Robert Jones\’s Interactive Maths

From the week afer next I am being seconded one day per week to support the effective use of interactive whiteboard technology in East Lothian maths departments.

I’m quite excited about this role, for several reasons. Firstly, I’m delighted that the authority is able to back up its spending on whiteboard and voting technology with some serious support. It looks like we are avoiding the old “spray and pray” approach to IT in education (chuck out some kit and hope for the best). If the whiteboards are going to make a difference in maths classrooms, it will be because they offer us the opportunity to do things differently. And doing things differently needs support.

Secondly, this role is a great opportunity for me! I have really enjoyed the work I’ve done in the past that has taken me outside my classroom and my school - I worked with teachers across the authority to develop a reporting system, and I’ve been both a NOF trainer and a Masterclasser. I’m particularly looking forward to visiting all the maths departments across the authority and getting to know my colleagues better.

To change the subject completely, I’ve been marking S1 jotters this afternoon. There’s no technology involved, but it’s such a great thing to do. They’ve all covered their jotters and completed a few exercises on angles. Taking the time to look at their jotters, to notice what they chose for their coverings (and how much time and effort some of them put into this task), to see how they have been laying out their workings and to spot any common slips - there is no substitute for doing these things. It gives me an insight into my pupils as individuals. This insight is invaluable, and qualitatively so much richer than the insights I get from electronic voting.