The Importance of EdTech

How We Use EdTech at Inspired Portugal

By Joana Simas, Head of EdTech

The school of today is already the school of the future. Our students are digital natives even before learning how to read and write.

The use and integration of technology are part of PaRK IS, King’s College School, Cascais and St Peter’s International School’s core missions, aligned with preparing students for their future life and challenges. Its main purpose is to bring people with pedagogical and technical skills together to support the teachers and students: empathy and understanding for teachers play a critical role in the effectiveness of EdTech (Education Technology) teams. Similar to how teachers nurture every student in their classroom, EdTech teams must also encourage even the least technology-inclined among us.

EdTech is the area responsible for incorporating technology into the curriculum, but it also carries the power to model it. In fact, it’s transforming how students learn around the world, and our Inspired schools in Portugal have been at the forefront of these changes.

EdTech in education has the greatest potential for fostering computational thinking in children and personalising the learning process, while simultaneously developing 21st-century skills. Through engaging in various tasks, students are exposed to concepts such as laterality, creativity in problem-solving, and collaboration, which promote the acquisition of essential competencies for active participation in today's society.?

The EdTech team supports teachers and students in their learning path across our schools, helping to integrate technology into the curriculum to achieve specific educational goals. At the same time, the EdTech team manages devices 1:1 (BYOD - Bring Your Own Device & RYOD - Rent Your Own Device), as well as classroom apps (through LMS - learning management system - and MDM - mobile device management), and creates content to support the school community.

Throughout the year, the EdTech team offers Tech Sessions to all of our schools to share best practices, as well as individual support whenever teachers or parents need it.

My main responsibility as Head of EdTech is assuring technology is being integrated into the classrooms in a meaningful way, assisting all campuses in this matter, as well as providing training for staff with the help of the EdTech team. Currently, I am also developing special rooms - MakerSpaces - these are technological rooms that teachers and students can book and use to experiment with tech devices and develop projects related to their curriculum.

The use of EdTech in our schools has also allowed us to introduce innovative teaching methods. Games, simulations, and other interactive activities have been incorporated into the curricula to make learning more fun and engaging. As a result, our students’ motivation and knowledge retention improved. We have robots and software for different age groups that are available for anyone who wants to try it, inside or outside the classroom.

PaRK International School, as one of the first schools to recognise the importance of technology for the future of its students, has included it in its Learner Profile. However, while our students are digital natives, they still require guidance and direction to use technology effectively. PaRK IS has also pioneered integrating technology in the classroom, from our 1:1 iPad programme to the use of specific apps in teaching. Following the successful implementation and the positive results achieved in this school, we decided to expand the programme to our other Inspired schools in Portugal.?

By incorporating EdTech into the curriculum in all subjects, we have taken this focus to a whole new level, giving our students the tools they need to succeed in an ever-changing world. One good example of how this works is our Inspired Sports Programme, where students can rely on the support of the EdTech Team to access all of the documents and recordings of classes they need.

Across all campuses, the iPad and the laptop are our main technological vehicles and they are used differently depending on the age group. For instance, we can have kindergarten using Tinkered to create a 3D model keychain for a Father’s Day gift, or Grade 6 using it to create heart models that showcase the learning they have acquired in science. The tools we use the most are Google Apps for Education, as well as Minecraft Education.

If I had to select one app/tool as my favourite, it would have to be Minecraft Education. I started my career as a history teacher and implemented this tool in my classes. I have seen students come up with amazing projects and have assisted other teachers who wish to use Minecraft in their subject matter. Students can recreate the French Invasions or build a symphonic orchestra for Music classes - it’s a very powerful tool that gives them the power to use their creativity.

Another key project that I am working on is the creation of a handbook which will provide instructions on how to use Artificial Intelligence in the classroom - students have already begun using AI, so our job as educators is to show them how to do it properly. It has also been our goal to explore Virtual Reality (VR) - together with our students, we will be able to create unique content to integrate into our curriculum - the future is here and we must be ready to embrace it!

In conclusion, EdTech is transforming education, and its benefits cannot be overstated. At PaRK International School, King’s College School, Cascais or St Peter’s, EdTech has enabled teachers to personalise education, foster collaborative learning, access digital resources, and introduce innovative approaches to teaching. In our Inspired schools in Portugal, we believe that acquiring concepts and developing competencies is key, but giving freedom and incentivising our children to use innovation is imperative for them to succeed in all areas in an ever-changing world where we are only limited by our imagination.