Technology and Innovation Awards, in associations with LEGO® Education

Top of the Class

The winners of the third annual Technology & Innovation Awards have now been announced.

Organised by Teach Secondary magazine in association with LEGO® Education, the Awards aim to highlight and celebrate those teachers and schools doing exceptional things with the industry's most exciting and innovative products and resources.

Without further ado, this year's honourees are...

Best School
AWARDED TO: Simon de Senlis Primary, Northampton
Simon de Senlis Primary School, in Northampton, was nominated by Caroline Pritchard-Law, of Zioxi Ltd, which plans, designs and manufactures ingenious and inventive furniture for education spaces.

"This primary is without doubt one of the most innovative schools we work with. Their use of technology is exemplary and they have a purpose designed area - the sandpit - for students to learn and play with technology."
– Caroline Pritchard-Law of Zioxi Ltd.

A LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education EV3 Getting Started Set for 16 pupils, worth £2,549.99, is on its way to Simon de Senlis school

Best Teacher
AWARDED TO: Theresa Russell, head of KS3 computing, Morecambe Community High School
Theresa Russell was nominated for this award by student Megan Williams, who described her as "an exemplary teacher, and one that is loved by all her students, and her staff too."

"Ms Russell spent six hours with me one Saturday at a course at Lancaster University, so that I could learn about the different routes into medicine. Without her, I wouldn't know where to begin, and I know that the lessons that Ms Russell has taught me both inside and outside of class will stay with me for a long time."
– Megan Williams, student

Ms Russell will receive a LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education EV3 FLL® Starter Set, worth £399.99

Technological Innovation of the Year
WINNER: HUE HD Pro classroom camera and visualiser (£44.95 + VAT)
Designed specifically for teachers, this versatile, plug n’ play multipurpose classroom camera is affordable, portable and good looking too.

The flexible neck allows the camera to be positioned at any angle. The Pro camera also comes with HUE Intuition, easy to use camera management software. In terms of the engagement factor, using a HUE HD Pro camera is ideal for getting together, getting focused and getting down to the business of learning.

"It's the versatility that is so impressive; this is an affordable little device, the use of which can be driven by pedagogy. It's lovely and easy to use as well."
– Rachel Jones, teacher and author of Teacher Geek

RUNNERS UP:

GCSE Achieve, by bksb
An eLearning revision package for GCSE English and maths capable of generating learning plans automatically.

Zzish teacher dashboards
A software platform based around real-time dashboards, which teachers can use in conjunction with any e-learning app to get instant insights into their student' strengths, weaknesses and learning gaps.

CPen Reader Pen, by Scanning Pens Ltd
This pocket-sized device reads text out aloud with an English, human-like digital voice. Pass the nib across a word, and it will instantly display the relevant definition and reading said word aloud.

NetSupport School, by NetSupport
A classroom management solution that provides teachers with a range of assessment, monitoring and collaboration tools to help maintain students' focus during technology-led learning activities.

MEET THE JUDGES

Abderrahmane Benjeddi has taught ICT for over 20 years, introducting various technologies at all levels and providing training to both staff and students. He is the founder of RiskITWeek.com that promotes creativity and build confidence in schools.
@benjeddi

Rachel Jones is a Google and Microsoft certified teacher, interested in innovation and creativity in the classroom. She Curated Don't Change the Light Bulbs, and wrote Teacher Geek, both published by Crown House.
@rlj1981

Sal McKeown is a freelance special needs journalist and author of Brilliant Ideas for Using ICT in the Inclusive Classroom (Routledge) and How to help your Dyslexic and Dyspraxic Child (Crimson Publishing).
@salmckeown

Terry Freedman is an independent educational ICT and computing consultant, and publishes the ICT & Computing in Education website at ctineducation.org and the Digital Education ezine at ictineducation.org/newsletter.
@terryfreedman