Meet our new guest bloggers!

Author: Laura.Martin

We’re thrilled to announce that we have two brand new guest bloggers who will be publishing their monthly blog, right here on our website (very soon!). They'll be focusing on all things play-based learning and creative computing for your reading pleasure. Find out a little more about who they are and their connection to the programme.

Emma Webster is Curriculum Co-ordinator and class teacher at Prendergast Primary School, the feeder school for Prendergast Ladywell, which became an official Schoolhouse this year and is due to launch the programme in September.

Emma is Prendergast’s Lead Teacher (LT) and is hugely passionate about nurturing creativity in young people through enriching, cross-curricular learning - an integral part of her current EdD research. Before teaching, Emma was a professional contemporary dancer performing nationally and internationally! Emma tells us she is very excited to be starting her journey as a Digital Schoolhouse LT this year and we’re very much looking forward to gaining further insight into her experiences through her guest blog.

Matthew C. Applegate is the Founder and Director of the Creative Computing Club (CCC), an after-school computing club which works with around 120 children in Suffolk. Now that CCC is an official Schoolhouse, the programme can help Matthew to meet his objective: to develop the Creative Computing Club and to integrate it further into local schools, providing more opportunities for young people in Suffolk.

Matthew has worked with several international technology companies including Sony and Apple, to deliver projects in his varied career as a Technologist. Currently, his primary academic research focus has been on lowering the entry part into music participation using familiar technology such as video games controllers and mobile phones. 

Emma and Matthew join Andrew Csizmadia, the LT behind our cryptic instalment in the monthly DSH Education News.

You can subscribe to DSH Education News here.

Andrew is a Senior Lecturer in Computer Science Education at Newman University in Birmingham which joined Digital Schoolhouse in 2017. Here, he leads the PGCE Secondary Computing course.

Prior to this, Andrew taught computing in schools and colleges in North Wales, with areas of interest including problem-solving and creative computing; making him the perfect candidate to produce Digital Schoolhouse’s word puzzle page - featured in our newsletter. Currently, Andrew is seconded part-time to the British Computer Society as the Academic Lead for the Certificate in Computer Science Teaching.

Since joining the programme, Andrew continues to share his expertise with a focus on thought leadership and practitioner research. For example, imparting his academic expertise on publications and resources, from newly developed workshops to most recently, the Esports: Engaging Education report (released 20 Sep) and Pupil Perceptions of E-safety (coming soon!).

Find out how you can become a Lead Teacher here.

If you're interested in contributing to our blog, please contact laura@ukie.org.uk.

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