New Technologies

As part of our specialist status, the College is committed to the promotion of new technologies to support teaching and learning. This page is inteneded to outline some of the current projects, many of which are being led by a Pupil ICT Group.

Thin Client Solutions

Thin Client

During the summer holiday a group of pupils tested the new thin client network within the school and which is now operating in most of the ICT rooms.

What is Thin Client?

A thin client network is known as a server based network where the majority, if not all, of the processing is done by the server rather than by the individual local computers. Software applications and programs are held and run on the server, and displayed on the computers.

Why Install Thin Client?

The system is easier to maintain, and can be managed remotely on the servers and there is less to go wrong on the computers. Installation and upgrading of software is a lot easier because it only needs to be installed on the servers. There is also money saving advantages because thin client computers tend to be less expensive than normal computers. They are less attractive to thieves because they do not work independently without the servers. Older computers can be utilised for longer and work as quick as new ones because they are only using minimal resources on the local computer.

Where next?

Over the next few weeks and months the thin client solution will be expanded to cover most laptops used with the College.

Aims and Objectives of the Pupil ICT Group

  • To investigate and evaluate new technologies
  • To advise the school leadership on the introduction of new technologies
  • To support teachers and other staff in the use of ICT
  • To consider new approaches to learning, for example via increased collaboration and anytime, anywhere access to resources
  • To gain experience of implementing complex technologies, projects and systems
  • To support better use of resources by appropriate and effective use of ICT

Pupil Portal

The Pupil ICT Group has begun to consider the design and implementation of a Pupil Portal, for introduction in late Spring 2009. The Portal is intended to provide pupils with access to most of the College’s applications, an e-portfolio where pupils can store their work and a place in which they can collaborate and exchange ideas with other pupils and teachers. It will also allow them access to teaching and learning resources, provided by subject departments. By providing access to the Pupil Portal from either school or home, together with email, our aim is to provide anytime, anywhere learning.

Currently, the Group have considered what it will look like – layout, colour and home page content, to ensure that it is relevant, engaging and useful. The next stage will be to test the other functions that will become part of the Portal: blogging, personalising pupils’ own areas, and working with departments to place content on the Portal to support learning from home.

Watch this space for more information as the development work continues.

Handheld PCs

One of our current projects is to test and evaluate the use of Handheld PCs in the classroom. These devices are able to access the internet, provide basic Office applications and allow the user to write directly onto the screen to make notes, which can be downloaded or printed off later. Trials in other schools have suggested that this technology can be very powerful in helping learning.

In order to see whether Handheld PCs would have a role at Sawston Village College, six pupils will be using the devices over a period of two weeks, taking them to every lesson and considering how they can be best used to support learning.

The key questions we will be addressing are:

  1. Can they be used effectively, appropriately and with relevance in the classroom?
  2. Can the device be used to support research, homework?
  3. Is the device better for some lessons rather than others?
  4. What other devices would a Handheld PC need to have attached?
  5. What are the security issues?

When this trial is complete, the Pupil ICT Group will make a recommendation to the school as to whether more Handheld PCs should be purchased.