]

The other advantage of free schools is that if you specialise then I suspect you will have more like minded pupils who want to be there and discipline and other areas that are often problamatical will not be such an issue. Also as they are treated as academies you can team up with local business for not only sponsorship, but with more relevant courses and access to levels of knowlege often denied to comprehensive schools.

Imagine real world web design courses, coding, network setup and administration as well as industry level qualifications to accompany the more academic courses.

My guess is that most of the peopel on this forum love technology, networking and all of the problems and problem solving that go with it. There are just as many teenagers out there who want to learn what we know, or even what we would like to know, ans a school specilising in these areas would be very popular. iOS and Android coding? Great, teach it, theres a huge developing market out there. The areas of web design and coding are expanding hugely as is the need for techies accross all areas, and the kids want these skills. It would be much better for them to lean them in a controlled and advised environment, than to struggle on their own at home and often get misguided or led astray.

 

Great ideas DB, but whose going to teach the teachers? How many people with that level of expertise are going to want to leave their fields and enter a world of lesson plans, marking coursework, objectives, parent evenings, differentiation, controlled assesment and Ofsted?

Edited October 25, 2010 by HarryMonkey