Title: Becta – Narrowing the gap: Rob Taplin – Digital technology in 6th form Art

Duration: 4.17 minutes

Visual description	Audio description	

CAPTION
Graphics editing software helps learner to manipulate images and develop understanding of media in Art lessons 

Rob Taplin,
Southend High School for Boys

Shot of student looking on

CAPTION
How do you share with pupils your own learning practice using ICT?

Interview shot of student

Shot of boys at work on computers

Shot over girl’s shoulder as she works at computer

Interview shot of Rob Taplin

Rob Taplin speaking to boys as they work on computers

Interview shot of Rob Taplin

CAPTION
In what ways do you think ICT is valuable in supporting underachievers?

Interview shot of student

Interview shot of student

Interview shot of student

Shot of  Rob Taplin looking on as students display work

CAPTION
In what ways could ICT improve pupil attention in your lessons?

Interview shot of student

Interview shot of Rob Taplin

CAPTION
When a teacher shows enthusiasm for technology in their own work this increases learner enthusiasm for using the same medium

Technology allows images to be manipulated and experimented on in ways that cannot be achieved using traditional formats or methods 

The computer software enables learners to achieve results straight away and to build up a portfolio more quickly 

CAPTION
ICT:
Enhances learner confidence in their work and their pleasure in the subject

Improves the motivation of low and underachievers and increases attainment by creating additional and alternative pathways to success

Helps under and lower achievers to reach target levels of achievement and in some cases exceed them	

Rob Taplin (addressing class): Then I’m going to lead you through some work that I produced yesterday using Paint Shop Pro.

Rob Taplin: I use technology in my own work and I use the, the digital medium as my sketchbook. And then I’ll manipulate these images using the same software that I use in school and I will demonstrate to the students, as I did today, whatever discoveries I’ve made.  So, it is an organic process and they can see that I take it quite seriously.

Student: Today in the lesson we did like experimentation with media and stuff like that with photography. We had a little presentation to give us some ideas for like inspiration and that.  We looked at some graphical stuff as well as some fine art photography. Then we got the chance to go down to the computers and use either our own images or images off the internet, just to get kind of familiar with using the programme. 

Rob Taplin (talking to student): That’s the same size as the other image. 

Rob Taplin: The objective was to develop their understanding of the medium a little bit more, including drawing and manipulating photographs. They’re all fairly conservative at this age group and they hate making mistakes, so they become overly precious with more traditional media.  With computer software they’re getting results almost straight away.  They can see something there and because they’re saving and building up another one, they’re building up a portfolio of images, within an hour their confidence and their liking of the subject does, does improve.  

Low achievers and underachievers are motivated by using ICT in a way that perhaps traditional media does not motivate them, and it’s a way into the subject in terms of achievement and increasing their confidence.  

Student: Yeah, it’s a different way of doing stuff to like just traditional painting and stuff.  But, yeah, it’s good.  I like it. 

Student: Anything you want to try on paper would take ages and you’d probably have to be very, very talented to do it. But using a computer it’s really simple. 

Student: My theme I’m concentrating on is time.  So I’ve got two of my, well two of my own photographs of my grandparents’ wedding and my dad’s family.

Rob Taplin: Students have gone from C/D grades to A/B grades in their coursework because of it.  And not only that, but they were able to produce a lot of work in a few weeks compared to the work that they were expected to produce over two years.  

Student: The more like opportunities or different paths you can take as an artist is only ever going to be beneficial.  I mean if you were stuck to painting the whole time then I’m sure there wouldn’t be as many people that did Art. Like now with Modern Art there’s a lot of people that use computers instead of, I don’t know, painting or drawing.  So, yeah, it can only be good.

Rob Taplin: ICT has made a really good impact, a really positive impact, because it has helped the low achieving students and the underachieving students in meeting their expected levels of achievement and also being up there with some of the other students who are perhaps a little bit more proficient with more traditional media.