Pupils to trial 'virtual teacher'

Pupils will be able to access tips from teachers at home

A new out-of-hours service that allows pupils to receive homework tips from "virtual teachers" is being piloted in Clackmannanshire.

Pupils at Alva Academy will trial a "vodcasting" system in the first project of its kind in Scotland.

Teachers of subjects like maths, music and home economics will record videos recapping key points from lessons to help with homework.

The videos will be posted on the school website to be accessed at home.

The system will also involve teachers recording mp3 files for podcasts of lesson tips which can be played on a pupil's mp3 player or mobile phone.

Stuart Clyde, depute head teacher at Alva Academy, is leading the initiative.

Homework help

He said he believes pupils will engage with the system because it makes use of technology that is already popular with them.

He added: "Children learn well when they have the best practice demonstrated to them; these videos do just that.

"Alva Academy hopes to further engage parents in their children's learning as the videos can act as a refresher-course for parents too, enabling them to help their children with homework."

Pupils that do not have access to the Internet at home will still be able to use the facility from the school's machines or a public library.

The school said the project would be evaluated at the end of the current academic session with a view to rolling it out to more departments.

An open evening to provide more information to pupils, teacher and parents about the project is set to be held on Tuesday 23 September at 1900 BST in Alva Academy.

The school will be launched as BBC Radio Scotland's SoundTown school on 7 Oct, when it will feature on schedules throughout the day.