The days of ‘chalk and talk’ are over at one Chester high school where Year Seven pupils are using iPad Minis to become active participants in their own learning.

No longer does a grey-haired old teacher lecture at bored students in the vain hope that some of the knowledge being thrown at them will stick to the inside of their brains.

Walk into a classroom of 12-year-olds at Upton-by-Chester High School and you will find students enthusiastically engaged with the topic in hand.

So in English, teacher Stephanie Nelson last week presented her class with the line ‘frost-fallen leaves whispered past them’ displayed on the interactive whiteboard at the front – this is the modern day equivalent of a blackboard but is in effect a giant computer screen.

“Is it an example of alliteration, metaphor, similie or personification?” asks Miss, who is holding a quiz.

In freehand scribble, the pupils quickly write on their iPads the word ‘Personification’ and hold up their screens for teacher to see. “Good work. Next one!”

In a nearby modern languages lesson, pupils are learning how to introduce themselves, say their name and give their date of birth, all in German, but with a fun twist.

Teacher Ed Tugwell asks them to use the iPads to film themselves and five other pupils going through this routine. During the editing process they can add titles, sound effects and music.

Mr Tugwell, who moves between the groups to offer help, says the iPads put technology at the heart of learning rather than it being an add on, with no need to make special trips to the IT room.

“Back when I was at school we would watch loads of videos but we didn’t have the ability to make videos ourselves. It gets the kids really involved. It’s so interactive,” he said.

Using iPads may sound like an individualistic approach to learning but in fact they can engender a collective spirit.

Mr Tugwell explained: “Now we have internet access for each student so any games we play on the whiteboard, where we would have two kids at the front, we can now get all the kids playing so they don’t feel left out.

“It’s very strange actually when you get a whole class of kids, to get them all working at the same time, with not one person being off task. With iPads they are always engaged.

“You don’t have to pick up that one person who’s not doing what you’re asking.”

As well as relating to the pupils through the IT culture they understand, the use of tablets better prepares them for the world of work where computers are part and parcel of the every day life.

“We should be preparing our kids for that technological world,” said Mr Tugwell.

“If teachers aren’t ready to move with the times then we are leaving our kids at a disadvantage.”

Children can also do their homework on the iPads and email their work to the teacher who can email them straight back with instant feedback. A survey shows the kids ‘love it’.

‘iPads are a great tool – but we still need teachers!’

Year 7 students at Upton by Chester High School receive their new iPads
Year 7 students at Upton by Chester High School receive their new iPads
 

Deputy headteacher John Keegan says iPads are a useful tool but doesn’t envisage a day when teachers will be replaced by robots.

“I can’t see that,” said Mr Keegan, who is leading the project. “This is a tool, another tool that will help them to learn. It doesn’t replace everything.”

And nowadays you are as likely to hear ‘iPads down, closed’ as ‘pens down, fold your arms’ when the lesson moves to a different phase.

This often involves the children writing in books, as they’ve done for generations, ensuring hand-writing skills are not lost.

Using iPads has been a learning challenge for teachers as well as students but they have received training.

And ironically the students often find themselves in the role of educators, which is enhancing pupil-teacher relationships.

“The students are going to be training the staff as well, so we have Elfs – e-learning facilitators – staff Elfs and student Elfs and I’m the head Elf!” said Mr Keegan.

The school is running the project with the E-learning Foundation charity. Families donate what they can afford each month towards the £400 cost – usually about £10 – and after three years the machine is theirs. This way the parents get a good deal and the school receives Gift Aid which can be ploughed back into the scheme.

The school believes asking for a parental contribution helps the children feel a sense of responsibility for looking after the expensive equipment.

However, the cost does include insurance for faults and accidents – so far there have been three cracked screens since the scheme started this term, which is not bad out of 250 pupils. The school chose iPads because they are ‘very intuitive’ and the ‘best in the market’. There is no commercial relationship with Apple.

There has been a 96% take-up among parents, although every pupil gets to use an iPad whether or not they contribute financially. The only difference is that those not paying for their iPad have to leave it in school overnight.

Some who have decided not to participate already own iPads but at the moment the school cannot accept them into the scheme because they would lose control over the viewable content.

The school iPads are linked to a server that filters out gambling and pornographic sites as well as Facebook, although Twitter is allowed. Games can be downloaded but these can only be played at home.

“Handheld devices are here to stay” said the deputy head. “We want to teach them to be responsible, instead of ignoring it and banning it, we are trying to take control of it and teach them to use it in the right way.”

A big worry is security given the children are carrying around iPad Minis worth �270.

And the school has given this careful thought.

Mr Keegan explained: “One of the first things we say to them is; on the way home the iPad is in your bag and it stays in your bag and on the way to school it stays in your bag and you don’t get it out until you’re in school.

“If someone threatens you and wants to take it, your personal safety is more important than a piece of equipment.”

Each new intake of pupils will get iPads so that eventually the whole school will be kitted out.

Building on a small success, by gathering experience and resources, was considered the best approach.