From the first lockdown Frog schools have generously shared their experiences to help others. Almost a year down the line Frog would like to thank those involved.

The Real World Learning (RWL) series became the umbrella for sharing information volunteered through schools to help others. Stories have come in all forms, from anecdotes and articles to videos and speaker sessions from school representatives.

We have been so impressed with Frog schools and have no doubt that many will have benefited from this growing community. As we approach the next Real World Learning virtual event, it seemed fitting to use this forum to recognise the amazing examples we have been privy to.

The Real World Learning Recognition Awards shine a light on the schools involved in contributing to the community so far. As the stories were already shared, the Frog team has nominated schools under given categories. 

ICT Evangelist to pick category winners

Winners of each category will be independently chosen by the ICT Evangelist (Mark Anderson) and revealed at the next Real World Learning event.

Created for a History focused BSME webinar, Salesian College show us how subject leaders can utilise a digital platform to save teacher's time and extend opportunities for learners.

Supporting a Frog feature in BSME webinar: Using Learning Technology Effectively for Blended and Online Learning in History, Andrea Leforte volunteered to share her digital department structure. Although this is a History department example, her use of Frog to share resources and promote the department's work can easily be replicated for any subject area. Here she takes us through a very considered approach to bringing History lessons to life...

Structuring

"Crucial for me as a History Teacher, is developing that love of learning and intellectual curiosity and fostering that in our students. We're able to do all of that through Frog."

Going Text Book Free

"We decided to go textbook-free and instead build online textbooks."

Frog Assignments has the full complement of self-marking quizzes, file drop and text activities for work that's created on the computer, but Mayflower High School were looking for a solution to submit assignments that have been produced on paper...

The solution for them was to use FrogSnap.  Staff continued to set Assignments with the addition of a File Drop plus some basic instructions. Pupils can now prepare their written work on paper as usual, take a photograph of it using the free FrogSnap app on their phone and upload directly to the Assignment that was set for them. 

Example from Mayflower High School

Submissions can then by annotated by the teacher using the Assignments Feedback feature or all work can be downloaded onto a local computer.

Download FrogSnap from your app store...

There has been a glut of free content available online recently, and although this can support home learning for our students, as a teacher I was overwhelmed by it coming at me in many different forms (GDPR seemingly out of the window) and could only imagine how parents and pupils must be feeling. Just because content is free, billed as 'educational' and promoted for home learning use, did not mean it was safe.

Increasingly concerned for pupils and their families, I took on a mammoth task to create a 'Home Learning Links' site. This is an ever-evolving compilation of links that I have visited and vetted (to some degree). As well as links, the site includes Online Safety advice provided by approved organisations such as CEOP, Childline and UK Safer Internet Centre.

With this resource created, I was keen to share it with our Penrith Hub (network of schools), so we could collaborate and share resources to keep the site maintained. 

I am happy to open this up as a resource for other schools to use, so many more pupils can benefit from it. I only ask that North Lakes School and Frog could be credited wherever it is shared.

Thanks!

Martyn Soulsby

Leadership Team & DPO