We provide flexible web tools and exciting activities to inspire and nurture the next generation of creative talent.
Working with schools, authorities and high profile partners we create new channels for children and young people to
broadcast their media, safely connect with others and amplify their voices.
We want to provide every school and every young person with access to these opportunities to help them develop the
skills and self confidence they will need to succeed in today’s ever changing knowledge economy.
“Synergy TV is at the forefront of education social networks”
-The Guardian 2008
How we do it
Participation to aspiration
Teachers should be able to spend their time being creative with technology rather than configuring it. We help teachers by providing accessible tools and expert training to inspire learners with the latest technology and the most exciting activities.
Radiowaves – www.radiowaves.co.uk – The BETT Award winning safe website for children and young people to broadcast their videos, podcasts and blogs, connect with others and report on their world.
NUMU – www.numu.org.uk Nominated for a BETT Award, NUMU is an online community for young musicians to safely share their music, run a record label and compete in a unique national chart.
Through projects like the Oxjam Big School Gig, Supporter to Reporter and partnerships with the Imperial War Museum, we provide learning experiences that challenge young people to make high quality content and create a national children’s media channel.
“Massive motivation…simple and powerful!” BETT Award Judges
Children and Young People
Personalised, Peer to Peer and just plain FUN
Radiowaves and NUMU give children and young people safe channels to broadcast their media and the platforms to get their voice heard.
We engage young people through technology that is relevant to them and activities which excite them. As Reporters and Artists on our sites, young people develop essential technical and social abilities and take on new responsibilities.
We believe that by giving children and young people a voice we challenge stereotypes, help build media and literacy skills and nurture the next generation of talent.
“It encourages pupils to communicate effectively with their peers, adults and a global audience” Carrie Parkyn, Teacher
Schools and Teachers
The best tools and training for the toughest job
We understand the needs of today’s busy teachers and schools. Our tools let you create exciting and engaging media activities without the headaches or worries about safety, set up or integration.
Radiowaves and NUMU are trusted by thousands of teachers to give them complete control and peace of mind. Teachers can engage pupils of all abilities in frequently changing activities; from reviews and competitions to re-imagining museums and campaigning for change. This content can easily be added to VLE’s and school websites.
It all adds up to making a tough job a little more fun for everyone.
“It helps teachers plan, deliver and implement government initiatives such as improving literacy, communication skills and ICT” Morag Pendry, Enterprise in Education Development Officer
Parents and Community
Better connections, broader impact
Using Radiowaves and NUMU, children and young people can make positive contributions to local and global issues and engage communities. Parents can see their children’s work and give feedback. Through our partnerships people all over the world can also safely hear and respond to young people.
PLINGs, a project with Substance and DCSF connects young reporters on Radiowaves with activities in their neighbourhood for them to feedback on. Communities and different generations are being brought together by sharing their stories on Radiowaves as part of a national remembrance campaign with the Imperial War Museum.
“Radiowaves made a huge difference to the families of the pupils that went on the trip. It meant the staff and children back at school were able to share the experience, which was so important to us” Aimee Barton -Primary School Teacher
Local Authorities and Networks
Joining the dots and avoiding the knots
Radiowaves and NUMU enable children’s services, and local authorities to demonstrate how they are listening to young people, and to evidence participation. The sites provide ideal platforms to nurture talent and showcase creativity in a region.
Our inspiring activities, teacher CPD and partnerships with SSAT, TDA, British Council and many others add value to any service. As BETT award winning pioneers we understand that no site is an island so all our sites integrate with mobiles, VLEs, learning platforms, SCORM and Shibboleth. They also allow safe integration with Google, MySpace, Bebo and much more.
“These activities offered young people effective learning routes for accreditation and life skills as well as providing alternative and stimulating environments for learning” HMIE report for Fife Council
Partners and Campaigns
Innovative solutions – sustainable communities
With our established networks and knowledge of working with schools, we can guarantee young people engage with your message. We work with many partners to design and deliver innovative and exciting school campaigns:
With The Football Foundation and DigitalMe we have launched a national sports channel enabling young people to work alongside media professionals and report from major sporting events. The Ministry of Justice mobilise young people to make a change through VoiceIt! The Imperial War Museum use mobile blogging and geo-tagging for students to share their journeys to historical sites. And, young people are making a positive difference with their music with Oxjam: The Big School Gig.
“NUMU has enabled us to build on Oxjam’s momentum to create a platform for students’ musical talents, and to inspire teachers and students across the UK” Benny Littlejohn – Oxjam Manager
[Working with Radiowaves] has enhanced our own institutional understanding of this behaviour and technology, and provided powerful evidence of its effectiveness to support our programmes Dan Phillips, Imperial War Museum
Teacher 2.0
Why should kids have all the fun?
We understand how daunting new technology can be for some people, but we also know how easy it is to get started and how much it can help busy teachers.
Our expert training gives teachers the knowledge to keep up with today’s students and the confidence to use the latest technology in the classroom. Teaching Music www.teachingmusic.org.uk enables teachers to share resources they have made, learn from others and access new initiatives easily.
Connecting teachers and providing highly effective CPD has never been so much fun.
“Although I am not the quickest with IT I really think the site is great, such a fantastic networking tool!” Sarah Poole – AST
“It only took 10 minutes for me to be hooked” – Yvonne Wallace, Headteacher, Parkhill Primary School
Research
What others say about us
“Participants’ clearly benefit from fact that they are thrust into an arena that whilst exciting, takes them out of their comfort zones.” Manchester Metropolitan University report
“Participants confidence greatly improved in other aspects of their life.” EDCOMS Radiowaves Voice It Evaluation 2008
“…pupils with poor school attendance have had better attendance for Radiowaves….it’s changed the way they see school” Bradford University Research
“An indispensible platform for music teachers” – Duncan Mackrill, National Teaching Fellow / Senior Lecture in education
“73% were better at decision making and responsibility” Bradford University Research
“An innovative tool that encourages collaboration [and] creativity” BETT Judges
“The best bit for me has been how engaged the pupils are with it. We don’t have to worry about are we going to have to show them how to do this or are they going to want to do this. They’re the ones that are coming to us and asking for new ways of using it. Not as technology but as a way to show what they can do and that’s what’s really good about it.” Andy Shepheard, ICT Teacher
