Shared Sharing Practice

Creating a 'Fairytale News' bulletin

Dyce academy introduction

Laurence Young is the principal teacher of drama at Dyce Academy, he has been using digital video with his first-year pupils as part of the ‘characterisation’ unit. The children script, film and edit a ‘Fairytale News’ programme. Laurence used to be the school Luddite as far as ICT is concerned. However, digital video technology has inspired him and he is now training other teachers to use it and making information videos for the school. 

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Teacher profile

Laurence has been teaching for 28 years. Dyce Academy is the second school he has taught at and he has been there for 24 years. He teaches drama and media studies to pupils in S1–S6 . He has had some training from the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta) in the use of digital video and attended the Apple Teacher Institute during Easter 2003, also in connection with digital video. His ICT skills are otherwise self taught, with some help from people who are more knowledgeable.

Using digital video has enthused Laurence. He is now using video in his teaching and is making videos for the school, one of which, for example, shows pupils how to use the school library.

School profile

Dyce Academy is in the Aberdeen Education Authority and pupils come from the suburbs of Aberdeen as well as outlying rural areas. There are currently 520 pupils, nine of whom have special needs; nine speak English as a second language and 24 have free school lunches.

The school is a centre of excellence in music and is the home of Aberdeen City Music School. Mainstream Integration for Children on the Autistic Spectrum (MICAS), which is a special base for teenagers on the autistic spectrum, is located at the school.

The school has approximately 65 computers and staff have in-house ICT training as well as access to local and national courses. Laurence has worked with two different groups of staff as part of continuing professional development (CPD), training them in the use of digital video and editing.