Learning Platform Programme - Secondary

Norfolk has committed to 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 over the next five years to support all Norfolk Schools in making effective use Learning Platforms. Schools will receive advice and support as well as some funding for releasing teachers for training.

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

What are the benefits of Learning Platforms?

Schools/Teachers will have:

• Systems for organising and keeping content and have these accessible for others to use, for example if a teacher is absent


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


• The ability to link with other schools locally, regionally or nationally using the same facilities including feeder schools for joint working 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

Pupils will have:

• A safe environment to practice interactions and communication skills


• A practical reason to use ICT compatible with a wide range learning styles


• A chance to share resources and engage in project work


• Out of school access to materials and resources for home learning


• The ability to work independently and progress at their own pace

For further information please see the DfES publication Learning Platforms: Making IT personal.

What do you need to do?
The rollout is staged over three years. There will be a briefing meeting on October 3rd for the member of the senior leadership team, who takes strategic responsibility for ICT. The event will take place from 2pm to 4pm at the Professional Development Centre Norwich. Please contact Anne Mitchell to book a place.

The attached documents provide more detailed information, and should answer many of your questions. If you need further 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 (Secondary)

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 full partnership with all schools. This will also ensure that collaboration and communication and sharing of resources is possible between all Norfolk learners.

The Secondary Learning Platform Implementation Programme will allow schools to access advice, training, support to introduce these technologies in line with their own improvement priorities. Running over a course of 3 years all secondary schools will benefit from a staged introduction, technical support and adherence to technical standards and most importantly training tailored to 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.

Aims
We have developed a programme for Norfolk Secondary 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 across the school


• Build capacity to support school based CPD


• Inform an audit of ICT across the school


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


• Training for HoS (Hands on Support) providers


• Identify the most appropriate purpose to deploy a learning platform in your school or across a cluster


• 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


• Hands on Support by ASTs and lead practitioners from other schools


• 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 of Programme

Investment

Questions

Glossary