Transcript
Case Study
BIG PAD - Ribbon Academy Trust
“Learning has been massively enhanced. Children are over the moon with the possibilities and the quality and want them in their houses! Even the very young children have taken to using the new displays amazingly quickly, and by using risers with the screens we are able to accommodate both younger and older children on one screen.”
Case Study: BIG PAD, Ribbon Academy Trust
“Learning has been massively enhanced. Children are over the moon with the possibilities and the quality and want them in their houses!” Jane Henderson - School Business Manager
Preparing children for a digital future As technology evolves, so do our possibilities. With every technological breakthrough, comes a new wave of opportunities that can change the way we work together, manage our personal lives or even shape our view of the world. These opportunities need to be fully understood in order to be taken advantage of. For children, it is especially important that they learn how to embrace technology from an early age, and begin developing the skills they will need to flourish in our increasingly digital world.
The challenge • To replace equipment in the Academy which had reached the end of its life, including existing interactive whiteboards and short throw projectors which were no longer performing effectively. • Better accessibility for small children to use interactive technology. • Compatibility with tablet devices. • Trouble-free installation without disruption to the children’s education. • Reduced wiring in the classroom for the safety of the children. • Easy to use equipment that does not require additional training.
The solution • 13 Sharp 70’’ BIG PAD PN-70SC3 High Definition Interactive Displays on motorized height adjustable mounts.
This presents primary school teachers with an interesting challenge. With lesson plans demanding total inclusivity, teaching staff not only have to ensure that they are preparing lessons that can stimulate children of all abilities and needs, but they need to do so in a way that is truly representative of the world these children live in. It is not uncommon for teachers to be hard at work long after the school bell putting together lessons that can address these difficult challenges, and if the tools their school provides aren’t up to task, it can add more time and pressure to already tight timings and deadlines. It can restrict creativity, and make it more difficult to come up with engaging ideas that include their full classroom at all times.
The benefits • A simple and engaging tool for planning and presenting lessons with flexibility that makes it easier for teachers to deliver the curriculum creatively. • The teachers can link their tablet devices to the Interactive Whiteboard Displays, offering new ways of delivering lesson content. • Fully adjustable height mounts offer children of all ages access to the Interactive Whiteboard Displays, providing more possibilities in foundation classrooms. • A teaching aid that is inclusive of children with moderate visual problems, completely reducing glare.
Case Study: BIG PAD, Ribbon Academy Trust
“Even the very young children have taken to using them amazingly quickly and by using risers with the screens we are able to accommodate both younger and older children on one screen.” Jane Henderson - School Business Manager
Addressing ‘an uphill struggle’ At Ribbon Academy Trust, a large Primary School based in Murton, teachers had found themselves hindered and restricted by the tools they had at their disposal. Outdated Interactive Whiteboards and Short Throw Projectors in classrooms had reached the end of their life, and were no longer performing at the level required to deliver lesson plans to children in an engaging and timely way. Image quality was often very poor, filters of the projectors demanded continuous cleaning and the boards needed to be constantly recalibrated. The impact this had on the quality of the children’s education greatly worried the staff. Jane Henderson, School Business Manager at Ribbon Academy Trust, explained her concerns: “Our old screens could not be used unless the blinds were completely closed, the images were very difficult to see, and some children with moderate visual problems were unable to participate fully in the group. The screens kept overheating and failing… it was an uphill struggle to teach a class without it becoming disjointed.” Realising that change was necessary for the sake of children and teachers alike, Jane quickly set to work researching products currently available on the market that could address the school’s needs.
Ideally the school needed a number of Interactive Whiteboard Displays that were similar in size to their previous whiteboards, but could also offer the ability to fully adjust the height to allow small children full access. The software had to be Windows 10 compatible, integrate with the school’s tablets, be light on wiring for the safety of the children in the classroom and allow minimal disruption to their education when being installed. All during a financially difficult time for the academy.
‘The best solution’ After a thorough review of various options available, the school reached the conclusion that Sharp was the best solution from a technical and best value perspective, and chose to install 13 Sharp 70’’ BIG PAD High Definition Interactive Displays, on motorized height adjustable mounts. The high quality of the equipment impressed the school, and the chosen installation partner, GPS, were already revered locally as an experienced specialist in that type of equipment. The school began making the changes they craved. And it was seamless, thanks to what Jane described as a “first rate service”. “When looking for specialists based in the North East, we were initially impressed by the positive reviews GPS had received as well as the competitive prices they were able to offer. At every step of the way, from receiving the quote to post installation follow up e mails, GPS provided a first rate service. They ensured we were well informed during the whole process, kept exactly to the agreed timescales, adjusted the position of screens without any problem when we changed our mind mid install and were very neat and tidy while they were working.” An instant impact The change over to the new Sharp screens was noted by staff throughout the school to have been very simple, and very quick. A diligent installation by GPS complimented the Interactive Whiteboard technology considerably, which from the first morning was being used by staff and children alike without difficulty.
After a thorough review of various options available, the school reached the conclusion that Sharp was the best solution from a technical and best value perspective, and chose to install 13 Sharp 70’’ BIG PAD High Definition Interactive Displays
Case Study: BIG PAD, Ribbon Academy Trust
“Both staff and pupils were using them immediately from the first morning. As there was no training necessary, staff were able to hit the ground running. ” Jane Henderson - School Business Manager
Jane explained: “Both staff and pupils were using them immediately from the first morning. As there was no training necessary, staff were able to hit the ground running. The screens have been described as being as easy to use as a TV and have the flexibility of being able to be used by the specialist pen or simply a finger.” The impact this had on teaching was instantaneous, with staff quick to praise the highly positive effect the technology has had on their ability to deliver the curriculum creatively, and with much less hassle. “All the staff are of the same opinion which is that their teaching is now flexible. The complete lack of glare means that the screens can be used by smaller groups while other children are doing other work in the class with the blinds open. Our previous screens had a mass of wires that required constant manipulation and attention in order to make them safe from inquisitive hands or little feet! Now we have the confidence to know that that our IT systems are totally reliable and more than fit for purpose.”
‘Over the moon’ The children also reacted well to the new technology. The motorized wall mounts meant that the BIG PADs could be used by children of any age, which has been invaluable as a resource for the teaching staff in foundation classes but also useful for inclusivity of the children. As a whole, the displays appear to have addressed the concerns of teachers on how their tools would impact the quality of the children’s education in the classroom: “Learning has been massively enhanced. It is now so apparent that the old screens were hardly utilised at all in comparison. Children are over the moon with the possibilities and the quality and want them in their houses! Even the very young children have taken to using them amazingly quickly and by using risers with the screens we are able to accommodate both younger and older children on one screen. The pens have also enhanced the learning enormously as previous pens lost parts which rendered them useless but these pens are all in one so are much more robust.” “Overall, the decision to invest in 13 new screens in such financially difficult times for schools was a difficult one. However we have absolutely no regrets as the quality of the product, attention to detail and service that we have experienced has been second to none and the impact on the children’s education has proved very promising even in the short space of time that we have had them (6 weeks). We will definitely be looking to furnishing the remaining classrooms with the same facilities as soon as possible.”
GPS Installations Ltd Unit 40 Apex Business Village Northumberland Business Park Newcastle upon Tyne NE23 7BF Tel: 0191 216 1200
