Blended learning

Every school is on its own, unique journey when it comes to digital strategy and change management. Every school has its own challenges with technology provision. And every school serves a community where some families will have an abundance of tablets and connectivity at home while others may not have the hardware, the data or the knowledge to take advantage of all the remote learning opportunities on offer.

And in recent times every school has been working on how to provide remote education provision. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic our team has been helping schools and teachers to use digital tools and platforms to support learning either in the classroom or at a distance. We can help with your remote and blended learning solutions.

Blended learning is defined as a mix of traditional in-person learning with a teacher in a classroom and interactive learning activities using digital technologies often from home. Blended learning combines:

classroom-based activities with the teacher present
digital materials provided by the teacher
independent study using online materials provided by the teacher

We’re about encouraging extraordinary learning with and about technology and in these uncertain and changing times we want to encourage teachers and learners alike to be adventurous and creative in the interest of education flourishing.

We want all to stay safe and secure so please make sure that if you use any platforms or tools whether new or old that they comply with safeguarding guidance (please see our overview here) and that if they store pupil data in any way (whether pupil logins, images or video, or other data) they are school-sanctioned, even if you are the individual teacher signing up. If necessary, you should also ensure that your Data Protection Officer has signed or put in place a data processing agreement with any third party acting as a data processor on behalf of the school (all reputable services will be able to comply with the Data Protection act 2018 and GDPR).

Here you will find our essential guide plus resources and links for both schools and parents:

Our essential guide to remote learning

We’ve created an essential guide to remote learning that sets out the key steps you need to take, from assessing children’s accessibility to technology to a rundown of the tools you might use. We’re going to be updating it with new resources and offers as they become available so please share, bookmark and keep checking back.

Home learning: helpful links for parents

We help schools with technology for learning. Since so much learning is now happening at home we have created this handy set of useful links for parents, which we will keep updating over the next few weeks.

Tools at a glance

Many companies are offering their tools for free or with more functionality to help deal with the current global situation – which is good, but may mean you risk making snap decisions that don’t suit your school so well in the long run. It is always a good idea to start with tools that are already familiar to pupils and staff if at all possible, provided the children are able to access them at home.

Here’s our at-a-glance guide to the three most popular systems – find out more in the full guide.

Purple Mash

A simple system for setting a wide range of educational activities to children remotely, with tools for you to communicate with them and built-in access for parents.

Easy, free and accessible
Simple, short-term solution
Make a wide range of ready-made activities and creative tools available safely
Downside: limited extensibility

SeeSaw

A virtual classroom environment in which teachers can set tasks in any combination of a variety of formats (video, audio, text, image).

Versatile – can be used in different ways from early years to year 6
Quick and easy to set up
Can import Google Classroom into it
Downside: you have to download an app to use it on phone or tablet, so needs cooperation from parents if unable to lend children school devices.

We’ve put together this quick helpsheet that talks you through setting up a SeeSaw class for home learning

Google Classroom

A complete package for organising teaching and learning resources and allocating them to pupils or students through a virtual classroom with opportunities to integrate all of the Google for Education tools.

The strategic solution for long-term use
Extensive training and resources online
Most suitable for older pupils, from KS2
Downside: requires a number of strategic decisions so it’s not a quick fix

Key safeguarding points

We’ve put together this brief presentation which highlights recent resources for schools and school communities affected by the Covid 19 situation.

Using Padlet

Padlet is an online notice board (wall) that you can use to display information. Here you will find information on its uses for remote learning as well as some of the privacy and safety considerations.

Using Zoom

Zoom is a cloud based video conferencing platform which allows you to host virtual meetings and webinars. This guide explains how to use zoom as well as security safeguarding considerations.

Using YouTube for remote learning

In light of UK school closures, many school leaders are turning to online platforms such as YouTube to support remote learning while children remain at home. This guide explains some of the ways you can use YouTube for home learning provision.

Further support

We support schools and other settings in using digital technologies creatively and critically. We provide outstanding curriculum support, technical services and professional development. We can help you.

Call us on 0207 720 7514 or email Sarah Horrocks, shorrocks@londonclc.org.uk

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