Teachers and Resources Behind Eton College's Tech Education

Eton College, one of the best schools in the UK and arguably the world, founded in 1440, has made tremendous investment in supporting the students’ tech learning.

And today, for you, busy educators, we want to focus on who are behind all of these tech learning and dive into their STEM learning facilities and supporting bodies.

If you haven’t read the part 1, have a read:

Tech Teachers at Eton College

It’s not just about WHERE. It’s about WHO. We want to know who is behind all of these tech learning opportunities in such prestigious settings.

• Jonnie Noakes (Director of Teaching and Learning, Director of the Tony Little Centre for Innovation and Research in Learning.) (Linkedin)

  • 38+ Years at Eton College.

  • Master’s Degree in English Literature at Cambridge

  • Eton’s blog about Jonnie -https://www.etoncollege.com/blog/people-profile/meet-jonnie/

  • Graduate of Eton College - Class of 1981.

• James Stanforth (Director of EtonX. Ex. Director of Digital Education & Head of Computer Science) (Linkedin)

  • 18+ Years at Eton College.

  • Eton’s blog about James - https://www.etoncollege.com/blog/people-profile/meet-james/

• David Cormell (Head of Computer Science) (Linkedin)

  • 6+ Years at Eton College.

  • Before joining Eton College, David Cormell worked in the fintech sector, where he developed software solutions for various financial institutions, such as Goldman Sachs.

• Matthew Collins (Master of Computer Science) (Linkedin)

  • Master-in-Charge of Robotics Club.

  • Master's Degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering at Princeton University

  • Bachelor of Science and Engineering - BSE, Electrical Engineering at Princeton University

  • Generative AI Researcher at LowTech.ai.

  • Graduate of Eton College - Class of 2017.

These are some of the key people behind Eton’s innovation in tech education. Some come from the globally most renowned universities and companies. Some are previous Eton graduates, but other cases prove you don’t have to be one to teach at Eton.

The Tony Little Centre for Innovation and Research in Learning (CIRL)

The Tony Little Centre was established at Eton College to enhance teaching and learning through research and innovation. It is worth to note that this school has a large scale in-house educational research center.

CIRL aims to position Eton at the forefront of educational developments globally. It focuses on improving learning outcomes by fostering independent thought among students and promoting best practices among educators.

• Research Initiatives: The Centre conducts various research projects, including studies on character education, resilience, and cognitive neuroscience. It collaborates with universities such as Harvard and Oxford to explore educational methodologies.

• Publications and Resources: The Centre publishes the Eton Journal for Innovation and Research in Education, featuring articles on educational research and practices. It also maintains a blog that summarizes research findings relevant to teaching and learning.

Professional Development by CIRL

CIRL provides ongoing training for teachers at Eton, encouraging a culture of evidence-informed practice. It hosts conferences, webinars, and workshops to share insights on effective teaching strategies.

Thanks to the effort of CIRL, the top talents get continuous training to reflect on the new innovations and teaching methods. You may want to read about their Evidence-led Innovation:

Eton collaborates with InnerDrive to host an annual Teaching & Learning Summit, bringing together educators to discuss the latest evidence-informed educational strategies. This conference provides a platform for networking and sharing innovative ideas among teaching professionals

Eton’s STEM Learning Facilities

Queen’s Schools

Renovated in 2020, Queen’s Schools, housing Eton’s Biology, Chemistry and Physics departments, has more than 29 laboratories to accommodate various scientific disciplines, allowing students to engage in hands-on experiments across biology, chemistry, and physics. Each lab is equipped with modern technology and resources that facilitate innovative teaching methods.

Of course — not even to mention its sustainable design with its parallelogram roof with photovoltaic panels that generate energy 🌿

Saïd Foundation’s STEM Centre

The establishment of the Saïd Foundation’s STEM Centre has further enhanced Eton’s STEM offerings:

The STEM Centre provides students with opportunities to engage in scientific projects that extend beyond the standard curriculum. With Project-based Learning, the hands-on approach encourages students to tackle real-world problems through teamwork and innovation.

• Multi-Disciplinary Space: Unlike traditional labs or libraries, the STEM Centre is designed as a multi-disciplinary space that can be configured for various activities, including individual work, group discussions, and seminars. It’s not to be showy or fancy with deep tech… the true problem-solving comes from well-managed discussions!

Eton Makes Their Education Publicly Available

Eton College made some of its great teaching resources available to the public, so these are where you could possibly get a taste.

EtonX

Led by Eton College, EtonX creates quality FREE learning materials for all state schools in the UK. Just like I shared, EtonX is now led by James Stanforth.

“Developed with leading staff at Eton College and partner schools in the State Sector, EtonX offers courses to help students hone their academic, communication, and leadership skills, as well as prepare themselves for university and career success.”

Even if you don’t belong to UK state schools, you can still check their courses below:

Technology Explorers Summer School

Eton College offers a unique summer program called the Technology Explorers Summer School, which is designed for young students aged 13-14 who are interested in exploring the world of technology.

This program is hosted by Oxford Summer Courses and takes place at Eton College, providing an inspiring environment for learning. Technology Explorers Summer School.

• Program Structure: The Technology Explorers course runs for one week and includes interactive lessons, hands-on activities, and group projects. Students delve into topics such as coding, robotics, artificial intelligence, and the societal impacts of technology.

• Personalized Learning: With small class sizes, the program ensures personalized attention from expert tutors who guide students through practical challenges and collaborative projects. This tailored approach helps foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

• Skills Development: Participants gain essential skills in technology, including programming and teamwork, which are vital for future studies and careers in fields like engineering and computer science. The course culminates in a project presentation where students showcase their work.

• Engagement with Real-World Challenges: The curriculum encourages students to engage with real-world technological challenges, promoting innovative thinking and solutions to global problems. This immersive experience is designed to ignite a passion for technology among young learners.

For any parents or students that want to give it a try at Eton, this must be a great one to join!

Additional Notes

However, some practices of Eton may be controversial — Eton is set to take away smartphones from students. They have prepared Nokia phones for the new comers…

iPads are allowed, but iPhones are not allowed!

What do you think about this? Do you think this “no smartphones rule” is effective?

Many of its tech educational elements are largely hidden, so the mystery of Eton College continues here. Yet, I hope this was a great opportunity to know how this famous six-century school deals with the modern and future matters for their students.

I hope this post gave you an insight on how education is changing in the world. If you liked this post, subscribe to get weekly insights for educators on global innovation in education.

See you in the next one 👋,

Christopher Lee (Let’s connect on LinkedIn!)

Room for Growth