Ryan Ball, Director of Education, Design and Technology Association, ryan.ball@data.org.uk
“No thank you, it’s not for me. I like my training to be face-to-face”
This was the generic response whenever we (The D&T Association) floated the idea of digital training with teachers over the last few years.
Continual professional development is vital, and there is little disputing that it can genuinely invigorate, inspire, and act as a catalyst for shifts in practice and the delivery of high-quality education when done well. These are things that can only occur when people are sat in a conference room together at a hotel with a cup of coffee and a ‘Rich Tea’, yeah?
The recent (and ongoing) pandemic has had a significant impact on a global scale, and changes are aplenty. We have seen a seismic shift in the way many people act, work, and operate. Homeworking for many is now normal; masks are commonplace, even the elbow ‘high five’ action is normal (well… almost). Remote learning has meant that many homes are ringing out with shouts of “You’re on mute!” and “I’m going to share my screen”. Whilst it has not all been plain sailing and may not be an ideal way of working (is there such a thing?), there are numerous benefits that mean some changes are undoubtedly here to stay.
My role at the D&T Association means I spend a lot of time travelling the country delivering INSET, CPD courses, consultancy and more. The recent restrictions meant this was near impossible face-to-face and our support opportunities significantly reduced. However, teachers still wanted training, help, advice, an opportunity to chat about their work frustrations, and still wanted to learn and develop as practitioners.
The pandemic, like with so many companies, forced us to think differently. While digital training had long been discussed and suggested, the perceived lack of interest in it had meant there was no immediate development timescale, and the situation forced our hand quicker than might otherwise have been expected.
Another welcome, if unexpected result of the pandemic, is a seeming increase in people’s tolerance. There seemed to be an understanding that we were (and sometimes continue to be) muddling through things and doing the best we can. Having children crash your video call in the background or accidentally have your filter set to ‘cat’ were accepted not as a fatal mistake; but instead, were considered to be part of an essential learning curve. It also bought with it an opportunity to take risks, try something different and experiment without the fear of repercussions, perceived or otherwise.
The D&T Association now has a wealth of opportunities for online training and collaboration. We have a growing suite of E-Learning courses produced by some excellent practitioners allowing people to work through CPD at their own pace and at an affordable price point. Couple this with the flexibility that the courses allow, no time away from school, no hidden costs of supply, travel and subsequent disruption; they are proving to be a popular option for many people.
We also embraced live digital training using video conferencing tools. Through timetabled sessions, practitioners log on and engage with a course delivered live by a trainer over video. As we have found out, some are more suited to one method depending on the course content than the other.
We also introduced webinars. These FREE networking opportunities were initially designed to bring together a sense of community during periods of school closure and isolation, including ones specifically for student teachers. They have grown into much more than that, and are now covering various topics from STEM opportunities, SEND challenges, EYFS and much more. Our D&T advocates are helping to lead these as we aim to strengthen a community of D&T teachers.
However, despite our vast offerings, some people continue to hold out for face-to-face courses. The feedback from those taking these new courses has been overwhelmingly positive. However, there are still many people who have not engaged. For some, it’s the cup of coffee and a ‘Rich Tea’ that simply work for them (or so they think). But hey, in the spirit of risk-taking, let’s try something new. Try an E-Learning course, attend a webinar. Let’s embrace change; we may even prefer it. After all, cat filters are kinda cool, right?!
We encourage teacher educators working with student teachers, whether in universities or schools, to use these new CPD opportunities, by the D&T Association, to enhance your students’ teacher training.
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