Modern technology is storming the way we look at everyday life. With more and more children becoming tech-savvy with the latest gadgets, according to recent research around 70% of UK primary and secondary schools use tablet computers in lessons.
In some cases – around 9% – there are schools where each individual has their own tablet with which they can learn.
Although this trend has vastly grown in popularity with the recent boom of tablets and smart phones in the past few years, there is no physical evidence to suggest that the use of these tablets have improved learning capabilities.
However this is not necessarily a bad thing, as pupils can often access the internet through mobile devices which is widely known as the ‘world’s best procrastination device’ so with a little focus and a push in the right direction, tablets can easily be integrated into day to day teaching.
Children use the internet to connect socially with their friends and relatives, and many young children know well enough how to operate a tablet and how to perform a search on Google, so it is widely considered important for teachers and substitute teachers to incorporate these aspects of society into their teachings.
After all, the internet is a vast wealth of knowledge just waiting to be tapped into, so to deny future generations the ability to access it may be more damaging in the long run than having to figure out creative ways of preventing access to Facebook on the schools intranet system.
A more ‘updated’ nativity is now often in place in schools, featuring modernised stars such as drunk spacemen, Elvis, fairies, footballers and even modernised issues such as recycling and global warming. Other nativities host ‘Apprentice Style’ Christmases with ‘Lord Christmas’ playing the lead role instead of Father Christmas.
When it comes to your first PGCE observation as a teacher in training, it is important to remember that the appraising tutor has probably seen hundreds of lessons of the same type, so the chances are that at least 10% of those lessons were complete disasters, so they’re prepared for absolutely anything to happen.
A teacher training shortage this term may lead to schools looking outside the UK for qualified primary teachers. It has been reported that around 32,500 people have started or plan to start teacher training courses at the start of this term in comparison to the target of 34,800 people expected to start.
