Overcoming the first barrier to home learning – providing the technology
Supporting staff and students to achieve their full potential since 1968.
Welcome to our weekly CENMAC blog post.
Overcoming the first barrier to home learning – providing the technology
by Kathryn Stowell, Head of CENMAC
An essential tool for learning now includes a computer/tablet and internet connection, but for many that is still not available to them.
The government has made a substantial contribution to providing laptops/tablets, but it still doesn’t meet the needs of everyone. Many individuals and schools are still looking for computers and setting up equipment for home learning.
Support is there to help ensure students, especially those at a disadvantaged, don’t fall behind even further.
Devices – who can help?
- Get laptops and tablets for children who cannot attend school due to coronavirus (COVID-19) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Family Fund – additional funding for those who qualify.
- BBC – Give a laptop – lists a number of charities helping to distribute donated laptops.
- Game Console Home Learning
Internet access – who can help?
Support is there to help ensure students, especially those at a disadvantaged, don’t fall behind even further. However, within the definition of vulnerable children who are able to attend school are those who may have difficulty engaging with remote education at home (for example due to a lack of devices or quiet space to study).
As a service providing assistive technology and having supported many schools and young people at home over the last year, it has highlighted the extensive range of digital capabilities in both schools and at home. Although many organisations and services are offering training and support around home learning it is some of the very basics of getting connected which is needed by many.
We find it is the personal touch and the direct contact by phone which is needed for families who have not had access to home technology until now. Many students with additional needs find accessing mainstream platforms a challenge, so tablets and iPads can often be the better option. Accessibility in mainstream platforms has improved greatly but many students need more than this, we recommend Clicker which offers the visual and auditory support and is currently free to access: COVID support | Crick Software . Clicker includes hundreds of readymade resources for literacy, numeracy and a range of curriculum topics.
To see the impact of putting technology in the hands of young people, see Khamani’s brilliant film on home learning. Khamani’s View on Home Learning on Vimeo
Additional Links:
As a service providing assistive technology and having supported many schools and young people at home over the last year, it has highlighted the extensive range of digital capabilities in both schools and at home.
NHS STRIKES BACK from Cenmac and CPA on Vimeo.
CENMAC animation project done virtually during lockdown 1 with Rainbow Collective and support from staff at Southwark Park School
Don’t forget you can share your CENMAC experiences for our CENMAC family to enjoy.
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