PrimaryEssentials Profile: Shannen Doherty

ETIH asks the PrimaryEssentials speakers for their thoughts on the education and EdTech sector, and throws in a random question to keep them on their toes.

This time around, our five questions go to Shannen Doherty, author of 100 Ideas for Primary Teachers: Maths (100 Ideas for Teachers).

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing primary education today? 

The biggest challenge is definitely the lack of funding. We are at a real low point in education where restructures and redundancies are seemingly the only option to keep some schools financially stable. The lack of funding for SEND is shameful and impacts the quality of the provision for pupils with additional needs. Teachers have had a bad time in the last few years with enough teacher bashing in the media to last several lifetimes, so anyone working in a school or educational setting is a hero as far as I’m concerned. 

How has EdTech transformed the way we teach primary school subjects?

For a while, I saw myself as a bit of an EdTech sceptic! I think with everything we do it has to serve a purpose and once I know the why and the how then I am happy to implement new things! 

There is so much out there to utilise in class and for professional development, and if we consider the last 30 years then EdTech has had a huge impact on teaching. I use my visualiser in almost every lesson, I can move around the room and display children’s work on the board with an iPad, I can save and share resources on cloud based storage and collaborate with colleagues while working in different locations. These things have the biggest impact on the learning in my classroom. 

I also think that platforms like Iris Connect, Walkthrus, Steplab and The National College are having a huge impact on professional development for teachers and therefore the learning experience for their pupils. 

The recent surge in AI in education is the next big thing for me. My partner has a weekly newsletter AI newsletter for teachers, so I’m always looking over his shoulder in the study seeing what he’s working on. I look forward to seeing how trusts and schools utilise AI to reduce workload and improve teaching and learning in the next 18 months. 

What are some effective ways to integrate technology into the classroom without it being a distraction?

When it has a purpose and the expectations have been established, then technology can be used effectively. Using digital manipulatives from somewhere such as mathsbot to model in mathematics is a great way to integrate technology without being a distraction. Whatever you’re doing should be improving the teaching and learning, so go into it through that lens and you’ll be fine. 

How has Edutwitter influenced professional development for educators?

There is a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise in this lovely little community that makes up 5% of the profession. Edutwitter has been instrumental in my own PD. I’ve attended BrewEds, researchEDs, Primary Rocks, Reading Rocks and more after seeing them announced online. I’ve engaged in rich discussion and debate about education with colleagues from all over the country and sometimes on the other side of the world! 

My attitudes towards education and my values have changed over time; my understanding of the science of learning has been greatly improved; and my love of teaching has been strengthened by having access to other equally enthusiastic teachers. 

If you could host a dinner party and invite any five educators from Edutwitter, who would make your guest list and why?

Oh this is a hard one! It can be so easy to "hero-worship" figures from edutwitter, so I try my best to take everything with a pinch of salt and engage in conversation and debate with a broad range of people. 

My answer to this would probably change depending on what I'm working on at the time or what I've been reading, but at this moment in time I would invite:

Sam Crome because I love his book and the work he has done on successful teams. If he is on the bill at a conference, I have to see him talk because I know I'll come out feeling entirely inspired. 

Emma McCrea because she is just a rock star in the education world as far as I'm concerned. She walks the fine line between having high expectations for our education system and being practical enough to know what can and can't work. 

Sonia Thompson because I could listen to her accent all day, and more importantly because she is a trailblazer of a school leader with huge ambitions for her pupils but makes sure her children are happy and singing.

Yamina Bibi because she speaks such sense about coaching with absolutely zero ego (which is unusual on edutwitter!). She is also the loveliest person and I'd love to pick her brain over dinner.

Dr Sam Sims because he’s always up to something interesting. He’s a researcher thinking deeply about teaching and professional development and he would round off the group really well. I also think he’d bring some excellent cheese to the dinner party! 

There’s so many more and I’m fortunate to have made some incredible friends from the edutwitter and conference world, as well as one who I am currently buying a house with! 

PrimaryEssentials

Shannen will be delivering her session on Maths: A guide to Explaining, Modelling and Scaffolding at the #PrimaryEssentials online conference on the 4th May 2024.