Neil Fraser Dickson

Neil teaches on several BA/PGCE modules including primary computing, D&T and Science. He teaches about creativity and how to promote it within highly practical sessions following well established approaches to learning. He looks at the skills needed for the 21st century and ensure students are aware of the changes that are afoot in the primary classroom. He teaches ‘Computational Thinking’ approaches to learning and show how this approach is not only useful for the computer programmer, but also useful for life in general.

He strongly supports the collaborative approach to learning and encourage teachers to be the ‘guide on the side’ rather than the ‘sage on the stage’. The role of the teacher is increasingly important as they become more of a partner in a child’s learning and learn to ask the right questions to enable the children to increasingly think for themselves. Teachers must provide relevant contexts for work in the classroom to ensure the students are engaged and they must provide the rigor for the students to excel in their learning. Hopefully, teachers will embrace new and established technologies to bring learning to life and, hopefully, keep the learning active and relevant.