Tech for learning gets results

One year on from launching Google Chromebooks and Google Apps for Education, the cloud-based learning software, Tring School, a large secondary school in Hertfordshire has seen clear improvements in a number of aspects of teaching and learning.

In September 2013 Tring School began to look at ways to leverage technology to enhance the curriculum and ultimately, to improve teaching and learning outcomes for the school’s 1500 students. With the growing presence and use of importance technology in the workplace and at home, the school knew they had an obligation to ensure their students are equipped with the right skills to thrive in this ever-changing environment.

Despite technology being such an integral part of people’s lives – for students, parents and teachers alike, technology wasn’t being used to its full potential day-to-day in the classroom. There was an opportunity to make an impact on students’ learning outcomes as well as to better support teachers in their roles.

The Senior Leadership team at Tring School believed that enhancing its use of technology would support its pupils to become responsible, innovative digital citizens and lifelong learners.

Introducing the devices in stages over a 12-month period, from September 2017 all students at Tring School have access to the Chromebook technology.

The Senior Leadership team at Tring School believed that enhancing its use of technology would support its pupils to become responsible, innovative digital citizens and lifelong learners.

With some studies reporting inconclusive results in terms of the use of technology in schools, the results of the scheme at Tring School are very positive. Students and teachers are continuing to find new and innovative ways to use technology to support learning outcomes.

Performance in English GCSE has been outstanding this year, with 88% of students achieving grades 9-4 (equivalent to A*-C) in GSCE English Literature and 87% achieving grades 9-4 in English Language. The national average is 65%. 82% of students achieving grades 9-4 (equivalent to A*-C) in GSCE Maths. The national average is 69%.

Engagement in English from male students also increased, this was highlighted by the teaching staff who all felt the use of Chromebooks stimulated learning in boys and provided great learning opportunities. Attainment in Science has also increased by approximately 20 per cent over the last year – based on the performance of year 7 students in comparison to the previous year’s cohort. This has been supported by the department’s Virtual Learning Environment, which encourages a flipped classroom approach allowing students to take responsibility for their own learning through the use of the technology available.

Tring School has since become a Google Partner School, sharing its experience with other schools and working with Google to innovate and create new opportunities for learning.

The school believes that the effective use of technology for learning is increasingly important to prepare our students for the workplace and their careers ahead.