19 November 2015 Videoconference - an environment for learning Jenny Gage Motivate Project (MMP) University of Cambridge

20 April 2023 www.motivate.maths.org

Videoconference - Videoconference - an environment for an environment for learninglearning

Jenny GageJenny GageMotivate Project (MMP)Motivate Project (MMP)

University of CambridgeUniversity of Cambridge


The Motivate Project …The Motivate Project …

provides videoconferences for all ages (5 – 18) on a

range of topics which:• bring together schools with people who

work in a mathematical and / or scientific environment

• are frequently cross-curricular• use techniques and concepts learnt in the

curriculum• go beyond the curriculum• are not just for the ‘gifted and talented’!


Motivate Motivate videoconferences …videoconferences …have various formats, but all

include opportunities for students and teachers to:find out more about the topiccarry out practical activities and investigations tell the other participants what they have found outhear how others tackled the problemdiscuss their own work and that of others directlyreceive feedback from the person leading the conference


Our conferences Our conferences encourage …encourage …

celebrating students’ own workseeing how ‘school learning’ is relevant to the wider worlddevelopment of team building strategiescollaborative working stylesactive listeningdiscussion with others who may have understood or tackled the task differently awareness of the world beyond the school or immediate neighbourhood


Learning in a VC Learning in a VC environment …environment …

should encourage students to work togethershould encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning

shouldn’t duplicate a ‘normal’ classroom environmentshouldn’t be about the teacher taking all the decisions


St Mary’s RC PS, Chipping – St Mary’s RC PS, Chipping – Year 5 / 6 projectYear 5 / 6 project

Four half hour sessions between a small group of children in a small village school and me.Topics chosen by the children from a list provided by me.Started with them introducing themselves and their school, and me introducing myself and my working environment.I set activities for the children to do during the VC, and for follow-up work, adding new ideas every few days via a webpage.They choose which to do and how to do them.We have a forum which they can use to let me know how they are getting on, or to ask questions.




How can VC change what How can VC change what happens in the classroom?happens in the classroom?

Having an outsider in the classroom changes the dynamic between teacher and class:

teacher can model learning alongside the studentswhile also explaining things which the students haven’t understood


How can VC change teacher How can VC change teacher professional development?professional development?ITT session between final year B Ed

students, a primary school class, and me:initial 15 mins with student teachers to introduce session60 mins with class, leading them in activties and discussions45 mins with student teachers to discuss the session


This format will:allow student teachers to observe a different teaching stylediscuss it in their own groupdiscuss it with the person leading, eg.

did the session meet the objectives you set?how was it different from face-to-face teaching?

go into the school and see what the class teacher and the children thought about the session


To find out more about the To find out more about the Motivate Project …Motivate Project …

go to www.motivate.maths.org or contact Jenny [email protected] 01223 764278

http://www.motivate.maths.org/

mailto:[email protected]

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19 November 2015 Videoconference - an environment for learning Jenny Gage Motivate Project (MMP) University of Cambridge