Here at Discovery Education we are privileged to be able to connect to classrooms around the world both virtually and in person. In this episode Ian and Andrew share some of their learning derived from working with schools from all corners of the world. They discuss how we can all learn from one another's insights and unique perspectives. Every school is different and yet we all have so much in common, so that wherever we are developing a globally collaborative approach to education benefits us all. Please email us with your questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com  

Ian makes most of his school PD visits on his bike - covering hundreds of miles as he does so! Join Ian and Andrew as they reflect on ideas and insights they have been gathering as they visit schools across the UK. This is the true heart of our Classroom Connect approach - connecting you to teachers in other classrooms and to us here at Discovery Education.  Want us to visit your school? Reach out on the email below or for Doodle users contact your School Success Advisor. Please email us with your questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com  

We all know that sharing ideas really helps us all to grow as teachers. In this episode Ian and Andrew discuss how this can work across schools and at a wider level by developing a partnership approach to professional development.  Ian and Andrew share experiences of how, as they travel the country delivering PD, they can gather and share amazing ideas developed by teachers in varied contexts with diverse experiences. Developing a partnership approach helps to create powerful learning opportunities for all involved, as Ian and Andrew reinforce by talking about how they are constantly learning from others whilst they are 'on the road.' Please email us with your questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com  

We all know that holiday times and breaks from school routines can have an impact on children's learning. Learning loss can occur quite quickly when children are away from the day to day classroom environment, especially after holidays. In this episode, Ian and Andrew discuss ways in which digital resources can help bring children back into the routines of learning, especially how they can help us to identify and address any gaps on an individual level. They also talk about how these tools can be used to reduce the impact of holidays and times away from class, by helping children to maintain their skills in motivating and low impact ways. Please email us with your questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com  

Immersive technology, such as augmented reality, can utilise the senses to create learning experiences that were previously inconceivable. How about exploring a Mayan Temple in your school grounds, or walking around a spaceship which has a crash landed in the playground, or comparing a life size shark to a plesiosaur in the school hall, or walking through a street during the Blitz?  All of these can be achieved FOR FREE using Sandbox AR, which enables children to build life size immersive environments they can explore, even recording their experiences to support further work in the classroom. Ian and Andrew discuss some of the ways immersive tools can impact children's learning, by creating emotional and physical responses. They also explore how this can support differentiation, for example by inspiring more reluctant writers. Please email us with your questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com  

School Improvement Plans are essential to whole school development, Ian and Andrew discuss how we can use and adapt digital tools to support all aspects of school improvement. Key to this is being clear about how digital resources, when used effectively, can be adapted to suit your needs and serve the goal you are trying to achieve. Digital tools can be a fundamental part but of a SIP but rarely, if ever, the goal themselves. Please email us with your questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com  

In this special, extended episode Ian and Andrew meet our News and Topical Producer Ben Isaacs to explore how we can make news accessible and meaningful to children. He gives us some fascinating insights into how we actually make the news, including the decisions behind what to include and importantly how to make this appropriate for children, whilst not shying away from complex or challenging issues. In our increasingly complex digital world where information is a commodity and open to manipulation in many ways it has never been more important to teach children how to engage with news and how to identify trusted sources and think critically about what the read, hear and see. We also discuss ways to use news in the classroom and how this can support learning right across the curriculum as well as developing children's learning skills, empathy and cultural capital. As always we would love to hear from you about how you engage with news in the classroom. Please email us with your questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com  

School Breakfast Clubs not only provide the chance for children to have a nutritious start to the school day can be a great way for children to access additional learning support. Just like a hearty breakfast the chance to build confidence through motivating digital learning tasks can help children make a great start to the day. Ian and Andrew discuss ways we can provide opportunities for children to access resources that may not be available to them at home, particularly in more relaxed informal ways. Please email us with your questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com  

In this episode Ian and Andre discuss ways in digital resources can be used to support children with different levels of educational needs. We can provide flexible options where layers of support can be peeled back or added quickly and efficiently to provide juts the right level of scaffolding at the right time. How do you use digital to address different levels of educational need? Which resources work best for you and how do you adapt them? Please email us with your questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com    

As an early career teacher it is important to explore ways to build your own style and pedagogical approach, digital resources can provide lots of options. Not only can they provide models as starting points but often they can be adapted to suit your own needs, both of which can be really valuable in terms of professional growth. How has digital supported your development? Please email us with your questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com  

In this episode Ian and Andrew discuss how when we work with pupils - for example by delivering model lessons - we can provide opportunities for professional development for teachers. These sorts of interactions can provide the chance for a teacher to step back and see how an approach can work with their children in their school. Do reach out to us if you think that this sort of approach would benefit your school - we can then discuss the best options for you. Please email us with your questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com  

In this episode Ian and and Andrew discuss the importance and impact of the 4Cs both in the classroom and in children's lives and futures beyond.   They explore opportunities for developing collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking. They also consider how it can be really helpful for children to recognise their growth in these areas and to become more conscious of them in learning and life. Please email us with your questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com  

Join Ian and Andrew for this special episode with guest Maddy Austin, where they discuss the use of digital resources at home, supported by parents and carers. Former teacher Maddy is a Product Lead in our direct to consumer (D2C) team, here she works closely with families to ensure they get the best out of digital resources in a home setting. Maddy shares with Ian and Andrew some of the ways we can adapt resources, and how parents and carers can utilise them to really enable children to take ownership of their learning, which in turn boosts their confidence and progress. They also share thoughts around how schools can ensure their is a 'continuity of learning' between home and school and how digital can be at the heart of this. Please email us with your questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com  

At Discovery Education our advisory team work across the country in regions, developing a deep understanding of the schools we work with. In this special episode Ian and Andrew spend some time with David Trendell former teacher and senior leader who is now one of our team of school advisors, focusing on schools in our East region They discuss some of the ideas, opportunities and activities being provided by Discovery Education both locally and nationally. Our team support schools right across the country and are available to support you and your colleagues with ideas, guidance and resources, through video calls, webinars, face to face events and via email.  If you subscribe to any Discovery Education products you will have a member of the team assigned to support you personally - please do share their details with colleagues. You can also reach out to the team using this link.  Please email us with questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com 

At Discovery Education our advisory team work across the country in regions, developing a deep understanding of the schools we work with. In this special episode Ian and Andrew spend some time with Alex and Curtis school advisors for the West region and both former teachers. They discuss some of the ideas, opportunities and activities being provided by Discovery Education both locally and nationally. Our team support schools right across the country and are available to support you and your colleagues with ideas, guidance and resources, through video calls, webinars, face to face events and via email.  If you subscribe to any Discovery Education products you will have a member of the team assigned to support you personally - please do share their details with colleagues. You can also reach out to the team using this link.  Please email us with questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com 

Meet Jack Taylor, Senior Software Engineer at Discovery Education. In this special episode, Jack discusses with Ian and Andrew the ways he designs and builds software solutions for the classroom. This episode also raises real world parallels with the design processes that Jack and his colleagues go through when creating solutions and the kinds of approaches we can take in the classroom. The group discuss computational thinking, design thinking, the 4Cs of learning and other skills based aspects of learning in the classrooms of today.  Please email us with your questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com  

There are a wealth of different digital tools and platforms available to teachers, many of which can work effectively as a standalone resource, however combining different tools can enhance their impact and allow for richer, deeper learning experiences. In this episode Ian and Andrew discuss some of the ways tools with different purposes can be combined to create more impactful lessons. How for example can video, Augmented Reality and shared documents support writing when used together? Please email us with your questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com  

Plenary sessions provide a great opportunity for children to reflect on their learning, to consolidate understanding, apply new knowledge and address misconceptions. Digital tools and resources can provide lots of flexible ways to enhance these crucial parts of the learning process. In this episode Ian and Andrew share their ideas for how digital resources can be used effectively at the end of a lesson or during reflection time. Please email us with questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com  

In terms of professional development, the days of waiting for a course to be offered and teachers booking time out of school have long gone - now we as teachers we can access professional development in multi-modal hybrid formats. Webinars are one such method - but how can we make the best use of them and when are they most effective? In this episode Ian and Andrew discuss how webinars can be effective and look at the ways we design and deliver these to maximise their value. At Discovery Education we offer PD in a wide variety of formats to suit different needs and purposes - get in touch with your School Success Advisor to access the PD which works best for you and your colleagues. schoolsupport@discoveryed.com  Please email us with questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com  

One way of connecting the real world to children's learning across the curriculum is to make links to events, festivals, anniversaries and special days. Our 'Calendar Picks' provide a wealth mini-lessons linked to events throughout the year. Whether you are celebrating Harvest Festival, recognising Eid Ul Fitr, exploring the events of D-Day, participating in Road Safety Week or remembering Holocaust Memorial day there are lots of choices across the whole year, with around 80 events covered - with versions for EYFS, KS1 and KS2 included in Espresso! Find them in your Key Stage Home Page. Ian and Andrew discuss some of these and the ways these events can impact on children's learning throughout the year. Please email us with questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com