{"id":22503,"date":"2016-03-21T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-03-21T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/picsart.com\/blog\/?p=22503"},"modified":"2017-04-11T15:19:21","modified_gmt":"2017-04-11T22:19:21","slug":"how-picsart-helped-transform-one-schools-education-rating-with-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/picsart.com\/blog\/how-picsart-helped-transform-one-schools-education-rating-with-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"How PicsArt Helped Transform One School’s Education Rating"},"content":{"rendered":"

In addition to being a creative hub where artists can collaborate and create together, PicsArt has moved beyond being a simple photo editor<\/a> to a must-have tool for the classroom. In fact, it has become a place for students and teachers to enhance learning around the world. Whether it’s as simple as making slides or creating graphic collage art, it still amazes us how students are using PicsArt in more ways than we can imagine. We recently chatted with <\/span>Claire Jones<\/span><\/a>, assistant headteacher at Layton Primary School in Blackpool, about how technology and PicsArt have transformed the world of education.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before Claire became a teacher, she was a graphic designer. As a result, she’s had a long-standing passion for technology and design. Despite wanting to be a teacher from a young age, Claire went down the route of art college. However, that desire never left and she got her teaching degree. A few years later, she’s now the assistant headteacher at the school where she had her first teaching gig.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Courtesy<\/a>
Courtesy of Claire Jones<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was at Layton Primary School where she assisted the launch of the Digital Leaders Program, a completely new program where students work with teachers to create “increasing independent learning opportunities for all pupils.” The idea for Digital Leaders began when the school received only a satisfactory rating by <\/span>Ofsted<\/span><\/a>, the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. That rating, combined with the fact that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) was\u00a0low on their list of priorities, sparked a desire in their new headteacher to create change through technology.<\/span><\/p>\n

They began by purchasing the hardware (MacBooks and iPads) to support learning and also launched a school blog where children’s work would be shared with a global audience. Prior to another visit, Ofsted visited the school blog and noted the increased quality of work displayed.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, one issue still remained.<\/span><\/p>\n

“In a large three-form entry Primary School (with six hundred children on roll) it was difficult to enthuse, train and support over twenty-one teachers in blogging and using new technology. Hence the idea of using Digital Leaders to support staff emerged. What started off as three year-six children supporting staff has now developed into a group of twenty-five Digital Leaders from years two to six.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Soon, the students became the teachers.<\/span><\/p>\n

“These enthusiastic Digital Leaders have led staff twilight sessions on coding, computing and blogging, which have had a huge impact on teachers’ confidence and computing knowledge. The Digital Leaders decided they wanted to set up their own blog, rather than keep sharing work on their individual class blogs, in order for staff to access CPD (continued professional development), where they can find resources to enhance teaching and learning. Each week, Digital Leaders try and test out an ‘app of the week’\u00a0and share their reviews on the blog, for staff to access. In addition, they are part of a nationwide Digital Leader network and share their work with a national and global audience, something they would not be able to do if they did not have a blog. The blog has had a huge impact on teaching and learning in our school and their Twitter feed (which is embedded into the blog) also works hand in hand with the blog, directing traffic to it. Through sharing the ideas and resources we have on the blog, other schools have contacted us to arrange training days with their Digital Leaders. We have also been asked to Skype with other schools and now have many endless possibilities, all thanks to blogging!”<\/span><\/p>\n