Learning Platform Programme - Primary

Norfolk has been successful in bidding to be part of an exciting project supporting all Norfolk Schools in making effective use of innovative technologies to support learning. Children's Services will be spending £1.3M of government grants over the next 5 years to support all Norfolk Schools in making effective use of Learning Platforms. Schools will receive advice and support as well as some funding for releasing teachers for training.

What is a learning platform?
The term learning platform describes a broad range of ICT systems used to deliver and support learning. The government's target is that all pupils will be able to access a personalised online workspace, capable of supporting an e-portfolio, by 2007-08. Norfolk will make use of Netmedia MyGrid4Learning, provided by the Eastern Region Broadband Consortium (E2BN) our regional broadband consortium.

What potential benefits does a Virtual Learning Environment offer?

Schools/teachers will have:

• Systems to support organising and keeping of content, making these accessible for others to use


• Out of school access to materials and resources for home working or access by parents


• The ability to link with other schools locally, regionally or nationally using the same facilities, including networks or a cluster of feeder schools working jointly on projects


• Areas for groups with similar interest to work together


• The ability to track and plan student work, and have this available at home


• A web presence for schools that do not already have this

Pupils will be able to access:

• A safe environment for online interactions


• A set of useful ICT tools to support learning, compatible with a wide range of learning styles


• A chance to engage in collaborative project work


• Materials and resources for home learning

Programme Rollout
The first group of 60 schools for 2006/7 will be contacted by 27th September. These have been identified on the basis of evidence of strong strategic leadership of ICT, in particular, that the headteacher has completed the BECTa SLICT (Strategic Leadership of ICT) programme. Schools that will be involved in the next stage of the rollout in 2007/8 will be briefed during the Summer Term 2007.

The attached documents provide more detailed information, and should answer many of your questions. If you require more information or have other questions, please contact Sebastian Gasse at the Norwich Professional Development Centre and he will be pleased to try and help you.

The Learning Platform Implementation Programme (Primary)

Introduction
Norfolk Children's Services are committed to enabling all pupils in the county to access a personal online learning space by 2008 in line with the Government's e-Learning Strategy (Harnessing Technology). We can only achieve this in partnership with all schools. This will also ensure that collaboration and communication and sharing of resources is possible between all Norfolk learners.

The Primary Learning Platform Implementation Programme will allow schools to access advice, training, and support to introduce Netmedia MG4L in line with their own improvement priorities. Running over a course of 5 years all primary schools will benefit from a staged introduction and a tailored training programme to match the needs of schools staff. There is a glossary attached to the e-Learning Strategy, which explains most of the terms used in this document. It is important that schools are in a position to make the most of new technologies. We will therefore expect schools to demonstrate that strategic leadership of ICT and a vision for ICT are in place.

Aims
We have developed a programme for Norfolk Primary Schools designed to support them to implement and more importantly use these new technologies effectively.

The programme will enable schools to:

• Implement a Virtual Learning Environment (Netmedia MG4L) across the school


• Support to train staff in use of ICT for Learning Platform


• Training for staff to become HoS (Hands on Support) providers


• Identify the most appropriate use of a learning platform in your school or across a cluster


• Complete a major development of ICT within the school


• Ensure possible links and combination with other initiatives are realised


• Focus the implementation on school development priorities:

o Extended learning
o Personalised learning
o Collaboration and communication/CPD
o Involving parents/guardians
o Making the most of teaching time

Benefits to School

Access to advice and support on e-Learning, school improvement, learning platforms, technical standards, use of learning platforms/pedagogy etc

Administrator Training (technical)

Staff training on the use of the platform

Project managed implementation programme

Collaboration with other schools in Norfolk and the Eastern Region

Major development in the Schools ICT use

Evaluation linked to the Becta Self Review Framework

Outline

Investment

Questions

Glossary