Technology can electrify our teaching - if we let it

I started teaching long before google was a verb, when computing required an in-depth understanding of binary numbers. Fast-forward 36 years and we live in a world where technology impacts on every aspect of our lives. In the curriculum, computing should be up there as a core subject alongside literacy, numeracy, and health and well-being (“Reboot education to secure economic future, report says”, News, 13 March).

Children are completely at ease with technology. They have smartphones in their pockets and they interact with others across the world through social media and games. Education Scotland’s new report Building Society (bit.lyScotTech) recognises these facts and asks teachers to reflect on how they use technology in their classrooms. Many have forgotten that technology is actually about solving problems, and instead use software as little more than an electronic workbook.

At our school we try to put creativity and problem-solving at the heart of our work. We have been assisted in this by Glasgow Caledonian University in a project that partners university students with P7 pupils to work collaboratively on designing games. We have a computer suite and iPads for each class but our children work out their storyboards using nothing more technically advanced than pencil and paper.

One teacher decided to record her pupils’ science work by getting them to create an animated film. This was a huge learning curve for everyone, including the teacher.

Gender has never been an issue except when we interviewed Mike Foley, a former executive from EA Games. The boys wanted to talk about Fifa but one girl challenged Mr Foley on how many women were at an equivalent managerial level to him in the company. I was one very proud headteacher!

But it’s Sunday night now and time for chores. Forget digital watches - I wish that company would develop an iRon that works by wi-fi. That really would solve a problem.

Nancy Clunie

Headteacher, Dalmarnock Primary School, Glasgow

Short and tweet

Emptied my marking tray during lunch today. Such a smug afternoon. More essays arriving on Monday. Temporary teaching utopia.

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