Promethean Launches Training Scheme for Teachers of the Future

Responding to the need for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to better integrate ICT within initial teacher training courses, educational technology specialist, Promethean, has developed ‘Pass It On’ – a holistic training programme designed to equip student teachers with the skills to use interactive technologies confidently and competently.

The first of its kind, Pass It On is built on an Initial Teacher Training Software Site Licence (ITTSSL) for Promethean’s award-winning interactive whiteboard software, and a rounded support package that enables student teachers to develop skills as they train. 

Through the Pass It On scheme, participating institutions will receive a comprehensive orientation session led by Promethean’s expert Teaching and Learning Consultants. These sessions will ensure both HEI staff and the new cohort of trainee teachers gain a fundamental understanding of interactive software and associated technologies. 

To help student teachers put these skills into practice, Pass It On provides trainees with access to Promethean’s Activprimary or Activstudio – which are compatible with any brand of interactive whiteboard – via an ITTSSL. Through this licence agreement, trainees can use the software in lectures, to prepare lessons at home and to teach while on placements. Importantly, by providing students with maximum exposure to interactive software during training, Pass It On will help make interactive delivery an inherent part of trainees’ teaching pedagogy. 

To supplement the initial Promethean training session, student teachers have access to free online training through www.prometheanlearning.com, and, as a Pass It On participant, are eligible for discounted advanced training courses. Additional support is also available through Promethean Planet, Promethean’s online teaching community, which features thousands of free lesson resources, as well as expert advice from leading educationalists worldwide. 

The benefits of Pass It On extend beyond graduation. At a reduced cost, graduates can purchase a full, lifetime licence for Activprimary or Activstudio software. This means graduates can transfer their skills to any school, and share their best practice knowledge with fellow practitioners. 

“Effective training is critical in ensuring interactive technologies can be used to their full potential”, said Margaret Allen, Head of European Education Market Development at Promethean. “While interactive whiteboard training is being tackled at qualified teacher level, until now, opportunities within initial teacher training have been limited. 

“Addressing the development of interactive whiteboard skills while students are still training is a logical solution, and will ensure the teachers of tomorrow graduate as confident and experienced users of interactive technologies. This in turn will have significant benefits for learners, and will be instrumental in raising the standard of ICT skills within education as a whole.”