Bridging the gap: Integrating technology in prison teaching

At Novus, we provide a vast range of education opportunities in order to meet the individual needs of each learner. However, with the digital landscape constantly evolving it is imperative that we provide digital education in order to prepare learners for the technological world that we currently live in. 

The current landscape of teaching in prisons

Engaging learners in prison education can be challenging as approximately 47% of learners entering the prison system lack any previous qualifications and over 30% of learners are neurodivergent. Providing learners with basic functional skills such as English and maths is essential for them to find employment upon release. 

However, with the increasing demand of digital skills from employers, being able to provide learners with a digital education is now just as important.

Integrating technology in prison teaching

Advantages of digital education

There are many benefits to incorporating digital into prison education that will help learners upon release.

Reducing Reoffending

A 2019 UK Government report indicates that at least 82% of job vacancies consider digital literacy an essential requirement for candidates. With the increase of hybrid working and the demand for digital skills, teaching digital skills in prison is becoming essential.

Being able to gain digital skills will equip learners with the skills and knowledge necessary to find employment upon release in turn, reducing the risk of reoffending.

Increased access to educational opportunities

Having access to digital education provides learners with more opportunities in their education journey. Being able to access digital education will enable learners to learn about new technology such as AI, gain new skills and incorprate their digital skills into core classes such as English and maths. 

Challenges with digital education

Prison education has so many more additional complexities often making it challenging to incorporate digital in a prison setting. However, at Novus we ensure the relevant policies and procedures are in place to enable us to provide digital opportunities for both staff and learners in a safe and secure environment. 

Novus approach to digital education

Teaching digital education in prisons

At Novus, we work hard to provide our learners with the opportunities necessary to thrive outside a prison setting. This is why we are dedicated to incorporating digital literacy into our prison education programmes.

New digital tools

Introducing new digital tools such as Open Borders, ChatGPT and other AI tools to our prison education has allowed tutors to incorporate digital technology in their lessons, enhancing delivery and digital skills.

Colleagues have been embracing digital technology across many sites:

Incorporating digital technology into functional skills classes at HMP Stafford

With the launch of our 2024/25 digital strategy, we are constantly striving to support colleagues to incorporate digital across our education provision as a whole. 

Recently, colleagues at HMP Stafford have been incorporating digital technology in English classes to support learners with a project to help the town of Stafford achieve 'Bee Friendly' status.

Online exams at HMP Low Newton

HMP Low Newton have been running online exams at their establishment for over two years. Learners and colleagues have benefitted greatly from the use of online exams and are dedicated to supporting learners with their digital skills. 

TeacherMatic in action

TeacherMatic is a comprehensive set of tools designed to support teaching colleagues. It includes a wide range of AI generators that help teachers create a variety of materials; everything from lesson plans and quizzes to learning activities and schemes of work, helping to save planning time and maximising classroom time. 

We have been testing the platform across a number of sites and it has been a real success.

Novus Digital Strategy

Recently, we launched our first ever Novus Digital Strategy, sharing our vision for how we will develop our digital curriculum over the next 12 months.

Our approach to digital over the last few years has been really innovative, with Novus colleagues giving our learners the chance to reduce the skills gap that could build up in even the shortest of sentences.

We have created this strategy to build on the great work that we have been doing and to also share our vision for how we will develop and enhance Novus colleagues’ digital capabilities going forward, and how they can support prison learners to build digital skills, use digital technology and therefore thrive on release.

Support for educators and practitioners

Research conducted by our Digital Learning Team suggest that one of the main barriers to embedding essential digital skills into courses was the lack of confidence of educators and trainers.

Since then, we have provided our educators and trainers with the necessary training and digital tools needed so that they would feel confident in embedding digital techniques into their classroom delivery and have the skills to deliver the essential digital skills qualification.

CPD sessions to encourage use of learning on screen at HMP Wetherby

Since the beginning of 2023, colleagues at HMP Wetherby have been learning how to embed digital skills across their planning, delivery and assessment.

Facilitated by Tony (Digital Learning Technologist), over six hours of CPD sessions have been provided to support colleagues with improving their own digital skills and to learn new ways of using digital in their lessons.

See how Novus helps learners on their way to rehabilitation through digital education.