Pictured: Leeon Hey and George Johnson help colleague Emma Hanna get stuck into the latest technology!
This recognition allows the College to connect with a global network of Microsoft professionals, and other lecturers and students, to develop a better understanding of how technology can be used in the classroom. In addition, lecturers across all WCS campuses and faculties will receive training in how to use the latest products to get the most for their students.
On 9th October Microsoft confirmed this recognition as staff attended Microsoft’s ‘Redefining Learning Conference’ in London. At the event College staff engaged in hand-on workshops and panel discussions with other existing Showcase Schools.
Attending was George Johnson, West College Scotland’s Director of Technology & Innovation:
“This is a major boost to our development as an innovator in learning technologies. Effective use of technology can really benefit students, making learning more exciting and engaging. Five of our lecturers have already been accepted into the Microsoft Innovative Educator community, where they will share their ideas with peers, policy makers and with Microsoft itself to promote innovation in teaching and learning.”
Microsoft has been delighted by the work of West College Scotland, and is keen to use this partnership to develop the use of technology in Further and Higher Education.
Mandeep Atwal, UK Microsoft Education Audience Manager:
“We are pleased to accept West College Scotland as a Microsoft Showcase School.
WCS is clearly a high performing, innovative college with strong leadership and a clear vision for learning and teaching, ensuring that its teachers and students are using technology that will prepare them for their future.
We are confident that through its inspired leadership, innovative educators, and creative, confident students, West College Scotland will work with its partners in the community and other Microsoft Showcase schools to lead the way in transforming education.”
Also attending was Drama lecturer Leeon Hey. Drama is just one area in which West College Scotland strives to innovate and push the boundaries of new technology in new areas, and for Leeon this presents some great opportunities.
“As a Drama lecturer it can be hard to capture all the creative work our students do. Performances are temporary, but using technology we are able to record our students work permanently. I’ve already been inspired to use new technology and programs in the classroom, to develop ways of recording and producing our students’ work to best showcase their talents.”
Leeon is now one of 5 Microsoft Innovative Educators at West College Scotland, with others from Hairdressing and Learner Development, as well as Computing.
David Renton, Curriculum Quality Leader for Computing at West College Scotland, presented a talk on the BBC Microbit and Kinect in Education at the London conference, an excellent opportunity to showcase the work of College.
“The partnership is great for the College, and our students. Already this year we will see the benefits; in December, Lee Stott, Microsoft Evangelist for FE/HE in the UK, is visiting the college to give free training on Cloud computing and Azure to our Computing students.”
West College Scotland’s work in this area goes beyond this month’s conference. David was also recently confirmed as a Microsoft Valued Professional (MVP) for a 3rd successive year. This makes David one of a select group internationally, travelling as far afield as Berlin, Delhi, and Seattle, to work alongside colleagues and Microsoft professionals, to ensure the College is involved in and contributing to the latest technological advances.
“I was very pleased to be recognised as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional for the 3rd year running. The award is specifically for my work with using Kinect in Education, but is also recognition of the College’s strong links with Microsoft. Most recently I trained 90 secondary teachers in London on how to program the BBC Micro, a tiny computer the BBC is giving to all 11-12 year old schoolchildren in the UK.”
Such opportunities are a boost to the College’s already strong reputation as an innovator in technology and education. This August saw the first WITS – WCS Information Technology Symposium – which brought together over 250 staff, outside speakers and industry figures together to discuss how new technologies can enhance learning and teaching. This year the College aims to further develop opportunities for our students to learn from the latest technologies. The College is increasing Cloud-based working amongst staff and students, and already all students have access to the Cloud-based platform Office 365. The College also hope to host its own Microsoft-sponsored conference, bringing together teachers and lecturers from across the region to better share the benefits of technology.
The use of technology in education is set to rapidly increase as time goes on. Maintaining a place forefront of such initiatives, with local and international partners, West College Scotland is ensuring that its students benefit as soon as possible from the latest advances.