The Virtual Learning Forum

At Dene Magna School we wanted to forge links between student voice and new technologies. However, the impetus for introducing new technologies was coming from staff, when clearly it is the students who should be consulted about their learning tools.

As a result, in 2006 the Virtual Learning Forum (VLF) was established. This was a group of 10 highly ICT literate students who experimented with new technologies and explored their potential for learning in the classroom and beyond.

Students as researchers

The Virtual Learning Forum met once or twice a half-term to experiment with a range of new technologies including VLEs, webcams, mobile phones, 3D educational gaming software and MP3 players. They worked together to try out these technologies through hypothetical learning scenarios. For instance, they used webcams to create presentations for teaching French through spoken word and flashcards.

After each VLF meeting, they were invited to department meetings where they presented their findings and engaged in dialogue with teachers about the learning potential of the technologies. As a result, some departments invested in these technologies to enhance learning:

• webcams and MP3 players helping students to learn foreign languages
• gaming software to raise motivation in lessons

The Virtual Learning Forum has undoubtedly raised the profile of new technologies within the school. It has also encouraged dialogue about the potential of this technology to enhance the learning process. The profile of technology has been further enhanced by the use of our VLE to store examples of experiments and to record findings in discussion forums which can be seen by all staff.

Commercial opportunities for research

There have been issues over cost and access to the use of certain technologies, such as mobile phones. These issues remain unresolved. However, the greatest difficulty has been engaging business with the work of the Virtual Learning Forum. VLF aims to forge links between companies creating software for education and the users  – the students. There is an ideal opportunity for companies to work more closely with students to help meet their needs through developing technology.

As new technologies are part of the everyday world of young people today, it is imperative that as educators, we harness our students’ technological expertise and exploit their potential to motivate and inspire. After all, ‘the young will always adapt to the rapid advances in technology with more energy and enthusiasm than most adults can muster’  (Hargreaves, 2005: 23)

Further information

Dene Magna School is an 11-16 school situated in the Forest of Dean, in Gloucestershire. It has a strong history of student voice including a renowned student coaching programme in which students observe teachers and coach them to help them strengthen learning and teaching. It also has a strong history of exploiting the use of new technologies to enhance learning.

References

Hargreaves, D. Personalising learning – 3. 2005. Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, London.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mr Gerard Pyburn is Assistant Headteacher at Dene Magna School in Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom. He is responsible for Specialist Technology College Status, ICT and Student Voice. He is particularly interested in the use of online technology to raise motivation, enhance inclusion and encourage independent learning.  He has been keen to bridge the development of new technologies for learning with student voice, training students as researchers and exploiting the power of online technology to enhance communication and democratic participation through school council.

Mr Pyburn has delivered training on student voice, virtual learning environments and assessment for learning both locally and nationally. He has also had articles on assessment for learning, student voice and new technologies published by Management in Education Journal and the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.

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