Helping teachers teach and learners learn from home

Students across the UK have been sent home during lockdown. At RM Studio we believe that in the technologically-advanced society we all live in, learners must be able to continue their education, regardless of place.

Together with others in RM, RM Studio have been working hard over the past few weeks as part of a coalition of Education Technology organisations including Google and Microsoft to support the government in creating a program of government-funded support to help get every school in the country teaching online.

Getting online

Getting schools online is the first hurdle towards enabling effective remote learning at scale. Cost should not be a barrier: platforms such as G Suite for Education and Google Classroom have been created from the ground up to enable remote learning and are available free to all schools. Schools in need of technical assistance can apply for funding so experts such as RM Education can help.

Learning the ropes

Once the technology is in place, teachers may need help getting to grips with how best to teach remotely. They’re in luck: the cloud platforms are intuitive and easy to grasp, and there are many online resources to help them get started, such as RM’s own Google for Education Distance Learning guides.

Once teachers are familiar with the platform, they can start exploring a new wealth of opportunities available online. One such example is Oak National Academy, an online classroom and resource hub created by teachers, for teachers. Another is the EdTech demonstrator programme, which helps schools and colleges with support for remote learning, powered by a national network of Demonstrator schools and colleges.

Brilliant teaching and learning

Teachers no longer need to plan, create and deliver their classes alone. Digital platforms open a whole new opportunity for collaboration, allowing teachers to find the best content for the lessons, share material, tests and experience with others and get advice from people like them, wherever they may be in the country, or even the world.

Remote learning can not just be possible. I can be better!