In a classroom of the future, real-time technologies look set to enhance the teaching experience for educators and learners alike.

Leading the way towards the digital future of our classroom environments, LEO Academy Trust’s Cheryl Shirley is an expert in building digital confidence in teachers - an essential step in bringing schools into the next digital age.

Cheryl joins us on EdTech Unwrapped this week to share her insight into how technology can be best implemented, the importance of AI strategies, and why we need to bring students and teachers together on the journey of tech evolution.

This episode covers

• Building digital confidence among teachers without implementing ‘technology for technology's sake’

• How real-time data insights and casting technology can make lessons more efficient and dynamic

• Developing a culture of innovation, and collaboration around technology integration

• Evolving the physical classroom environment to better reflect modern workspaces

• Students’ involvement in technology strategies

Looking at your school’s digital strategy? SMART’s free EdTech assessment tool is designed to help you ask the right questions and have the right conversations for an aligned, cohesive digital strategy that will stand the test of time. 

After answering the questions in the quiz, you will receive an immediate, individual comprehensive report filled with precise recommendations designed to enhance and refine your school’s digital strategy. Get started aligning your digital strategy here!

Listen now 

🎧Listen on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/bdfj2x8s

🍎Listen on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/yfnrn8v9

🎙️Listen on Amazon Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/tbzny868

Episode highlights 

“When you’re talking to teachers, it’s important that you show you’re not introducing tech for tech’s sake - unpick how tech can be an enabler in the room, and give more insights in real time.”  - Cheryl Shirley

“One of the most important things is that leaders need to create a culture where staff are okay to go out, test and try things, and give feedback. It's a collaborative effort, rather than a ‘done-to’ kind of approach.”  - Cheryl Shirley

“We set our expectations of the AI tools that we have in our trust that are going to support you, and roll it out that way, as opposed to just letting everybody freely choose what they want. So it's about having those dialogues again, setting those expectations, and our policy obviously reflects that.” - Cheryl Shirley

“We've found that technology adoption is much quicker in our newest schools. I think it comes back to culture in the sense that they're getting exposed to other members of staff, who ask ‘Oh, have you thought about using this?’” - Cheryl Shirley