@SuperFastDorset Conference - #IPACASamsung

Today, Samsung Community Space Committee Member; Wayne Day represented us at the Super Fast Dorset Conference. The event held in Sturminster Newton was part of a wider plan to develop a pan-Dorset vision to include the 20% currently left behind in the digital race.

The event included three national key speakers, well-known for their work in digital inclusion - 

- Valerie Singleton OBE – well-loved BBC presenter and co-founder of Simplicity Computers

- Lord Jim Knight – chairman of the digital technology social enterprise the Tinder Foundation, and South Dorset MP 2001-2010.

- Sarah Bridges – Director of Programme and Partnerships for the digital skills charity Go ON UK

Tonight, Wayne shared some key messages from the event with the Samsung Community Space Management Committee, key points included -

• 20% Dorset Digital Divide - why are this amount in Dorset not interested? Confidence? Skills?

• It's estimated that if we got 100% Digital Confident across the Country this would lead to cost savings of £63 billion to central government. It's estimated to cost £865 million to lead us through this step change. (Money that could be well spent?)

• Interesting Fact - Three times as many Smart Phones on the planet than there are toothbrushes.

#IPACALearn to be shared in #EducationOnAir

Last month Google announced Education on Air—the free online conference for educators, this will take place from 8th-9th May, 2015. As of this week you can now check out the

full schedule of sessions. I will be taking part as a speaker on day two of the event and I am delighted to see the above image being used to promote the event.

For full information about my session please see below -

More information about the conference -

Day 1- Leading for the future: During Day 1, hear from speakers who will challenge us to innovate and improve education. In the kickoff session, panelists will tackle the question “What are the skills of the future?”. Keynote speakers include actor and Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton, Google Vice President Laszlo Bock, Google Science Fair 2012 winner Brittany Wenger, and education experts Sir Michael Barber and Michel Fullan, OC. There are educator panels on "transforming learning with technology" and "empowering students."

Day 2- Shaping the classroom today: Throughout Day 2, there are over 100 sessions led by educators from 12 countries and 29 U.S. states. Sessions have been designed to offer practical advice and examples. Find ones you like and add them to your calendar. Sessions include:

• "Effective professional development for 1:1 Chromebooks"
• “Using Google tools to break borders and build global citizens” 
• “Bring CS First, a free computer science program, to your students”
• "It's all about students- student tech support programs"
• “Bringing the maker movement to your classroom”
• "Building your personal learning network (PLN)"

Register today on the website or learn more in the blog post.

#IPACALearn Champions Group Launched

As the Isle of Portland Aldridge Community Academy begins work on our multi-million pound Maritime House Campus, we are using the time before our move to model new approaches to teaching and learning. 

Tonight, I shared with all staff how this process will be supported by the formation of a 'Champions Group'. This group will reflect on our experiences, our shared beliefs and our vision for the future. The groups initial project will be to plan and implement our model environment for learning in KS2 and KS3. This space will be located in the current Library space at Royal Manor Campus.

The Champions Group will be involved in a number of off-site visits during the Summer Term and will work with IPACA SLT and our learners to design the new space. We are very fortunate that Terry White and Dan Plunkett will be leading our Champions Group through their initial project -

The Champions Group will be involved in the following activities this coming week -

Tuesday - 1:30-4:30pm
Attendees - CHAMPIONS GROUPContent - Awareness Raising Session - Overview of best practice, UK and international examples, PBL etc.

Wednesday - 9:00-10:00am - Year 5 Osprey Quay Campus
Attendees - Year 5 Pupils OQ and Teacher Content - Pupil Awareness Raising Session - What makes your learning effective for you?

Wednesday - 11:00-12:00pm - Year 5 Southwell Campus
Attendees - Year 5 Pupils Southwell and Teacher 
Content - Pupil Awareness Raising Session - What makes your learning effective for you?

Wednesday - 1:30-4:30pm
Attendees - CHAMPIONS GROUPContent - Design Workshop - Defining learning activities, pedagogy and curriculum delivery. Agree team working and collaborative approaches. Define learning space needs. Acoustic tolerances, technology and furniture.

Thursday - 9:00-12:30pm
Attendees - Terry White and Dan PlunkettContent - Sample CAD layouts and options.

Thursday - 1:30pm-3:30pm
Attendees - CHAMPIONSContent - Prepare for design presentation and feedback session.

Thursday - 3:45pm-4:00pm - Location - Royal Manor Campus Dining Hall
Attendees - ALL STAFFContent - Design presentation and feedback session. All staff given opportunity to comment on new space designs.

I look forward to sharing the work of the Champions Group with you all in future posts.