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Aaron Winstanley
I am the Design and Technology lead at Bolton School Junior Boys’ School, as well as being in charge of the Foundation’s approach towards e-learning, with a particular focus on co-ordinating the renewal of our Apple Distinguished School Status.
At Bolton School, we strive to ensure that effective teaching and learning is at the centre of all the work we do. An ever growing factor within this is technology and, for us, it’s Apple Technology. We are a 1:1 iPad setting with all pupils and teachers using iPad and Apple Pencil to support and enhance traditional teaching and learning.
On joining the school in 2018, I applied to become an Apple Distinguished Educator and so became part of a worldwide network of creative teachers, all wanting to provide pupils with greater opportunities and increase the quality of learning through the effective and creative use of technology.
My aim, as a Design and Technology teacher, is to provide pupils with a range of experiences, greater than those I was able to access when growing up, that will hopefully light a spark within them somewhere.
I am particularly passionate about experimenting, testing, trying, finding out and exploring the unknown and this is exactly what I try to do with my pupils as they explore a range of materials and processes that are not normally associated with a Primary School curriculum.
3D printing plays a large part of life at Bolton School Junior Boys, mainly within Design and Technology or Computing, as pupils explore digital design, digital sketching, slicing and key 3D printing concepts. Across the whole school we have rolled out many initiatives combining 3D printing and reading, supporting pupils to regain a love for reading as opposed to a feeling of “having to read”. We have combined 3D scanning and printing with Egyptian units during Year 3 history lessons, as well as developing new resources for Sphero products and Raspberry Pi projects.
Being a CreateEducation Ambassador, similarly to being an ADE, has allowed me to learn and ultimately develop the quality of experiences that I can provide my pupils with. This community is a forward thinking group of people who are all striving to encourage young people to develop skills and confidence when using technology, and better prepare themselves for an ever-changing world after education.
Aaron Winstanley
Apple Distinguished Educator
Sphero Hero
Twitter: @winstanley_mr
