the educator mag May 24 (1) - Flipbook - Page 8
Injecting LIFE into
Belfast learning
with the ActivPanel
Welcoming upwards of 1 million guests every year, The
Odyssey Trust is a charity based in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
In 2022, it launched W5 LIFE – Learning Innovation For Everyone,
a 20,000-square-foot facility designed to promote inclusion and
diversity through immersive STEM-based experiences.
Not everybody thrives in the traditional curriculum and school
environment. For some, a more immersive and interactive setting
is what brings their abilities to life, which is exactly why W5 LIFE in
Belfast was set up.
Committed to making learning accessible to all, its 32 facilitators
aim to provide broader access to skills training. This training leads
to exciting career paths and employment opportunities, with a
continual focus on those who have become disengaged from
mainstream learning techniques.
It goes without saying, however, that this innovative training
package can only be delivered to its maximum potential with
the support of an advanced technology portfolio. When W5 Life
decided to make a clear statement on its dedication to providing
state-of-the-art interactive solutions in the new learning space, the
team looked no further than Promethean. With a strong pedigree
in interactive technologies and an unparalleled support package,
Promethean was the ideal partner for W5 Life.
Flexible technology for a flexible space
Six classrooms in the flexible learning space can be joined together
to create one large conference-style setting that accommodates
90 students. To demonstrate to visitors that technology will be
at the core of all future work, W5 LIFE invested in six Promethean
ActivPanel displays to deliver a wide variety of learning experiences
The two 86-inch and four 75-inch panels can function individually
in classroom settings or, when the space is arranged in an
open-plan format, be connected to form a larger system for group
events.
Conor McKay, learning centre lead at W5 LIFE, said the adaptability
of the ActivPanel was one of the many reasons the technology was
selected for the space.
“One of the great things about the W5 LIFE space is that it’s entirely
changeable, and we need our technology to fit around that. With the
ActivPanel, that’s exactly what we get.”
To maximise flexibility, the space can feature two panels set up to
welcome visitors, with the other four in different breakout zones
for activities. “They wirelessly connect to our Surface Pro devices,
so students can move around different working groups and use the
Screen Share app to cast their own activities, designs, or findings
on the ActivPanel,” McKay said. “It feels like modern learning for
them and means we can keep a clean and tidy space free of wires.”
Unique learning experiences
Since opening its doors, W5 LIFE has facilitated a wealth of
transformative learning opportunities, for which Promethean’s
ActivPanel has proven itself valuable.
W5 LIFE welcomes pupils under the umbrella of Northern Ireland’s
new shared education initiative and encourages them to work as
teams in a set of timed challenges using the preloaded Timer app
on the ActivPanel.
When young pupils applied their coding knowledge to devise
an earthquake alert system, the Whiteboard app and split-screen
functionality allowed them to work collaboratively, easily sharing
their innovative ideas.
A three-day STEM “Passport to Inclusion” course saw local female
students participate in activities to develop coding and digital
skills, and learn how they can be applied to support the Northern
Irish economy. Using their roaming Promethean profiles, facilitators
accessed their personalised settings and resources quickly and
easily, no matter which classroom or breakout zone they
worked from.
“Our aim is to use technology to get anybody, and everybody
interested in STEM subjects so that they one day go on to choose
IT as their career of choice,” explained McKay. “Working with
Promethean, we’re able to feel the energy and excitement
technology has on young people.”
Local support from Promethean is crucial for effective ActivPanel
use. “We have a fantastic local Promethean trainer on hand to share
new features and train team members when needed,” McKay said.
“It makes the whole experience seamless, which is what we need
when ActivPanel plays such a crucial role in what we do every day.”
With a vision to continue building on the Promethean partnership
throughout The Odyssey Trust, McKay said it’s easy to see why
Promethean’s panels are the preferred technology in Northern
Ireland.
To learn more about the ActivPanel and how it helps schools and
teachers to transform learning, visit Promethean at Bett
(January 24th – 26th 2024), on Stand NK30 at the London ExCel.
Or, visit www.PrometheanWorld.com/uk/gb
