Oak Academy: A teacher's guide

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March 23, 2022

Navigate through Oak Academy with a comprehensive teacher's guide, offering practical insights into effectively utilizing this online learning platform.

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Main, P (2022, March 23). Oak Academy: A teacher's guide. Retrieved from https://www.structural-learning.com/post/oak-academy-a-teachers-guide

What is National Oak Academy?

Oak National Academy is a learning resource hub created by teachers for teachers of pupils aged from 4 to 16 (Preschoolers, Primary Schools, Secondary Schools students). Launched by the Reach Foundation, in 2020, as a response to the COVID-10 pandemic, the resource hub includes lesson slides, video lessons, worksheets, and quizzes conforming to the national curriculum of England. 

The goal of the national Oak Academy is to become the go-to hub for all kinds of learning ranging from grade academics to qualification examinations like GCSE, KS2. Oak Academy's purpose is to improve pupil outcomes and close the disadvantage gap by supporting teachers and pupil access high-quality curriculum. 

It should go without saying that if we want to improve educational outcomes then we need to give teachers the freedom to adapt their own curriculum and run their classroom according to their pupils needs. 80% of the teachers use Oak Academy to set cover lessons and curriculum planning. 

So why do teachers need to be given the freedom to design their curriculum? Because when teachers design their own curriculum, they can focus on what really matters to children – their interests, abilities and aspirations. They also develop their curriculum expertise. 

They can include activities that allow children to develop their creativity and imagination. And they can ensure that all children learn together so that everyone learns from each other.

That's where resources like that of Oak National Academy come into play. With over 10,000 resources, including videos, interactive games and audio files, there's something for every child at any stage of their education.

And because it's designed by teachers, it's always up to date, ensuring that it remains relevant to the needs of children across the country.

Curriculum Mastery: Oak Academy's Comprehensive Course Offerings

In an age marked by rapid advancements in education technology and shifting pedagogical approaches, primary teachers are increasingly challenged to navigate the complexities of curriculum design and implementation.

Oak Academy is a revolutionary platform in the education technology sector, that offers comprehensive course offerings aimed at empowering educators with the tools and confidence necessary to facilitate mastery of a diverse range of subjects within the school curriculum.

As an authoritative body for curriculum resources, Oak Academy has partnered with leading education publishers to develop robust curriculum packages that cater to the unique needs of each classroom.

These packages encompass a wealth of material, granting teachers access to thousands of expertly crafted resources, designed to address the ever-evolving demands of a challenging curriculum. Furthermore, market impact assessment studies have demonstrated the tangible benefits of Oak Academy's innovative approach to curriculum planning and delivery.

With Oak Academy, primary teachers are supported in every step of the curriculum implementation process, from lesson planning to assessment. The platform's user-friendly interface streamlines the integration of interactive content, ensuring that educators can efficiently and effectively deliver a rich learning experience tailored to the diverse needs of their students.

By harnessing the power of education technology and embracing Oak Academy's comprehensive course offerings, teachers can confidently guide their students towards academic success and personal growth.

How to use access National Oak Academy resources

Oak provides a completely free, sequence of lessons, including online video lessons and resource for teachers and others who wants to learn or teach school students.

To access the educational resources you need to visit the national. academy.

The website doesn’t ask for sign-ups, logins, or any on-boarding. It is a hub that is divided into two major sections. One is for teachers and the other for pupils. Each serves a different purpose and the video lessons vary accordingly.

The online classroom layout is much more useful and user-friendly for students. Students can access online lesson resources at home on their own, or parents could also check frequently what their wards are learning in class. This is a great way to keep your focus and help you see how well you are doing so far. These lessons help guide your students through the high-quality curriculum, starting with something completely new each time, or building off of previous material you taught.

Teachers use the resources to support their remote teaching efforts, do lesson planning and lower their workload.

  1. Familiarize Yourself with Oak Academy: Explore the platform's features, course offerings, and curriculum resources to gain a comprehensive understanding of what's available.
  2. Set Learning Objectives: Identify specific learning goals for your students that align with the curriculum, and use Oak Academy's resources to help achieve those objectives.
  3. Customize Lesson Plans: Utilize Oak Academy's wealth of resources to tailor lesson plans to the unique needs and interests of your students, ensuring an engaging learning experience.
  4. Collaborate with Colleagues: Share your experiences, tips, and insights with fellow educators to build a supportive community and enhance your use of Oak Academy's offerings.
  5. Integrate Interactive Content: Leverage Oak Academy's multimedia resources, such as videos, quizzes, and interactive simulations, to create engaging and dynamic lessons.
  6. Monitor Student Progress: Utilize Oak Academy's built-in tools for tracking student performance and progress, helping you identify areas of improvement and adapt your teaching strategies accordingly.
  7. Encourage Student Autonomy: Provide opportunities for students to explore Oak Academy independently, fostering self-directed learning and promoting a sense of ownership over their education.
  8. Utilize Feedback Tools: Take advantage of Oak Academy's assessment and feedback tools to provide timely, constructive feedback to students, helping them grow and improve.
  9. Supplement Extracurricular Activities: Use Oak Academy's resources to support and enhance extracurricular programs, such as clubs, tutoring sessions, and project-based learning initiatives.
  10. Continually Adapt and Evolve: As you become more comfortable with Oak Academy, regularly reassess your teaching strategies and approach to ensure you are maximizing the platform's potential to benefit your students' learning experience.

Lesson Formats in Oak Academy

Teaching is universal, and each lesson has similar characteristics. This includes multiple choice quizzes, study cards, step-by-step videos, and other accessible formats of the virtual bank of lessons.

All resources are structured lessons with easy-to-follow formats. The first is a quiz where students are asked about their understanding of what they’ve just watched in the video and/or read in the worksheet, then teachers guide them through a demonstration using a whiteboard as a computational laboratory – they work through an example step by step while explaining each action. Finally, the students are sent on their way with another short quiz asking similar questions to the first test.

You can choose the lessons you want your class to take, for example, if you think it should go over the lesson. You can either choose from having them look it over in its entirety or just a part of it – maybe just the video without a worksheet, or turning on or off quizzes based on your plan and teaching style so they see what’s most relevant to them personally.

The downloadable lessons feature allows you to download the slideshow and worksheets so you can also edit them(provided if copyright allows). You’re also allowed to share links to online lessons with your colleagues or with your students.

Plan of video lessons
Plan of video lessons

Accessing the Resource Hub

Search by keyword

Use our curriculum browser search bar to search for lessons relevant to your needs. Let’s say, for instance, that you’re looking for Worksheets Algebra and Linear equations in a Mathematics course. The search bar will narrow down what you are looking for: all material tagged with “algebra,” “linear equations,” and “worksheets.”

Search by key stage

Here you've got all stages from Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to Key Stage 4. To allow for a more discrete selection of lessons based on the different needs and abilities of pupils, these are grouped by Key Stage rather than Year Group.

Search by subject

By visiting a subject area, you can easily access all the units in that specific category available to students at your school as they progress further into their academic careers. Once you click on an individual unit, an overview of each lesson and its accompanying resources is represented. Clicking on a lesson will provide even more information such as what activities are to be completed within that particular unit.

Oak Academy Curriculum Maps

If you're using Oak to plan ahead for your next lesson, the first thing we would recommend you do is go into your units and map them against the existing curriculum to assess which ones match.

There’s a curriculum map for every subject so you can plan your online lessons effectively. You can access these by visiting our curriculum page or by clicking on the course name at the top of each lesson.

Each map includes a curriculum body, curriculum for pupils, an overview of all topics covered, revision resources, and how many lessons there are for each. The online resources provided information on the prerequisites for each unit, as well as a suggested schedule and order. You're free to use the units in any order that suits your needs.

Finding lessons in Oak academy
Finding lessons in Oak academy

Oak Specialist Curriculum

Oak offers specialist curriculum for students who seek to develop in certain areas like: Communication and Language, Creative Arts, Independent Living, Numeracy and Physical Development, and Therapies (Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Sensory Integration, Speech and Language Therapy)

A new special curriculum called 'Online SEND Curriculum' for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities has been launched online by Oak National Academy. The virtual school offers signed and subtitled lessons for pupils who are hearing-impaired.

Curriculum Maps available under the following categories:

EYFS: Literacy, Maths, Music, RSHE (PSHE), Understanding the World

Primary (Key Stage 1): Art & Design, Design & Technology, Drama, English, Geography, History, Maths, Music, Physical Education, Religious Education, RSHE (PSHE), Science

Primary (Key Stage 2): Art & Design, Computing, Design & Technology, Drama, English, English Grammar, English Reading for Pleasure, English Spelling, French, Geography, History, Maths, Music, Physical Education, Religious Education, RSHE (PSHE), Science, Spanish

Secondary (Key Stage 3): Art & Design, Citizenship, Computing, Design & Technology, Drama, English, French, Geography, German, History, Latin, Maths, Music, Physical Education, Religious Education, RSHE (PSHE), Science, Spanish

Secondary (Key Stage 4): Art & Design, Biology, Chemistry, Citizenship, Combined Science, Computing, Computing (Non-GCSE), English, French, Geography, German, History, Latin, Maths, Physics, Religious Education, RSHE (PSHE), Spanish

Frequently Asked Questions about Oak Academy?

Is the Oak Academy a real school ?

Oak National Academy is not a school. It is a resource hub for school students aged 4-16.

Zero Data Costs to Access Oak's Content

Oak's educational content has been awarded zero-rating by eleven major telecom providers in the UK. It means that when students, teachers or parents access Oak's educational content over the Internet, their data allowance is not affected. This means that you don't have to worry about incurring extra charges because of the time spent accessing Oak's content.

Can I download Oak Academy lessons?

Yes, you can download, share and also edit the video if the copyright is attributed.

How do I access Oak National Academy lessons ?

You have to visit the national.academy. and you can search for lessons, quiz, worksheets or any other applications through their search bar. It is stated that there are over 130 million resources available.

Who created the National Oak Academy?

Oak National Academy was created by teachers from 40 state schools, plus organisations across the education sector. It covers a range from Maths, English, Arts and Languages.

How much does Oak National Academy cost ?

Oak National Academy resource hub has nearly 10,000 free lessons and resources covering a wide range of subjects, from early years foundation stage to year 11.

Can non-UK schools use Oak National Academy curriculum? 

Oak National Academy has decided to restrict access to its resources to users outside of the United Kingdom, as stated in an invitation to tender (ITT). In the ITT, Oak also said that they will initially share their entire curriculum package on a domestic license, which allows UK schools and organizations to utilize and adapt them for non-commercial platforms.

Can Oak Academy resources be used for vocational education? 

Yes. ImpactED published an evaluation report in July 2021, in which it surveyed schools and teachers on how they used Oak Academy resources. In the survey, it was found that a small number of respondents in fact used the resources to support learners in vocational training.

Class lessons with Oak Academy
Class lessons with Oak Academy

Final thoughts about Oak Academy

There are many resources available to teachers working with EYFS, Primary and Secondary school students. Oak National Academy offers an extensive collection of online resources which will help you improve your practice as well as save you time and money.

Also, 27% teachers have reported that using Oak Academy for resources has increased their quality of teaching and learning they could offer. Also, 86% are delighted so much that they recommend Oak to a colleague. Overall, Oak Academy resources empower teachers of all stripes.

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What is National Oak Academy?

Oak National Academy is a learning resource hub created by teachers for teachers of pupils aged from 4 to 16 (Preschoolers, Primary Schools, Secondary Schools students). Launched by the Reach Foundation, in 2020, as a response to the COVID-10 pandemic, the resource hub includes lesson slides, video lessons, worksheets, and quizzes conforming to the national curriculum of England. 

The goal of the national Oak Academy is to become the go-to hub for all kinds of learning ranging from grade academics to qualification examinations like GCSE, KS2. Oak Academy's purpose is to improve pupil outcomes and close the disadvantage gap by supporting teachers and pupil access high-quality curriculum. 

It should go without saying that if we want to improve educational outcomes then we need to give teachers the freedom to adapt their own curriculum and run their classroom according to their pupils needs. 80% of the teachers use Oak Academy to set cover lessons and curriculum planning. 

So why do teachers need to be given the freedom to design their curriculum? Because when teachers design their own curriculum, they can focus on what really matters to children – their interests, abilities and aspirations. They also develop their curriculum expertise. 

They can include activities that allow children to develop their creativity and imagination. And they can ensure that all children learn together so that everyone learns from each other.

That's where resources like that of Oak National Academy come into play. With over 10,000 resources, including videos, interactive games and audio files, there's something for every child at any stage of their education.

And because it's designed by teachers, it's always up to date, ensuring that it remains relevant to the needs of children across the country.

Curriculum Mastery: Oak Academy's Comprehensive Course Offerings

In an age marked by rapid advancements in education technology and shifting pedagogical approaches, primary teachers are increasingly challenged to navigate the complexities of curriculum design and implementation.

Oak Academy is a revolutionary platform in the education technology sector, that offers comprehensive course offerings aimed at empowering educators with the tools and confidence necessary to facilitate mastery of a diverse range of subjects within the school curriculum.

As an authoritative body for curriculum resources, Oak Academy has partnered with leading education publishers to develop robust curriculum packages that cater to the unique needs of each classroom.

These packages encompass a wealth of material, granting teachers access to thousands of expertly crafted resources, designed to address the ever-evolving demands of a challenging curriculum. Furthermore, market impact assessment studies have demonstrated the tangible benefits of Oak Academy's innovative approach to curriculum planning and delivery.

With Oak Academy, primary teachers are supported in every step of the curriculum implementation process, from lesson planning to assessment. The platform's user-friendly interface streamlines the integration of interactive content, ensuring that educators can efficiently and effectively deliver a rich learning experience tailored to the diverse needs of their students.

By harnessing the power of education technology and embracing Oak Academy's comprehensive course offerings, teachers can confidently guide their students towards academic success and personal growth.

How to use access National Oak Academy resources

Oak provides a completely free, sequence of lessons, including online video lessons and resource for teachers and others who wants to learn or teach school students.

To access the educational resources you need to visit the national. academy.

The website doesn’t ask for sign-ups, logins, or any on-boarding. It is a hub that is divided into two major sections. One is for teachers and the other for pupils. Each serves a different purpose and the video lessons vary accordingly.

The online classroom layout is much more useful and user-friendly for students. Students can access online lesson resources at home on their own, or parents could also check frequently what their wards are learning in class. This is a great way to keep your focus and help you see how well you are doing so far. These lessons help guide your students through the high-quality curriculum, starting with something completely new each time, or building off of previous material you taught.

Teachers use the resources to support their remote teaching efforts, do lesson planning and lower their workload.

  1. Familiarize Yourself with Oak Academy: Explore the platform's features, course offerings, and curriculum resources to gain a comprehensive understanding of what's available.
  2. Set Learning Objectives: Identify specific learning goals for your students that align with the curriculum, and use Oak Academy's resources to help achieve those objectives.
  3. Customize Lesson Plans: Utilize Oak Academy's wealth of resources to tailor lesson plans to the unique needs and interests of your students, ensuring an engaging learning experience.
  4. Collaborate with Colleagues: Share your experiences, tips, and insights with fellow educators to build a supportive community and enhance your use of Oak Academy's offerings.
  5. Integrate Interactive Content: Leverage Oak Academy's multimedia resources, such as videos, quizzes, and interactive simulations, to create engaging and dynamic lessons.
  6. Monitor Student Progress: Utilize Oak Academy's built-in tools for tracking student performance and progress, helping you identify areas of improvement and adapt your teaching strategies accordingly.
  7. Encourage Student Autonomy: Provide opportunities for students to explore Oak Academy independently, fostering self-directed learning and promoting a sense of ownership over their education.
  8. Utilize Feedback Tools: Take advantage of Oak Academy's assessment and feedback tools to provide timely, constructive feedback to students, helping them grow and improve.
  9. Supplement Extracurricular Activities: Use Oak Academy's resources to support and enhance extracurricular programs, such as clubs, tutoring sessions, and project-based learning initiatives.
  10. Continually Adapt and Evolve: As you become more comfortable with Oak Academy, regularly reassess your teaching strategies and approach to ensure you are maximizing the platform's potential to benefit your students' learning experience.

Lesson Formats in Oak Academy

Teaching is universal, and each lesson has similar characteristics. This includes multiple choice quizzes, study cards, step-by-step videos, and other accessible formats of the virtual bank of lessons.

All resources are structured lessons with easy-to-follow formats. The first is a quiz where students are asked about their understanding of what they’ve just watched in the video and/or read in the worksheet, then teachers guide them through a demonstration using a whiteboard as a computational laboratory – they work through an example step by step while explaining each action. Finally, the students are sent on their way with another short quiz asking similar questions to the first test.

You can choose the lessons you want your class to take, for example, if you think it should go over the lesson. You can either choose from having them look it over in its entirety or just a part of it – maybe just the video without a worksheet, or turning on or off quizzes based on your plan and teaching style so they see what’s most relevant to them personally.

The downloadable lessons feature allows you to download the slideshow and worksheets so you can also edit them(provided if copyright allows). You’re also allowed to share links to online lessons with your colleagues or with your students.

Plan of video lessons
Plan of video lessons

Accessing the Resource Hub

Search by keyword

Use our curriculum browser search bar to search for lessons relevant to your needs. Let’s say, for instance, that you’re looking for Worksheets Algebra and Linear equations in a Mathematics course. The search bar will narrow down what you are looking for: all material tagged with “algebra,” “linear equations,” and “worksheets.”

Search by key stage

Here you've got all stages from Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to Key Stage 4. To allow for a more discrete selection of lessons based on the different needs and abilities of pupils, these are grouped by Key Stage rather than Year Group.

Search by subject

By visiting a subject area, you can easily access all the units in that specific category available to students at your school as they progress further into their academic careers. Once you click on an individual unit, an overview of each lesson and its accompanying resources is represented. Clicking on a lesson will provide even more information such as what activities are to be completed within that particular unit.

Oak Academy Curriculum Maps

If you're using Oak to plan ahead for your next lesson, the first thing we would recommend you do is go into your units and map them against the existing curriculum to assess which ones match.

There’s a curriculum map for every subject so you can plan your online lessons effectively. You can access these by visiting our curriculum page or by clicking on the course name at the top of each lesson.

Each map includes a curriculum body, curriculum for pupils, an overview of all topics covered, revision resources, and how many lessons there are for each. The online resources provided information on the prerequisites for each unit, as well as a suggested schedule and order. You're free to use the units in any order that suits your needs.

Finding lessons in Oak academy
Finding lessons in Oak academy

Oak Specialist Curriculum

Oak offers specialist curriculum for students who seek to develop in certain areas like: Communication and Language, Creative Arts, Independent Living, Numeracy and Physical Development, and Therapies (Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Sensory Integration, Speech and Language Therapy)

A new special curriculum called 'Online SEND Curriculum' for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities has been launched online by Oak National Academy. The virtual school offers signed and subtitled lessons for pupils who are hearing-impaired.

Curriculum Maps available under the following categories:

EYFS: Literacy, Maths, Music, RSHE (PSHE), Understanding the World

Primary (Key Stage 1): Art & Design, Design & Technology, Drama, English, Geography, History, Maths, Music, Physical Education, Religious Education, RSHE (PSHE), Science

Primary (Key Stage 2): Art & Design, Computing, Design & Technology, Drama, English, English Grammar, English Reading for Pleasure, English Spelling, French, Geography, History, Maths, Music, Physical Education, Religious Education, RSHE (PSHE), Science, Spanish

Secondary (Key Stage 3): Art & Design, Citizenship, Computing, Design & Technology, Drama, English, French, Geography, German, History, Latin, Maths, Music, Physical Education, Religious Education, RSHE (PSHE), Science, Spanish

Secondary (Key Stage 4): Art & Design, Biology, Chemistry, Citizenship, Combined Science, Computing, Computing (Non-GCSE), English, French, Geography, German, History, Latin, Maths, Physics, Religious Education, RSHE (PSHE), Spanish

Frequently Asked Questions about Oak Academy?

Is the Oak Academy a real school ?

Oak National Academy is not a school. It is a resource hub for school students aged 4-16.

Zero Data Costs to Access Oak's Content

Oak's educational content has been awarded zero-rating by eleven major telecom providers in the UK. It means that when students, teachers or parents access Oak's educational content over the Internet, their data allowance is not affected. This means that you don't have to worry about incurring extra charges because of the time spent accessing Oak's content.

Can I download Oak Academy lessons?

Yes, you can download, share and also edit the video if the copyright is attributed.

How do I access Oak National Academy lessons ?

You have to visit the national.academy. and you can search for lessons, quiz, worksheets or any other applications through their search bar. It is stated that there are over 130 million resources available.

Who created the National Oak Academy?

Oak National Academy was created by teachers from 40 state schools, plus organisations across the education sector. It covers a range from Maths, English, Arts and Languages.

How much does Oak National Academy cost ?

Oak National Academy resource hub has nearly 10,000 free lessons and resources covering a wide range of subjects, from early years foundation stage to year 11.

Can non-UK schools use Oak National Academy curriculum? 

Oak National Academy has decided to restrict access to its resources to users outside of the United Kingdom, as stated in an invitation to tender (ITT). In the ITT, Oak also said that they will initially share their entire curriculum package on a domestic license, which allows UK schools and organizations to utilize and adapt them for non-commercial platforms.

Can Oak Academy resources be used for vocational education? 

Yes. ImpactED published an evaluation report in July 2021, in which it surveyed schools and teachers on how they used Oak Academy resources. In the survey, it was found that a small number of respondents in fact used the resources to support learners in vocational training.

Class lessons with Oak Academy
Class lessons with Oak Academy

Final thoughts about Oak Academy

There are many resources available to teachers working with EYFS, Primary and Secondary school students. Oak National Academy offers an extensive collection of online resources which will help you improve your practice as well as save you time and money.

Also, 27% teachers have reported that using Oak Academy for resources has increased their quality of teaching and learning they could offer. Also, 86% are delighted so much that they recommend Oak to a colleague. Overall, Oak Academy resources empower teachers of all stripes.