This is an edited version of an article originally published on: eSchool News I’m confident that what Morrison learned in Pittsburg is playing out across the country. There’s a bond created when a team of people go through a hard time together and what we’ve learned during this pandemic is that the social and emotional needs of a district needs to include their staff as well as students. Adding Nele’s insights to my 30-year history in EdTech, here’s some thoughts about where we are from an IT perspective and what might be considered for the future. Restate and revise district digital strategi ..read more

Addressing global digital poverty: challenge, solutions and opportunities If the gulf in educational opportunity wasn’t wide enough, ‘digital poverty’ will only get worse unless more children get access to the internet, says Al Kingsley. This is an edited version of an article originally published on: International Teacher Magazine The scale of the problem As astutely observed by UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, “a lack of connectivity doesn’t just limit children and young people’s ability to connect online. It prevents them from competing in the modern economy. It iso ..read more

This is an edited version of an article originally published on: Forbes Technology Council Al Kingsley is CEO of NetSupport, chair of a multi-academy trust in the UK, tech writer, speaker and author of “My Secret #EdTech Diary.” I have long thought about the interplay between knowledge and skills. Education systems worldwide remain committed to filling young brains with “knowledge” simply because that is how they have always been — and will be — graded. But I can’t help thinking that, with all the technology around us, aren’t we now living in a world where we’ve moved past this? Is knowl ..read more

By Al Kingsley This is an edited version of an article originally published on: SEL today As the pandemic swept through the country, school leaders understood two things: they needed to make sure students had the technology needed to learn remotely and, because of all the upheaval Covid-19 caused, they needed to pay attention to the social emotional needs of their students. It’s no surprise that the percentage of districts offering 1:1 initiatives doubled for grades 6-12 and tripled for elementary schools, according to a new brief from the American School District Panel. But what wa ..read more

First published on Peterborough Matters 2022 The university will put us ahead of the curve On the morning Peterborough Matters speaks to Al Kingsley an announcement is made that Peterborough is to become a new Education Investment Area, which he broadly welcomes, albeit cautiously. It’s a good starting point for a conversation with a man who has advised many learning establishments across the UK on Digital Strategy, EdTech, safeguarding and broader strategic leadership, as well as writing numerous publications on these topics. His own company NetSupport has spent 30 years developing solu ..read more

First published in Education Technology Magazine 2022  Safer Internet Day 2022: Empowering students to become responsible and respectful digital citizens Al Kingsley, Group CEO at NetSupport, chair of a Multi-Academy Trust and an AP Academy, and ambassador for the Digital Poverty Alliance, discusses how schools can help teach students respectful and responsible online behaviours and awareness on this year’s Safer Internet Day This year’s Safer Internet Day theme, ‘exploring respect and relationships online’, emphasises the need to establish these behaviours amongst children, who are ..read more

First published in Open Access Government Magazine – https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/levelling-up-education/127225/ Al Kingsley, CEO at NetSupport, discusses the potential role of education technology (EdTech) in “levelling up” – especially for vulnerable communities With children finally back in the physical classroom after more than a year-and-a-half’s worth of disruption, and the appointment of a new Secretary of State for Education, many in the sector feel cautiously optimistic as we slowly inch back to “normality”. Recent party conferences have also revealed a renewed emphasis on ed ..read more

When choosing new EdTech for your school, value for money and impact are key. Al Kingsley breaks down his key steps to achieving this This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on Headteacher Update https://www.headteacher-update.com/best-practice-article/edtech-how-to-select-new-software-for-your-school-technology-learning-lessons-resources-teaching-1/242446/ There is no doubt about it – selecting new software for a school is a daunting process. There are many similar, but competing, solutions to sift through, as well as the significant time and effort needed to ev ..read more

  Of course, the most significant change is undoubtedly the increased use of blended learning – a change, I believe, that’s here to stay. There is growing evidence of its benefits, particularly in terms of students’ engagement – and it offers much more flexibility for teachers and students alike. Used as a supportive platform alongside traditional methods, teachers can instruct, question, challenge, support and give feedback – all with simple-to-use tools. In addition, blended learning can be a real game-changer for some students; allowing them to easily revisit learning resources and en ..read more

This is a copy of an article originally published on: HeadTeacher update Magazine Governor recruitment seems to be getting tougher and tougher. Al Kingsley considers why governance is a great role, the barriers that exist to recruitment, and how we might start to overcome them. So many amazing people in our society generously donate their time to “give something back”.We certainly saw evidence of that at the height of the pandemic in 2020, with more than 10 million people across the UK reportedly stepping up to volunteer in roles such as working at food banks, delivering meals and medicines ..read more