Technology, the ally of teaching at Collège du Léman

At Collège du Léman, new technologies are a precious help for teachers: they offer innovative course formats, while maintaining the importance of face-to-face teaching. Here we take a closer look at how the school combines modernity and tradition to provide an education that is both tailor-made and cutting-edge.

Although methods have evolved over time, at Collège du Léman, the human element is always at the heart of teaching. In 2020, however, when schools closed, face-to-face classes were quickly replaced by online lessons thanks to the Virtual School Experience, an approach that embraces technology to foster group and individual student coaching, alternating with independent learning time.

PEOPLE FIRST

For Jacob Rosch, Head of Educational Technology at Collège du Léman, teaching will always be at the forefront of the virtual world. School is still the best way for students to learn, he says. «We have to make the most of what new technologies have to offer, such as the possibility of giving immediate feedback following an exercise done on the computer or creating discussion groups between students so that they can try to find the solution to a problem together,» he illustrates. In addition, one class of Primary School pupils was recently able to make virtual contact with an astronaut, while another was invited to record its interviews with leading experts

from MIT or the Julliard School to make podcasts for online distribution.

AN OPPORTUNITY TO RETHINK

Offering innovative course formats, encouraging interdisciplinarity and collaboration is the direction the school’s teachers are taking. Last year, for example, Grade 6 students practiced writing a virtual book on ecology in English, which was then shared with students in lower grades. «Not only were they able to improve their knowledge of science and sustainable development, but they also improved their writing skills. It is important to show students the full spectrum of possibilities, which will shape their creativity and ability to find solutions,» adds Mr. Rosch. The school also prepares its students for the world of tomorrow by encouraging them to work on practical cases based on real-life situations from professional contexts. Recently, a class was asked to design an innovative product, from development to marketing to launch.

LIVING WITH THE TIMES

Since March 2020, Collège du Léman has also given access to all teachers in the use of Nord Anglia’s Global Campus virtual platform, the use of which has soared. This online platform, developed in-house for all 67,000 students in the 73 schools of the Nord Anglia Education (NAE) group, which operates in 29 countries, provides all teachers with access to courses and exercises to enrich their curriculum. Recently, the platform was expanded to include exercises for the youngest children (aged 2 to 7), which was greatly appreciated by parents during the first lockdown. Mark Orrow Whiting, NAE’s platform manager, sees Global Campus as a great way to enrich learning by using collective intelligence. «Not only does it allow for teaching students who are physically absent, but it also improves follow-up by giving students the opportunity to self-assess in online exercises,» he comments. Pauline Nord, Director General of the school, said, «As we have just celebrated our 60th anniversary, it is essential to not only reflect on our history, but also to build our future. We have a responsibility to prepare our students to be global citizens and to help each child find their place in a changing society. For the next 60 years, Collège du Léman will continue to adapt, while creating individual learning paths for each child.»