Here at Discovery Education we are privileged to be able to connect to classrooms around the world both virtually and in person. In this episode Ian and Andrew share some of their learning derived from working with schools from all corners of the world.

They discuss how we can all learn from one another's insights and unique perspectives. Every school is different and yet we all have so much in common, so that wherever we are developing a globally collaborative approach to education benefits us all.

Please email us with your questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com

Ian makes most of his school PD visits on his bike - covering hundreds of miles as he does so!

Join Ian and Andrew as they reflect on ideas and insights they have been gathering as they visit schools across the UK. This is the true heart of our Classroom Connect approach - connecting you to teachers in other classrooms and to us here at Discovery Education.

Want us to visit your school? Reach out on the email below or for Doodle users contact your School Success Advisor.

Please email us with your questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com

We all know that sharing ideas really helps us all to grow as teachers.

In this episode Ian and Andrew discuss how this can work across schools and at a wider level by developing a partnership approach to professional development.

Ian and Andrew share experiences of how, as they travel the country delivering PD, they can gather and share amazing ideas developed by teachers in varied contexts with diverse experiences.

Developing a partnership approach helps to create powerful learning opportunities for all involved, as Ian and Andrew reinforce by talking about how they are constantly learning from others whilst they are 'on the road.'

Please email us with your questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com

We all know that holiday times and breaks from school routines can have an impact on children's learning. Learning loss can occur quite quickly when children are away from the day to day classroom environment, especially after holidays.

In this episode, Ian and Andrew discuss ways in which digital resources can help bring children back into the routines of learning, especially how they can help us to identify and address any gaps on an individual level. They also talk about how these tools can be used to reduce the impact of holidays and times away from class, by helping children to maintain their skills in motivating and low impact ways.

Please email us with your questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com

Immersive technology, such as augmented reality, can utilise the senses to create learning experiences that were previously inconceivable.

How about exploring a Mayan Temple in your school grounds, or walking around a spaceship which has a crash landed in the playground, or comparing a life size shark to a plesiosaur in the school hall, or walking through a street during the Blitz?

All of these can be achieved FOR FREE using Sandbox AR, which enables children to build life size immersive environments they can explore, even recording their experiences to support further work in the classroom.

Ian and Andrew discuss some of the ways immersive tools can impact children's learning, by creating emotional and physical responses. They also explore how this can support differentiation, for example by inspiring more reluctant writers.

Please email us with your questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com

School Improvement Plans are essential to whole school development, Ian and Andrew discuss how we can use and adapt digital tools to support all aspects of school improvement.

Key to this is being clear about how digital resources, when used effectively, can be adapted to suit your needs and serve the goal you are trying to achieve. Digital tools can be a fundamental part but of a SIP but rarely, if ever, the goal themselves.

Please email us with your questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com

In this special, extended episode Ian and Andrew meet our News and Topical Producer Ben Isaacs to explore how we can make news accessible and meaningful to children. He gives us some fascinating insights into how we actually make the news, including the decisions behind what to include and importantly how to make this appropriate for children, whilst not shying away from complex or challenging issues.

In our increasingly complex digital world where information is a commodity and open to manipulation in many ways it has never been more important to teach children how to engage with news and how to identify trusted sources and think critically about what the read, hear and see.

We also discuss ways to use news in the classroom and how this can support learning right across the curriculum as well as developing children's learning skills, empathy and cultural capital.

As always we would love to hear from you about how you engage with news in the classroom. Please email us with your questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com

School Breakfast Clubs not only provide the chance for children to have a nutritious start to the school day can be a great way for children to access additional learning support.

Just like a hearty breakfast the chance to build confidence through motivating digital learning tasks can help children make a great start to the day.

Ian and Andrew discuss ways we can provide opportunities for children to access resources that may not be available to them at home, particularly in more relaxed informal ways.

Please email us with your questions, ideas or suggestions at classroomconnect@discoveryed.com