An innovative program, initiated by the Redbridge LEA to extend ICT skills throughout all schools in the borough - primary, secondary and special - has now run for a year with considerable success.
Redbridge is pioneering the use of Macromedia's Flash software to develop thinking skills and problem solving in students from 7 to 16 years old.
This initiative has been heralded by leaders in the educational field like Prof Stephen Heppell, chair of the DfEE's Standards Taskforce working party on ICT who comments:-
"I'm excited about the way this software gives children real control over their computers and lets them make things rather than consume things."
It is this emphasis on students being in charge of their learning that has led to many successes in classroom learning: -
Motivation
High level thinking and reasoning skills
Great achievement across the ability range
Improved behaviour and cooperation coming from increased self-confidence
17 projects have been completed in 8 primary schools, two special school (learning difficulties), one special school(severely disabled) and a secondary school , with another 12 projects in 8 schools still to run. Projects last for five to fourteen teaching hours.
Over 50 teachers from 30 primary and secondary schools have received training in Flash through courses or "on the job training" .
Because Flash is essentially a presentation tool, it can be used for any topic, where possible it is closely linked to a physical activity, involving discussion, analysis of what is being investigated and how to convey the information effectively. It is firmly rooted in the structure of a Design Technology project - investigation, analysis, planning, problem solving, production and evaluation.
It has also attracted interest from many mathematicians for its potential to develop mathematical thinking - notably Prof Celia Hoyles ( Inst. Educ., Univ. of London), Lynne McClure (Principal Lecturer in maths education, Oxford Brookes University), Mrs Toni Beardon ( Millennium Maths Project, NRICH, Cambridge University) and Lyndon Baker (ATM)
Unlike most educational software, Flash is a sophisticated tool (used by top professional web site designers) acting as a 'blank piece of paper' and requires the user to think clearly about what is intended.
Students get very involved with their projects and by careful choice of templates - which act as starting points for pupils of mixed ability - not only does 100% success inevitably result for the whole class but capable pupils are stretched because of the open-ended nature of the tasks. Projects include Art,History, Geography, Science, Maths, English and develop skills of creative thinking, analysis, planning and teamwork. Students and teachers find the projects very enjoyable, particularly because their abilities have been stretched.
It is believed that because these projects satisfy an innate curiosity in young people, they have a beneficial effect on the attitude to learning in the classroom, persuading many that involvement, clear thinking and difficult problem solving are to be relished.
With Flash who needs drugs, sex and . . .? ! ! ?
Back / Views on using Flash / Flash projects in Schools / Getting started with Flash