Instructure's Practice Software For Primary And Secondary School Educators Launches In The UK

Practice uses video to effectively scale professional development that combines frequent practice, observation of self and others, interaction between teachers and mentors

News provided by

Instructure

Jan 25, 2019, 06:00 ET

LONDON, Jan. 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Instructure (NYSE:INST), a leading software-as-a-service (SaaS) technology company and creator of the Bridge and Canvas virtual learning environments (VLE), today announced the release of Practice for primary and secondary teachers. Practice provides an effective, scalable solution to train and support high quality teachers.

Practice creates a low-risk environment for every teacher to develop both competence and confidence, regardless of phase, subject area, or style of pedagogy. The web video-based professional development tool gives teachers the opportunity to 'learn by doing' and receive timely, meaningful and actionable peer and expert feedback as part of continuing professional development (CPD).

Dr Philippa Hardman, Director of Learning at Proversity, which develops personalised, own-branded mobile learning apps for partners, commented on the launch: "Currently, a lot of education is still rooted in dumping information on learners and then asking them to regurgitate it when tested. But learning that sticks with you comes through experience and that a key part of this is practice – working in structured and supported cycles of doing, reflecting, then doing again. This is why Canvas launching Practice is exciting – it promises to facilitate this approach to learning and help educators grow and develop, ultimately having a positive impact on student achievement as a result."

Wolsey Hall Oxford, one of the longest established homeschooling colleges in the world, is set to act as a launch partner for Practice, being among the first institutions to use the platform in the UK to further their offering across Primary, Secondary, IGCSE and A level. Wolsey Hall offers courses to students in over 90 countries.

The cycle of use for Practice is formed of four key stages. Firstly, teachers learn a new skill by doing, practising instructional delivery skills and teaching methodologies before sharing a video of this in action – for example, delivering a subject-specific plenary. Next, fellow teachers assess one another's videos where they give and receive feedback. Teachers then watch best practice videos and self reflect on their own practice. Finally, teachers receive feedback from mentors and coaches, helping to widely share the specific expertise and skills of top teachers.

Recent figures from the Teacher Development Trust have concluded that despite the essential nature of continued training and development in ensuring that teachers are able to deliver high quality education, over 20,000 teachers work in schools where there is no budget for continued professional development at all.

Kenny Nicholl, General Manager, EMEA at Instructure, said: "Without quality teaching, it is simply impossible to increase student achievement, yet too often personal development and training end up being tick box exercises at best, or not happening at all. We have great teachers not being given the opportunity to develop, but to pull off effective CPD programs you need a huge amount of time, money, and people.

"Practice applies technology to better use peer and expert feedback and self-reflection, removing barriers and giving schools the opportunity to mimic online what would be done in face to face CPD sessions or through teachers taking time to observe classrooms. This means schools and groups of schools can scale up their ability to offer more frequent meaningful training at a lower cost point."

Practice is seamlessly integrated to the Instructure suite of cloud-based online learning products including Canvas, Instructure's open online VLE for schools, colleges and higher education that makes teaching and learning easier.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.practice.xyz/

About Instructure
Instructure, Inc. (NYSE: INST) is a leading software-as-a-service (SaaS) technology company that makes software that makes people smarter. With a vision to help maximize the potential of people through technology, Instructure enables organisations everywhere to easily develop, deliver and manage engaging face-to-face and online learning experiences. To date, Instructure has connected millions of instructors and learners at more than 4,000 educational institutions and corporations throughout the world. Learn more at www.Instructure.com.

For further information please contact:
Third City
Cathy Farmer / Dan Thompson / Emily Goodbrand Dillon
E: [email protected]
D: +44 (0)20 3657 9773
M: +44 (0)7805 754904 / +44 (0)7771 520872 / +44 (0)7720 397747

SOURCE Instructure