Utilising digital tools to enhance education delivery across Novus education departments

At Novus, the integration of digital tools and resources has become a cornerstone of our curriculum, helping learners to develop digital skills that can be utilised whilst in prison and upon release. 

During our recent Digital Awareness Month campaign, Novus education departments took part in various digital month activities, to support teachers in using digital in their classroom delivery as well as helping learners to develop their knowledge and skills in digital. 

Using TeacherMatic to give feedback at HMP Hewell

As part of their preparation for the Functional Skills qualification, a learner at HMP Hewell was tasked with writing an email to a friend, requesting help with organising a charity event, a task that mirrors the style of questions they may encounter in their final exam. 

After completing the task, the teacher used TeacherMatic to generate feedback by inputting the learner’s response into both the general feedback and SPaG (spelling, punctuation and grammar) feedback tools. The feedback was aligned with the City & Guilds curriculum and assessment criteria. 

The teacher then downloaded the feedback and shared it with the learner via the learner wallet on the on the new DEP system, allowing them to review it together. Following this, the learner was encouraged to revise their original work using the feedback provided, helping them to better meet the course standards and build confidence ahead of the final assessment. Throughout the activity, the teacher noted how user-friendly TeacherMatic was throughout the process, and the learner found the activity both engaging and valuable. 

Using AI to create a business plan at HMP Birmingham

As part of their course, the business class at HMP Birmingham explored how artificial intelligence can support the development of a business plan. Working collaboratively, learners drafted instructions on paper to create an effective prompt for the AI tool, asking it to generate a business plan suitable for a limited company. 

The teacher then input the group’s prompt into the AI tool and shared the resulting plan with the class. Learners then analysed the output, comparing it to their expectations and assessing how well the AI tool followed their instructions. The activity not only encouraged critical thinking but also helped learners reflect on the clarity and quality of their prompt writing, as well as identify what they might improve in future attempts. 

Using TeacherMatic to create a maths game at HMP Durham

At HMP Durham, a Novus teacher used TeacherMatic to design an interactive maths game, built around common exam question themes. Delivered by the teacher in a classroom setting, the game proved to be an effective and engaging way to support learning. Learners who might usually find exam preparation uninspiring were actively participating and developing their maths skills, often without even realising they were engaging in focused learning. The activity brought a fresh, enjoyable approach to revision and helped make the learning process feel more accessible and less intimidating. 

The integration of digital tools across Novus education departments continues to enhance the quality and accessibility of learning for our learners. Whether through AI-supported business planning, interactive maths games, or digitally generated feedback aligned to national standards, these innovations are helping to make learning more engaging, relevant, and effective. As seen during Digital Awareness Month, digital tools not only support teaching staff in delivering dynamic lessons but also empower learners to build essential skills for both their current educational journeys and future opportunities beyond the prison environment. Novus remains committed to embracing digital innovation to support rehabilitation and promote lifelong learning. To learn more about our digital provision, take a look at the digital strategy.