Transformational Learning in the C21st; are we getting what we need or what we deserve?

By Russell Prue on 02 June 2011, 12:22pm | Trends & Analysis

These are indeed interesting times; the world has changed and shows no sign of turning back. The opportunities for our young people have also changed, to be successful in the 21st Century you need to be good in groups, be creative, solve problems and think quickly on your feet. Working well in groups is hard to measure and we don’t yet assess thinking on your feet as part of a GCSE award!

Nine years ago I embarked on a research project to find and identify some new, quick and easy wins for creative and collaborative uses of ICT for learners and educators. I looked at many technologies and could already see a gap developing between speaking and listening and writing skills. Learners were also showing signs of increased levels of boredom and reluctant and disengaged learners were being recognised. I knew whatever I was looking for had to be live, relevant and exciting, an element of risk was vital too and it had to demonstrate an immediate impact. I ran a series of workshops with young people exploring animation, photography, music composition, dance mat competitions and games based learning activities using Wiis and propriety group based games devices. None of these hit all of my objectives but were astonishingly fun and very engaging. In 2008 I had already started making podcasts for my teaching audiences to listen to advice and guidance about new technology. I thought that something along these lines would be good to do with young people but it had to be live and as you know podcasts are anything but live. Doing a live podcast on the Internet as a Radio Show with some children seemed like the right thing to try next. I tried lots of different equipment looking for the perfect solution, configured it myself to broadcast live on the internet, got a Shoutcast streaming account and started experimenting with different ideas. This had to be something schools could afford, have their pupils and students organise themselves and have the wow factor (now called the “X” Factor!).

It became obvious to me that if I was going to follow this project through I would need to develop and manufacture my own equipment. I used my research and the experiences of pupils and students from my workshops to start designing and testing different solutions. At BETT 2010 I showed a brand new product that was based around young peoples’ needs and not the needs of a radio broadcasting industry. It was different; it had a cool-club-mixing feel about it and was so easy to use it didn’t need a manual. It also offered wheelchair users a way of operating the faders that had never been done before. I had integrated Skype telephony into my system because Skype is free and good enough to use on an Internet Radio Show. The system is completely digital and because of this has many sophisticated features that are so simple to use and allow complete control of recording and broadcast content at the touch of a button. Touch screens are an essential part of a fast paced live show. Children love touch-screens, when the software is designed for touch; the overall broadcast experience is just phenomenal. With this approach I was now meeting all of my objectives, good live shows need planning and scripting, so writing is a key part of live School Radio. The World-Wide listening potential of an Internet Radio Show brings home a true sense of audience and manages to focus the mind of the most disruptive learner. Live shows also require significant amounts of group collaboration and creative problem solving. When things don’t quite go as planned, young people need a robust strategy for coping. Live School Radio gives young people this experience in a positive and supportive fashion.

My Live Radio Workshops are available for schools and as a CPD activity for educators; I have a perfect 5 star top rating on InnovateMySchool with some great comments and feedback from schools that have tried the equipment and workshop. You can also listen again to any of these broadcasts as a Podcast here.

Our School Radio equipment is already in use in many schools across the UK and Live School Radio has just got a lot cheaper. I have just released a new product, not only is it more portable than the last, it is arguably the lowest cost digital School Radio system available on the market today. By thinking carefully about the current situation for ICT funding in schools, I have mapped out an upgrade route that will take schools to a full studio setup but allow them to start at the lowest cost possible. The Broadcaster Desktop is based around a single 23” HP wide touch screen and our own specially written live show control software; this has to be the best option for schools to explore Live School Radio.

Live Podcasting, Web Radio, Radio2, or just plain Live Radio, whatever you want to call it, can simply offer transformational learning opportunities in every learning environment. The solution has to be digital, instant routing at the touch of a button is essential for simple operation. I am convinced of this! Live Radio is very C21st, hits lots of the current hot spots for literacy, speaking & listening and pupil/student voice. It is easy and straightforward to do and with your young people leading on it, this is something that they will really value. Live School Radio has never been this much fun!

Read 1724 times

Topics:

Russell Prue

Russell is an independent ICT Evangelist and Broadcaster. Using live demonstrations Russell looks at new and existing technologies and suggests new ways that colleagues can take advantage of these in their subject teaching in the C21st. Russell also provides strategic ICT thinking to a number of key UK education players. He is involved in several action based research projects and is passionate about educational ICT.

In 2005 he published his first book “The Science of Evangelism” that went on to sell over 2000 copies and has a 5 star top rating on Amazon. In September 2008, Russell started broadcasting two live Radio Shows a month to educators about Learning & Teaching in the C21st and started Anderton Tiger Radio. He also runs Live Radio Workshops in schools and colleges so that learners can experience the thrill and excitement of producing a live radio show.

In September 2009, Russell brought a new radio station system to the market, he has continued to innovate and his groundbreaking work in School Radio has recently resulted in the production of the lowest cost digital solution on the market.

Follow @RussellPrue

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/RussellPrue

Website: www.andertontiger.com Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Stay up to date!

We also recommend

1 Comment

Reply Cheap Essay 25 June 2011, 05:35am
Very nice information shared by you. I was just searching this type of information and luckily I got it from your blog. I like your blog also. Keep it up.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Ads by Google