Bangor joins global Microsoft trial

Professor John G Hughes welcomes Natalie Burgess of Microsoft to the University, with some of the staff taking part in the training session.Professor John G Hughes welcomes Natalie Burgess of Microsoft to the University, with some of the staff taking part in the training session.The student centred and initiative approach to teaching that has resulted in Bangor University being awarded the gold medal for teaching, is typified by a new project.

The University’s School of Education is working with Microsoft, to empower trainee teachers to become 21st century digital citizens.  Bangor is the only University in Wales, and one of three in the UK, to pilot using Microsoft Education material within a course.

Owen Davies, Primary Mathematics and Digital Competency Lecturer in the School of Education, is leading the project. He explained that the pilot will be used with students undertaking the Graduate Teacher Program. Owen, explained that these students spend all of their time working in schools.  The students can access all their learning material online, earning qualifications from both Bangor University and Microsoft. 

Owen said: "the students will not only learn about online tools, and how to use them in their teaching, but will actually use the tools to collaborate with staff in the School of Education.  The students will learn how to be comfortable and safe in the digital landscape, they will then in turn inspire and educate the school children of Wales to be fully digitally skilled, as well as creating engaging lessons. So much of the modern economy is dependent on collaboration, and that is exactly what these tools do. The tools allow our students to take part in a global community of educators.”

The University’s IT services hosted a Microsoft training event for the School of Education staff. University Vice-Chancellor, Prof John G Hughes visited the event to greet Natalie Burgess from Microsoft to Bangor and to give his support to this exciting project.

For further information about the project contact Owen Davies (o.t.davies@bangor.ac.uk) for information about the technology contact Dr Alan Thomas, Learning technology team IT services (alan.thomas@bangor.ac.uk) 

Publication date: 6 July 2017