Using Hwb + to develop Literacy skills at Ysgol Pencae .

Using Hwb+ to develop Literacy skills at YsgolPencae. Bethan Davies

Bethan Davies • Class teacher • Foundation Phase leader • ITC Coordinator • Hwb+ accredited trainer with the Central South Consortium

Ysgol Pencae • YsgolPencae is located in Llandaf, Cardiff • 202 pupils aged 4 - 11 • 10 teachers • A set of computers in each classroom • 18 iPads • 6 Learn Pads

Being part of the Hwb+ pilot • One of four schools in the pilot - YsgolPencae, YsgolUwchradd Bro Edern, YsgolUwchraddFitzalan and YsgolTredigarville • Initial training for me as the project leader • We decided as a school to be child-centred for the Hwb+ pilot • Two classes were selected (Years 6 and 2) to take part in the project in this school • A scheme was followed to develop the Literacy skills of pupils involved in the project using Hwb+ tools

A page was created for each of the pilot classes • Year 2 The school's digital motto Welcome message and picture of teacher drawn by a child Pictures of pupils' experiences Videos of class work Additional links Links to useful websites

School's digital motto Pictures of pupils' experiences Welcome message • Year 6 Publications Additional links Videos of class work Homework inbox Quick link to discussions

Literacy Project • A theme was chosen which was suitable for Years 2 and 6 - homes • Pupils were introduced to one tool at a time • A class task was set and a related home task using each tool • An instruction leaflet was prepared to accompany each task in the project

Discussions A discussion topic was set asking pupils to describe their homes. The interactive element immediately caught pupils' interest. We got 162 responses over the first weekend. The pupils started to interact naturally over the first weekend.

There was immediate interaction between the teacher and pupils. This was an opportunity to drill language and correct errors sensitively outside the pressure of the classroom. Pupils began experimenting with different elements naturally.

Blog Pupils were asked to write a blog about their local area inserting digital pictures where possible. When moderating and publishing the blogs as a class teacher there was an opportunity to see common mistakes and plan to improve the quality of pupils' written work.

Year 2 pupils' blogging work was used as an opportunity for pupils to assess each others work. This idea came from the response of one pupil to another pupil's work. This pupil's blog was all in yellow to begin with. I like Gwenlli's blog. It's full of information but it's very difficult to read on a computer screen. Yellow isn't a good colour to use, it would be better to change the colour

Questionnaire We worked together as two classes to use the next tool. Year 6 pupils created a questionnaire for Year 2 to answer and Year 2 created a questionnaire for Year 6 to answer.

An opportunity to teach about different types of questions. The data was collected and analysed creating different graphs. The children enjoyed working with children in another class. The questionnaires were answered as homework.

WICI Creating Wici was something new for us as a school. Firstly the Wici tool was used on Hwb+ to teach about how Wici is web-dependent. Both classes then created 'Our class' Wici with all pupils creating a page about themselves with links to interests and also to each others pages.

The Year 6 teacher saw an opportunity to use Wici to complete an annual task in a different way. Branching stories were created for children in the Reception Class using Wici on Hwb+. Links were created to give the reader a choice. I like these stories, they can be different every time. They're not boring.

Sharing information with parents • Putting pictures of experiences in the pictures library. • Putting curriculum maps and homework in the documents library. Libraries for different experiences.

Moving forward after the launch Training the other teaching staff • All members of teaching staff had a half-day of specific training. • The leader created a similar page for all classes. Junior Section Foundation Phase

Moving forward after the launch We decided to be child-centred and focus on using Hwb+ with pupils. • One tool was introduced at a time in a staff meeting and ideas were discussed. Time was set aside to use the specific tool before coming back to show and discuss and introducing the next tool. Reception Class Pupils from the Reception Class are encouraged to hold special discussions with their families. Discussions Year 3 Year 3 are creating discussions about different aspects of classroom life.

Moving forward after the launch. Collaboration • After hearing that a school in our cluster had received their own platform we decided to work together using Hwb+ as a tool. • We created a discussion on the Year 6 page about our feelings as we got nearer to moving to the secondary school. • A teacher and pupils from the other school were invited to be part of the discussion.

Moving forward after the launch. Blogging Pupils in all classes blog regularly about their experiences in school.

Moving forward after the launch. Wici All classes create a Wici about the different contexts.

Impact on standards • Boys are much keener to do literacy tasks. • The standard of pupils' work rose immediately as pupils became aware that there was a real audience for their work. • Pupils work together and use each other's strengths. • End of Foundation Phase results Summer 2013 – 100% outcome 533.3% outcome 6 With 42.8% of boys attaining outcome 6 • End of Key Stage 2 outcomes Summer 2013 – 90% level 4 Welsh93.3% level 4 English36.6% level 5 Welsh60% level 5 English

Activity • In your groups discuss your tool and gather ideas about how to use it in class to enrich teaching and learning.

Hwb Club • A Hwb club was developed in school. • MAT children were chosen from Year 2 to Year 6. • These pupils were trained on all elements of Hwb+. • A special page was created for the Hwb Club.

Hwb Club • The Hwb Club created videos to accompany the different elements of Hwb+ • Example of Video • They created a discussion to answer any questions.

Next steps for the Hwb Club • Use pupils from the Hwb Club to train people in other schools - staff and pupils • Further training for them to be able to edit their page • Run parent-led training

Using Hwb + to develop Literacy skills at Ysgol Pencae .