Bolton School Apple Distinguished School Status Renewal 2024

Summary

Philip Britten, Head of Foundation at Bolton School, emphasizes the importance of creativity in young people's lives, integrating it into the school's curriculum. The use of iPads enhances learning, particularly in math with AI-driven platforms like Sparks maths, which personalizes difficulty levels. The school also leverages technology for creative projects, using apps like iMovie and Fusion 360, and introduces algorithmic thinking through robotics. English teaching benefits from iPads for personalized learning and intervention. The goal is a paperless, digital approach, with iPads central to teaching, fostering efficient and meaningful learning experiences.

Takeaways

• 🎓 Philip Britten, head of foundation at Bolton School, emphasizes the importance of creativity in the curriculum for students' future success.
• 📚 Creativity is considered vital for both working and domestic life, and it's crucial for students to develop these skills early on.
• 📱 iPads have been a significant resource in the math department, facilitating the use of online packages and enhancing lessons.
• 🧠 The use of Sparks maths, an AI-powered homework platform, tailors the difficulty of questions to individual student abilities, impacting their success and progress.
• 🎨 Bolton School has integrated a creative thinking project using iMovie on iPads for PSAs and Fusion 360 on MacBooks for designing calibration cubes and lithophane light boxes.
• 🤖 An app called 'educator bu' on zap AI is used for teaching algorithmic thinking, allowing students to program robots to autonomously avoid obstacles using iPads.
• 🏆 The school's approach with iPads and robotics leads to participation in international VEX robotics competitions, showcasing practical applications of learning.
• 📚 English teachers also benefit from iPads, using various apps to support reading, intervention, homework, and revision, and to identify students' misconceptions.
• 📝 The goal of going paperless and digital is supported by iPads, especially for key stage four and five where digital portfolios are mandatory.
• 🤝 Weekly sessions at the Riley Center foster collaboration and idea sharing among teachers regarding iPad applications in education.
• 👩‍🏫 iPads are integral to teaching, as they empower educators to provide efficient, meaningful, and personalized learning experiences.

Q & A

Who is Philip Britten and what is his role at Bolton School?

Philip Britten is the head of foundation at Bolton School, where he is responsible for the creative curriculum.

Why is creativity emphasized in the curriculum at Bolton School?

Creativity is emphasized because it is considered essential for young people's future working and domestic lives, and it's important for them to develop these skills early.

What role do iPads play in the math department at Bolton School?

iPads are used as a resource to facilitate the use of online packages in lessons, enhancing the learning experience and making it easier for students to engage with the material.

Can you name a popular online package used by the math department at Bolton School?

Sparks maths is a popular online package used for homework and independent learning, which employs AI to tailor the difficulty of questions to individual student abilities.

How does the Sparks maths platform impact students' success and progress?

The platform has a significant impact on students' success and progress by matching the difficulty of questions to their individual abilities, thus providing a personalized learning experience.

What creative thinking project is mentioned in the script, and what tools are used for it?

The creative thinking project involves using the iMovie app on iPads to create PSAs, and Fusion 360 on MacBook to design calibration cubes and lithophane light boxes.

What is the purpose of the 'educator bu' app created on zap AI?

The 'educator bu' app is used in lessons to teach students algorithmic thinking, enabling them to program robots to autonomously avoid obstacles.

How do the iPads help students in the international Vex robotics competitions?

iPads allow students to quickly iterate the code for their robots, which is crucial for success in the international Vex robotics competitions.

What benefits do iPads offer to English teachers at Bolton School?

iPads offer a variety of programs and apps that support reading, intervention, homework, and revision, allowing teachers to identify individual student misconceptions and provide targeted reteaching.

What is the goal of using iPads in the subject of the speaker's choice?

The goal is to go paperless and be digital, as the portfolios for the subject at key stage four and five have to be digital.

What does the speaker find most useful about the iPads in their teaching?

The speaker finds iPads invaluable for every lesson, as they empower teachers to get the most from their students, leading to efficient, meaningful, and personalized learning.