The future classroom has IT at heart

By Steve Nelson, Operations Director at Calibre Secured Networks Ltd

Today’s classroom is wired for learning success with an irresistible array of mobile devices, interactive touch-screen whiteboards and Kindles available for students and teachers to use – all fully connected and integrated with super-fast internet services and useful education apps.

“The pace of change is unbelievable,” says Steve Nelson. “BYOD, Apple TV and other devices lie at the heart of a digital learning environment, providing almost limitless teaching resources. Education is embracing technology like never before to not only bring classrooms alive but create a visceral, stimulating landscape to allow young minds to thrive and prosper.”

“The ‘flipped classroom’ is another concept offering a new approach to learning where students are being introduced to new curriculum content at home or in dedicated quiet time periods prior to attending s, and then using lessons to plug skills’ gaps in a supported classroom environment.”

However, says Steve Nelson, while Calibre supports more IT integration, technology is not, and should never be seen as a substitute panacea for effective teachers who engage, inspire and empower young people. This goes to the heart of the matter and underpins much of the work he and his team undertake at schools such as Dubmire Primary, St Aidan’s Catholic Academy and Washington School where the firm’s education experience and expertise is delivering change.

At these schools, Calibre’s ground-breaking solutions utilise the advantages of cloud-based technology as the backbone for Wi-Fi, firewall and platform services that provide teachers with accessible yet secure digital services while simultaneously creating strategies built around BYOD to open up even more access to student learning.

But the ultimate testament has to be the legacy IT leaves in terms of an enhanced learning environment where pupils’ lives are enriched by better, faster and safer access to a plethora of online, digital and interactive learning resources and support wherever they are and whatever time of day it is.

IT manager at Dubmire Primary School Paul Baxter agrees, adding: “Enriched online services are propelling our school forward to a new age in education and teaching. We all feel empowered by the opportunities opening up through the provision of fast, reliable and accessible IT services and technology.”

It’s also a vision shared by Glenn Sanderson, head of Key Stage 4 at St Aidan’s Catholic Academy in Sunderland, who believes his school leads the way in changing the way schools exploit the potential of learning provision through mobile devices. “It’s a very exciting time for us and the chance to build with our partner Calibre on something dynamic for the future well-being of the school and the students, is one to savour,” he says.

Undoubtedly, the classroom of the future will be an exciting, intuitive place, where technology, and the endless possibilities it offers, will be to the fore shaping and enhancing the pupil/teacher relationship. Seeing first-hand how technology has shaped the modern day classroom is mind-blowing, says Steve Nelson.

Calibre’s experience enables it to deliver tailored solutions, including solutions for safe and secure working, with flexible payment options for schools and other education providers operating on limited budgets. Packages include cost effective Enterprise Class IT solutions to meet requirements for scalable, resilient, robust and future proof systems.

Visit www.calibre-secured.net for more about a free audit of your current infrastructure to ensure that you are ready to use mobile devices and to get the most from your investment.