IPACA students attend BETT 2014

Students from the Isle of Portland Aldridge Community recently went on a once in a lifetime trip to London. The students aged 13 to 15 represented the Academy which is fast gaining an international reputation for innovation in learning at the annual BETT Show. The BETT show (British Education Training and Technology Show) is a world-renowned event that attracts a global audience of educators who want to keep up to date with the latest technology and see the latest teaching technology solutions designed to inspire, shape and improve the way students learn. The Isle of Portland Aldridge Community Academy students were invited on behalf of European Electronique, Google, BT and Samsung to share their work.

Gary Spracklen, Director of Digital Learning and Innovation at the Portland Academy, explains, ‘It was a real honor for our students to showcase the 21st century approach to learning we offer at our Academy. There is a lot of international attention on our work, especially in our 1:1 Chromebook approach which is the first of it’s kind in Europe. We are delighted that we are the fastest improving local school and are excited to share on an international platform our exciting work’. Excited student Ben King said, ‘It was a brilliant couple of days'.

Year 10 student, Imogen Goulding, said that she, ‘really enjoyed the ‘free time’ to explore the exhibition space and surrounding area’. She added, ‘It was great to experience the latest flat-screen touch-displays, 3D Printers and Augmented Reality technology'.

As well as sharing the developments the Academy is making with Digital Technology, students also shared a research project they have completed. Gary Spracklen explains further, ‘the students have been capturing some simple soundscapes of our Campus sites and have also tracked the lux levels around the buildings. They have explored how light and sound effects learning and have seen how both of these are significantly enhanced in our new Osprey Quay Campus’. Year 9 student, Callum Easton explains, ‘It was really easy to capture sound levels and lux levels using one of the many free decibel and lux meter apps for iPhone, iPad or Android devices. Analysis has shown us changing patterns of noise and light across the school across the school day and we loved sharing this at the BETT show’.

You can review the students trip at - http://ipacabett2014.blogspot.co.uk/

To see the students research project, please visit - http://www.ipaca.org.uk/data