| Introduction | Find a Training Centre | Become a Training Centre |
The Regional Training Centre programme helps teachers bring learning to life with digital technology. A nationwide network of Apple-approved Regional Training Centres (RTC) coach primary and secondary teachers in the use of Apple’s award-winning software packages — giving them the know-how to enliven school lessons with images, video and sound.
The Regional Training Centre programme builds on the experience and achievements of many teachers already using Apple technology in the classroom. The programme covers the UK and Ireland, offering all school staff the opportunity to attend a course relevant to their curriculum interests and needs.
The Creative Teacher
Today’s teachers recognise how technology can motivate children to learn through exciting and creative approaches to teaching. A generation of “digital natives” has grown up absorbing information from television, computers, video games, mobile phones and PDAs.
Apple’s reputation in education is synonymous with creativity. At Regional Training Centres, teachers can discover how the Mac platform offers digital solutions for all subjects in the curriculum; learn how Apple’s creative tools can help children learn more effectively; and explore how technology can break down barriers between different ability groups and between the classroom and the outside world.
RTCs focus their training on the curriculum-enhancing opportunities of using iLife ’08, the multimedia software that comes with every new Mac, and features Apple’s award-winning iMovie HD, iPhoto, iDVD, GarageBand and iWeb applications. Teachers are also introduced to more advanced software applications, including Final Cut Express and Logic Express, and even Apple’s Professional Applications to help give older students a headstart in preparing for careers in the creative industries.
Teachers who attend a course at a Regional Training Centre will discover that the Mac platform offers robust, stable, easily integrated solutions and that Macs can work seamlessly alongside PCs. Apple technology is famously easy to use, and beginners can learn quickly and intuitively. With Apple, the technology never gets in the way of the creative process.
Complete Support from Apple
Apple is committed to fully supporting every Regional Training Centre, to ensure that the quality of training meets its rigorously high standards. In some instances, an Apple Solution Expert employee will be in attendance. Each RTC also has an option to have an Apple Distinguished Educator attend the course, to provide the added value of a practising teacher with real-world experience of integrating Apple technology into the curriculum.
Centres are expected to run at least nine courses every year, with a minimum of between 10 and 15 attendees per course. Each RTC produces a course schedule and liaises with schools to arrange invitations and bookings. A system of course evaluation enables the Centre and Apple to monitor and maintain the quality of courses.
Apple encourages Regional Training Centres to share iLife course content and lesson plans among themselves, and gives them access to a wider classroom experience through the Digital Teacher Network.
Case Studies
Giving Students a Voice
Year 8 students from St Michael’s C of E High School in Sandwell visited their local RTC, Shireland City Learning Centre, to learn how to script, record and edit radio programmes using the Mac and GarageBand.
Extra Time for Learning
Having experienced increasing drop-out rates, the Extra Time Study Support Centre at Everton Football Club turned to the Mac.
Macs Fuel Academic Turnaround
At Wildern School in Hampshire, an influx of Apple technology has coincided with a sharp rise in pupils gaining A* to C grades at GCSE level.
Click on the map to find an Apple Regional Training Centre near you.
To become an Apple Regional Training Centre, please follow the steps below; an Apple representative will contact you to review your application.
- Download and complete the Regional Training Centre Program Enrollment Form.
- Before submitting your application, ensure you have read and agreed with our terms and conditions.
- If you have problems submitting this form, or if you require additional information, please email us at educinfo@euro.apple.com.
The Apple Education team is talking to all kinds of education organisations wishing to operate as Regional Training Centres. Upwards of 50 Centres are planned across the nine regions in England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Potential Centres are:
- Already operating as credible training organisations in the education sector, such as City Learning Centres, Specialist Schools or even mobile training organisations.
- Actively offering a training programme now, with a course infrastructure in place.
- Equipped to take bookings from schools within the local region or authority (and must be willing to work with schools from nearby authorities).
- Prepared to designate staff to receive appropriate training at the Apple Teacher Institute and attend update training from Apple.
- Willing to develop courses with an Apple Solution Expert and an accredited Apple Distinguished Educator.
- Willing to hold a minimum of nine courses per year.
- Happy to help Apple publicise courses to schools in the local area.
- Able to promote a creativity bundle to local schools.
- Prepared to offer iLife in Education curriculum training to local schools in conjunction with an Apple Distinguished Educator.
Apple will work in partnership with each Regional Training Centre to ensure that courses are delivered to a high standard with up-to-date technology and through ongoing training of staff. Apple will make available to each Regional Training Centre:
- Computers and multimedia tools commonly used in schools today, which will be refreshed over time where appropriate.
- Additional iLife curriculum resources from education software specialist partners.
- Online and face-to-face training materials from digital video experts, DV in Education.
- Access to other creativity initiatives such as the RMX GarageBand competition.
- An opportunity for the Centre and local schools to build a relationship with an Apple Solution Expert.