Behind the scenes, this years’ Edinburgh Learns Digital Conference was a little different for us all. Not only did we celebrate the vast and dynamic digital teaching and learning that goes on in our Edinburgh schools, network with over 130 Digital Learning Coordinators, and hear from experts far and wide… but we were also able to take a moment to shout loudly about how much we’ll miss our very own team lead Dave McKee when he leaves us at the end of the week!
When we’d normally be doing the register, we were instead entertained by some very talented pupils from Tynecastle High School. Because how better to understand the benefit of having equitable access to tech than see it in action?!
Jackie Reid, our Service Director of Education and Chief Education Officer, had the tricky job of following this up but took to the floor to share how impressed she was with how our DLCs bring digital teaching and learning to life in such a meaningful way.
Our first Keynote speaker Edmund Misson, Head of Division, Innovation and Measuring Progress in the Education and Skills Directorate for OECD left us with a lot to consider, allowing us the opportunity to zoom out and look at global trends and their impact on education.
Then into our own sectors, where we heard from:
- Lynsey and Lynne from Dean Park and Ratho PS about their adventures to become the first learning community to apply (and achieve!) the Digital Schools Award.
- James who told us about Pilrig Park’s recent achievement of the Digital School’s Award – a first for Edinburgh’s Special School sector!
- And last but not least, Laura who shared Craigmount High School’s exciting and innovative whole school approach to Digital Teaching and Learning.
Then off to the workshops, with 35 in total on offer from across a wide range of specialisms, delivered by reps from our own team as well as from Edinburgh Learns, ClickView, Education Scotland, DSAS, BoardMaker, University of Edinburgh and of course our brilliant DLCs.
The afternoon began with a Keynote from Andy Paton, the Senior Systems Engineer from Apple. It was a fascinating and real-world insight as to how we are preparing our young people for a future that includes innovative use of the tech that is already in their hands.
After an afternoon of more workshops, we piled back into the main space to reflect on how to take things forward from here, and of course to embarrass Dave with another huge and well-deserved round of applause.
An enormous thank you to everyone who was involved in every step of the way, we couldn’t have done it without you!
Edinburgh Learns Digital | City of Edinburgh Council 