paulwatkins
Paul Watkins
United Kingdom
About Paul
Based at Ysgol Bae Baglan, a Microsoft Showcase school in Port Talbot, Paul, a teacher of 13 years, an expeienced department and pastoral leader, Paul is passionate about encouraging teachers to be brave and innovative, working not only with teacher in his school but also internationally. He prioritises developing his pupils 21st century skills (equipping them to exceed in the future), whilst encouraging a passion for technology and an understanding of global and digital citizenship in them. Located in an area of deprivation, Paul established an enrichment project – ‘Skype Club’, through which pupils could develop their personal skills (such as communication and collaboration) and an understanding of world cultures, through connecting with people outside of their community and also being inspired by they world that is presented to them, helping them to understand they are a part of it and have a role to play in it too. Skype Club was highly commended as a digital project at the Welsh Government’s National Digital Learning Awards in 2017.
A believer in the power of student voice, Paul has used EdTech tools to help pupils find their voice and use it. Through his work with Flipgrid he has been recognised as a Global Student Voice Ambassador and also been selected as a member of Flipgrid’s inaugural Student Voice Executive Board. At Flipgrid Live from ISTE 2019, Paul was announced as the co-awardee of the Flipgrid Global Amplifier Award. In June 2019 the impact of the use of these tools earned recognition in the Education Foundations EdTech 50 Schools report – a report that identifies the top 50 innovate uses of technology in schools across the UK.
A Keynote speaker at regional and national events, he was invited in 2019 to co-present on the Arena stage at BETT London in the importance of amplifying student voice. He has also presented at BETT London at the invitation of Microsoft Education UK and Skype in the Classroom in their Learn Live Theatre and Showcase Classroom. Paul has served on the Welsh Governments National Digital Learning Council for two terms (2016-2018) and is recognised as a Skype Master Teacher Mentor, Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert and Wakelet Ambassador.
In July 2019 he was invited to accept a Fellowship of the Royal Society of the Arts (FRSA).
A believer in the power of student voice, Paul has used EdTech tools to help pupils find their voice and use it. Through his work with Flipgrid he has been recognised as a Global Student Voice Ambassador and also been selected as a member of Flipgrid’s inaugural Student Voice Executive Board. At Flipgrid Live from ISTE 2019, Paul was announced as the co-awardee of the Flipgrid Global Amplifier Award. In June 2019 the impact of the use of these tools earned recognition in the Education Foundations EdTech 50 Schools report – a report that identifies the top 50 innovate uses of technology in schools across the UK.
A Keynote speaker at regional and national events, he was invited in 2019 to co-present on the Arena stage at BETT London in the importance of amplifying student voice. He has also presented at BETT London at the invitation of Microsoft Education UK and Skype in the Classroom in their Learn Live Theatre and Showcase Classroom. Paul has served on the Welsh Governments National Digital Learning Council for two terms (2016-2018) and is recognised as a Skype Master Teacher Mentor, Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert and Wakelet Ambassador.
In July 2019 he was invited to accept a Fellowship of the Royal Society of the Arts (FRSA).