Northgate-is - News Item 784

Innovative Technology Helping Bristol Students to be Top of the Class

Innovative Technology Helping Bristol Students to be Top of the Class 

Newly opened Bristol Metropolitan College has become a world class centre of learning using innovative technology to engage and educate its students. Working with ICT specialist Northgate Education, Bristol Metropolitan College has benefited from an £8.9m investment through the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to ensure its learners have access to the latest technology.

As one of the first BSF schools in Bristol to open its doors, Bristol Metropolitan College aims to create the best possible setting for young people to learn in and meet the educational needs of its 700 students. Using innovative technology to support classroom teaching, the school is equipped with the very latest learning and teaching tools such as laptops, interactive whiteboards and hand held devices.

Each learner has access to an online Managed Learning Environment (MLE) called N-able designed by Northgate Education. N-able provides students with their own personalised learning area with the support and assistance they need to maximise independent study and to progress in line with their own individual learning plan. Accessible via the internet from any location, the MLE gives each learner their own online space to work on assignments, store work and access emails enabling them to communicate with teachers and fellow students. Each teacher has a digital tool box to enable them to continually assess pupil’s work and offer as much or as little guidance as they might need. N-able also allows the school to incorporate administration systems such as pupil access and registration, as well as pupil achievements such as exam and homework marks.

To further improve school efficiency each member of staff and each student has their very own school identity card which not only allows them access to the school buildings but also acts as a library card and cashless catering card and allows them to access printers. By logging into their personal online space on N-Able both students and staff can see when their library books are due back as well as order specific books. The cashless catering function allows students to keep track of how much they have spent in the school canteen and to know when they need to top up their balance. By having access to all of this information in one place students can not only efficiently keep track of all their information and take responsibility for it, but parents can also request access, allowing them to become more involved in their child’s education.

Theresa Thorne, Headteacher, commented: “Since the school opened the students have been making full use of the new technology including the Managed Learning Environment. Being able to access their work electronically from home as well as at school means that young learners can view their education as more than just what goes on in a classroom. N-able allows students to really take ownership and control of their education and promotes lifelong learning which is at the heart of what we are trying to achieve.”

The implementation of a Managed Learning Environment enables learners and teachers to share and store work and resources that can be securely accessed anywhere and anytime. N-able is part of a wider ICT managed service provided for Bristol Metropolitan College by Northgate Education. Along with educational resources, Northgate provides a centrally managed printing solution which limits the amount of printers and paper used. Accessed by the identity cards this enables the school to help control paper wastage, maintaining a ‘green’ school environment. To further reduce power usage the ICT Technician can monitor all workstations to ensure none are left on overnight or at the weekends.

David Hyland, Managing Director, Northgate Education, commented: “We are extremely proud to be working with Bristol Metropolitan College to help transform learning and teaching for the students. By installing innovative technology the school is going way beyond Government requirements to ensure that its students have the best possible education resources available. The school has some fantastic resources which can be used by the teachers to make education really engaging. We are delighted to be involved with such forward thinking school and feel the benefits to young learners will make Bristol Metropolitan College a best practice model for BSF projects in other areas.”