Learning Platforms in Education

Video introduction to Kent Learning Zone.

rogerd01 — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 18:37:00 GMT

The Digital Curriculum Team has produced a short introduction to the Kent Learning Zone.

Hosted on the Kent TV Education Channel, the video offers an overview of developments in strategic technologies in Kent.

Kent Learning Zone = 'Online Personalised Space' for educators and learners.

The majority of Kent School's already choose to receive their Broadband service from Kent Community Network. The Kent Learning Zone builds on this to personalise services to meet the requirements of individual children, young people, educators and schools.

Kent Learning Zone recognises diversity and offers choice. Schools will increasingly be able to choose the combination of services that best suit their needs.

There are considerable benefits of ensuring that children and young people have a personal 'My Site' that stays with them when they move schools. This can only be realised by schools sharing a common infrastructure.

Video Contents

Introduction - Graham Badman - Managing Director, Children Families and Education

Strategic Overview - Alan Day - CFE Strategic ICT Adviser

Role of EIS - Steve James - KLZ Development Team

School Perspective - Mr N Turrell - HT Maidstone Grammar School.

Getting Started - Donna Rogers - E-learning Officer

Ensure your ICT planning includes e-learning, consider your technical infrastructure, workforce and learner requirements, and consider using Kent Learning Zone's three engagement phases to match your action plans to achievable milestones.

Switch on to e-learning!

"Are you ready?" - Prepare for success!

rogerd01 — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 14:42:00 GMT

There is a real technological revolution ahead for secure, anytime, anywhere, learning.

Are you ready to maximise learning potential within your school beyond the confinements of the physical timetable and traditional homework boundaries?

For this to be implemented successfully, you and your staff will need patience, training and a willingness all round to engage with the new methods and technology.

To introduce Kent Learning Zone successfully into your school, you need to start with a good understanding of your school's educational needs.

You will need to develop a statement of requirements, which sets out what you want to do with your learning platform and any specific local or technology requirements.

Once you have established your requirements, you can consider the type of underlying technologies that will support those needs.

1. Establish your requirements - identify your current and future education goals, prepare timescale plans.

2. Planning – create a project team.

3. Get ready to buy – find out more about KLZ and its value added unique features. Kent Learning Zone is Kent’s LA solution to “Connecting Kent’s Learning Communities”.

Mapping school choice of services and applications within an infrastructure; enabling communication and collaboration irrespective individual curriculum requirements.

Bringing people and best of breed services together.

Implementing Kent Learning Zone - "Take time to get it right!"

rogerd01 — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 14:11:00 GMT

The implementation of a Kent Learning Zone starts long before your school actually takes delivery of the system and continues long after the software is installed. You will need to allow enough time for implementation, and don't worry if it takes several months, the main objective is to get started so change becomes incremental and manageable.

Plan delivery with realistic timescales for full implementation across the school. Although most schools take around two to three years, changes can take place very quickly, with significant benefits within a term of installation.

Kent Learning Zone is adaptive so you can implement in stages, when you are ready;

1. Single sign-on email integration / KLZ community collaboration / Personal Space

2. My School community

3. VLE integration – digital curriculum management

Some implementations may also require input from consultants who can help to define requirements. Ensuring the right skills and experience are applied at the start will significantly increase the chances of a successful outcome.

Kent Learning Zone has achieved the DCSF target to provide schools access to a personalised online learning space with the potential to support an e-portfolio. You know need to take the time to prepare your implementation plan of how you intend to roll out access to Kent’s online learning community that is right for your school!

Ashford Rural Cluster are a group of 19 primary schools that worked on a learning platform project with RM, there experience outlined the need to consider a 3 year implementation plan.

Click here to listen to their ideas and experience.

Implementing a personal online learning space – Kent’s approach.

rogerd01 — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 13:47:00 GMT

By spring 2008 the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) requires Local Authorities to enable schools access to a personalised online learning space with the potential to support an e-portfolio. Kent local authority has been given the responsibility (and the funding) for ensuring that this initial infrastructure element of a learning platform is available to your school.

Kent Learning Zone is the Kent Local Authority’s infrastructure solution based on the latest Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Learning Gateway architecture, which draws user data directly from SIMS. Schools retain purchase choice of a 'Virtual Learning Environment' (VLE) solution that best fits their educational vision, when they are ready to meet the 2010 target for a full learning platform using ‘single sign-on’ interoperability!

A personal online learning space infrastructure (KLZ) forms part of a wider set of technologies called a learning platform. It supports learning by providing access to:

· tools - for communication and collaboration including email, messaging, forums, wiki and blogs and for creating, developing and managing digital content

· an individual area for each learner (and member of staff) where they can store their work and personalise its layout to meet their needs

· safe and secure, anytime, any place access.

To keep up to date on Kent’s developments three main sites provide regular updates;

www.eiskent.co.uk?learningzone

http://www.clusterweb.org.uk/advisory/ict_learningplat.cfm

Please contact EIS eis.support@kent.gov.uk if you would like further details following cluster updates during the 2007 Term1 Headteacher Breakfast Briefings, the full presentation is available on the above sites.

Adapted from Becta’s online news item October 2007 article.

Kent Learning Zone (KLZ) roadshow events informing schools of Kent's LA approach to Learning Platforms

rogerd01 — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:13:00 GMT

Is your school ready to meet the DCSF requirements for 2008 - 'Every pupil to have a personal online learning space', and by 2010 provision of a 'Comprehensive Learning Platform'? If your answer is "we are still at the planning stage" then attendance at one of the local roadshow events will prove invaluable to help you make an informed decision.

Roadshow Aims:

CFE Strategic Advice - Communicate the national policy context for e-learning
Kent Learning Zone 'live' demonstration - Improved communication and collaboration opportunities in schools and across LA communities. Supporting the movement of a child's work (e-portfolio) between schools using KLZ
VLE supplier demonstrations - Suppliers demonstrate their digital classroom 'curriculum management' systems available through KLZ's single sign-on infrastructure.

The dates and venues are:

28.01.08 Grand Burstin Hotel, Folkestone
30.01.08 Thistle Hotel, Brands Hatch
04.02.08 The Hilton, Maidstone
06.02.08 St Augustines, Westgate on Sea

The cost is FREE for 1 place per school. The roadshows are from 09:00 - 16:00 and will include a buffet lunch.

Places are offered on a first come, first served basis and there are limited spaces per venue. Additional roadshow events will be timetabled subject to demand. Book early to avoid disappointment.

Please book online via www.eiskent.co.uk, click on 'Training' and then 'KLZ Seminars' and select preferred venue for booking information or book directly using the details below.

To keep up to date with developments bookmark this e-Learning blog and visit these additional sites for strategic and EIS information:
www.eiskent.co.uk?learningzone
http://www.clusterweb.org.uk/advisory/ict_learningplat.cfm

If you have any Kent Learning Zone enquiries, please contact the EIS Support Team on;
Tel: 01622 683708 | Email: eis.support@kent.gov.uk

Personalised Online Learning Space = Kent Learning Zone!

AlanDay — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 09:46:00 GMT

Schools may have recently received an email from Becta on their Oct 2007 ICT Advice Alert. The states the Government target that all schools should have a 'personalised online learning space' by August 2008. The alert also suggests that schools contact their Local Authority for advice as to how we are meeting this requirement.

Just so that there is no doubt, Kent Learning Zone is the Kent Local Authority solution, providing a host of features, including web based Outlook (including email) and online personalised learning spaces! It is designed by EIS in Kent for Kent schools. The unique feature is that the architecture we have designed is based on the latest Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Learning Gateway architecture, draws user data directly from SIMS and allows schools to choose the 'Virtual Learning Environment' (VLE) of their choice to plug in when they are ready to meet the 2010 target for a full learning platform! Kent Learning Zone supports Kent's strategy to provide a connected broadband infrastructure that allows schools to plug-in products and features that they choose.

Best of all, Kent Learning Zone is phenomenal value for money ... as the ICT Advice Alert states, it is subsidised through Standards Fund Grant and not for profit!

Currently we are working closely with a number of Becta approved suppliers to ensure their products are a good fit with the Kent Learning Zone, and hope to have news in the very near future on the early adopter VLE products those who can't wait to get started.

Donna Rogers, e-Learning Officer is out and about with EIS spreading the good news and providing briefings. EIS are managing the implementation, and should be contacted by schools wishing to take up the offer.

Learning Platform Cluster & SMT Communications

rogerd01 — Wed, 23 May 2007 23:34:00 GMT

Ever felt like there are more questions than answers?

Meeting the DfES' 'Personalised Online Learning Space' targets, what does this mean to my school and cluster?
What is Kent's approach to Learning Platforms?
Managing Change specific to implementing this within my school?
What preparation do I need to be putting in place now?
How can I keep informed of Kent's strategic and EIS' technical developments?

For a more indepth answers to these questions PLUS a PowerPoint slideshow summarising Digital Curriculum's message to school SMT and Cluster's leadership CLICK HERE and repeat the click here process again once on the ClusterWeb page.

Introducing Kent Learning Zone - Kent's Personalised Online Learning Space solution

rogerd01 — Wed, 23 May 2007 20:53:00 GMT

Kent Learning Zone (KLZ) - Meeting the DfES' 2008 Personalised Online Learning Space target, and on track to meet the 2010 target too!

What is KLZ?

Based on Microsoft Learning Gateway Architecture
Online Communication and Collaboration Portal
Single sign on to secure data and services
Framework for integrating 3rd party Applications (VLE's and specialist services for example)
Kent infrastructure rather than a commercial Learning Platform solution

KLZ's Journey.

Decision made to upgrade NOW to most recent Microsoft product set SharePoint 2007, rather than launching then requiring an upgrade.
SharePoint 2007 webparts already being developed by 3rd parties, to facilitate schools required VLE capabilities.
MIS (e.g SIMS) webparts not compatible with current SharePoint 2003 version.

Proposed Timescales (Not yet confirmed).

New SharePoint 2007 infrastructure commissioned - June 2007
Introduce KLZ to early adopter schools (development work groups) - July 2007
Migrate Primary schools from RM EasyMail, accessable via KLZ - August to December 2007
Ready for further school deployment - September to November 2007
Integrate Capita SIMS webparts - September 2007 (MIS options)
Integrate further 3rd party applications - ongoing from September 2007

Information adapted from EIS, flyer updates 21st May 2007

One of Kent's LP trial experiences is featured in the 'Education Guardian' 09/01/07

rogerd01 — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 18:26:00 GMT

The Educational Guardian ran a Learning Platform supplement on Tuesday 9th January 2007, written by George Cole.

One of Kent's clusters, Ashford Rural Cluster (ARC), is extensively featured as it is trialing RM's Learning Platform solution within primaries. Along side Homewood'd secondary school purchased 'Studywiz' solution.

The article features four cameos recording the work of the Early Adopter schools, highlighting the communication and collaboration opportunities available for teachers. Plus a year 7 student's experience, having no internet access at home - what she thinks of Learning Platforms.

Further information of the cluster's project experiece can be found on the ARC Project Clusterweb blog.

e-Strategy Implementation Review (e-SIR) - Becta's Educational change and ICT report.

rogerd01 — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 14:36:00 GMT

Becta commissioned the Open University's Peter Twining, Roger Broadie, Deidre Cook, Karen Ford, David Morris, Alison Twiner, and Jean Underwood, to lead a review of Priorities 2 and 3 of the DfES e-Strategy.

These Priorities are;

Priority 2. Integrated online personal support for children and learners,
Priority 3. A collaborative approach to personalised learning activities.

The resulting "e-Strategy Implementation Review" (eSIR), was published December 2006 as a 106 page, 2 MB PDF.

Seb Schmoller very effectly summarised and writes in his 'Fortnightly Mailing':

Educational change and ICT - a new report from Becta says "concentrate on people not technology"

The report firstly spans 14 inter-related topics, with, for each, an interesting mix of literature review, quotes from interviews, data, and insights. The topics are: Complexity and human factors / Evidence of impact / Learning platforms / Management information systems / Learning platform/MIS integration / Collaboration / Advice and support for learners / Support for assistive technologies / Mobile devices / Extending the curriculum / New pedagogy / New assessment (including e-portfolios) / Digital resources / Opening up access.

There is plenty of discussion of controversial questions, for example: the lack of empirical evidence that (in an institutional context) ICT benefits learners; whether or not there should be a single national learning platform.

Secondly the report examines seven "key implementation issues": Complexity / Focus on people / Buy-in / Leadership / Support / Shared understandings / Procurement, with the over-riding conclusion that "human factors" dominate each of the issues, none of which, the report notes drily, are newly discovered or original: "despite our having been aware of them for several decades, our interviewees still saw them as representing the most significant problems that we need to overcome....". As in the topic-based section of the report, there are useful supporting sections. Those on "Economies of scale and scope", and "Waste", particularly caught Seb's eye, with the Government's E-learning credits scheme getting some sceptical attention.

Gary's Rambles blog also highlights key elements of interest, and writes "The Executive Summary highlights in particular, ‘enhancing pedagogy’ as an important aim. ... the report indicates, the effects on the use of technology does depend on how it is used, and in many cases this is poorly and simply replacing what we could do in the past, rather than enhancing the learning experience."

Please visit the above site for Seb and Gary's full perspecitives.

Kent Learning Platform Experiences within Ashford Rural Cluster

rogerd01 — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 22:38:00 GMT

Ashford Rural Cluster are 20 schools within a rural setting; 1 Secondary school uses Studywiz as their provider, 19 Primary schools are trialing RM's Portal Plus Learning Platform - of which 5 Early Adopters are extending their experience through Kaleidos VTLE, digital curriculum management system.

What does a Learning Platform mean, how educationalists use it - sharing their experience. A selection of video interviews half way through the project, please allow for download buffer time, quality viewing requires a good internet connection:

Donna Rogers - Cluster Project Manager; Learning Platform 3 yr plan for schools.

Mr R Rule - Cluster ICT Steering Grp Chair & Pluckley CEP Headteacher; Bringing schools together.

Mrs A-M Trustram - High Halden CEP Headteacher; Virtual School

Mrs G Hollamby - Hamstreet Primary School, ICT Co-ordinator & Class teacher; Personalised Learning tool.

Mrs C Drage - Egerton CEP, Class teacher; Makes pupils feel special.

Do & Don't Tips from Tim Brighouse - Approaches to Learning Platforms

rogerd01 — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 21:59:00 GMT

Tim Brighouse, chief adviser for London Schools and a non-executive director of RM provided his top 5 list of "Do & Don't Tips - for When you want to Start"; Education Guardian Learning Platform Supplement, 09/01/07

Do:

Remember you are embarking on complex change. It is important to have a shared vision of how things will be different in future; timely and continuing training for staff; adequate resources; incentive; and a timelined action plan. (Create a SMART implementation plan/report showing educational outcomes for staff and pupils)
Visit at least three schools using different learning platforms and ask lots of questions, eg "What wouldn't you do if you were starting again?"
Involve students and perhaps governors and parents in visits
Undersell the advantages, and prepare people for teething problems. (Refer to my Change Management articles, be aware of expected highs and strive for long term gain)
Take the chance to review the facilities management for your school network. (Consider your ICT infrastructure, connectivity alongside teaching, assessment for learning and management practices - Self Review Framework)

Don't:

Opt for one solution that you ICT manager or a colleague recommends. (You must choose a solution which can best deliver your educational goals - map to your vision)
Neglect the huge amount of staff training that will be needed, or miss the opportunity on school visits to get staff into the habit of learning from each other and from practitioners eslewhere. (Budget for a training program; communication and collaboration is essential)
Forget that some of your students cannot access your platform from home. They need priority access to ICT facilities before and after school, and to facilities in public libraries and community centres. (Do consider universal or freely downloadable application software and versions - how will students access material content at home?)
Underestimate the need for more resources than you first anticipate; have a 10% contingency fund for implementing the suggestions staff will make as enthusiasm grows.
Fail to do some sort of rish analysis

Strategies for Success – LP considerations

rogerd01 — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 21:09:00 GMT

Plan and Preperation = Success!

Click here for video clip, allow for download buffer time

Self Review Framework – Formalise your school / cluster / federation’s ICT Vision. Make full use of the BECT Self Review MATRIX. Self evaluation developing and action plan for improvement. (We will look at this is more depth soon).

Look at your priorities – what do you need to move forward as a school? Hardware, connectivity, accessibility, staff skills, change ethos.

Work with others – Local Authority, KCN (Kent’s RBC), Cluster/Federation, Other schools. Consider what others are doing, learn from their experience, visit at least three schools using your shortlist of LP supplier solutions – ask school life questions.

Map your teaching and learning goals to best fit Learning Platform supplier solutions - make sure you challenge the provider to demonstrate how your educational learning goals will be addressed within their environment.

Affordability – Per User Account, Band or Site licence structure? Pay as you grow?

Strong Leadership is Critical – SMT strategic plan for take up, training and support in a SMART document; setting realistic, measurable targeted outcomes. Deployment of Learning Platform use must be incorporated into schools ‘Strategic Development Plan’ and mapped to staff CPD targets and lead by exemplar use.

MIS interoperability – web part integration preference if possible but at the very least it is vital you ensure the creation of user accounts and management of their services is timely and robust. Work towards creating a Local Authority uniformed approach to username protocols – consider your existing applications and Single Sign on capabilities.

Cluster/Federations - include how each school will get started within the leadership plan, consider phased approach of who does what; communication and engagement is essential.

Support – Technical and School Learning Platform use is an evolving environment that will need planned, managed care, training and support to cultivate a collaborative experience if it is to grow and improve.

Working Group – set up structure through a user representation groups, make sure your LP solution has user guidelines tutorials/manuals, protocols, storage and community structures. Do not launch empty, otherwise users can’t visualise expectations and standards.

Communication and Collaboration with schools beyond your LP supplier environment – what Local Authority, additional support services and other cluster layers are available to extend interaction.

Cascade – planned approach; ripple effect throughout the whole school and involve the community. Governors, Administration Management, Staff, Pupils, Parents and Community projects.

Share & Collaborate - foster each user addition 1 resource, 1 discussion, 1 pupil interest and draw from the growing collective pool.

This is not about ICT – digital management is the mechanism offering benefits to educators and engage pupils through personalisation to create independent learners.

Technology is ultimately a machine - People cultivate creativity

Take the leap of faith; nothing ventured – nothing gained!

Kent's Learning Platform Communications

rogerd01 — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 18:12:00 GMT

This blog might be new but communicating the Learning Platform process within Kent isn't, so to recap:

Personalised Learning - Learning Platforms: advice and guidance, by Alan Day Senior Policy Officer (Digital Curriculum) May 2006.

Extranet Winter 2006 - Learning Platform special addition.

Every school across Kent will have received two copies of the magazine a couple of weeks before Christmas break, in preparation for BETT07. Learning Platform providers information, school advice - how do you find out which supplier solution is for you?

Welcome to Learning Platforms in Education blog for news and updates.

rogerd01 — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 15:50:00 GMT

Welcome to our new Digital Curriculum Team blog; providing a Kent perspective on Learning Platforms as headlines sweep across education. I shall keep you informed of the fast pace of developements and offer a co-ordinated point of contact to schools within Kent.

First of all some background, why me and who am I. My name is Donna Rogers I am a member of the Digital Curriculum Team, which is headed by Alan Day.

I come from a strong ‘Managing Change’, processes and people skills background in the private sector. I moved to education in 2000, joining a rural primary school, which at that time was quite ICT timid. Working closely with SMT I have helped lead the school through several ICT evolving stages, fostering a clear vision for improvement, stated in educational terms and translated this into technology requirements. While co-ordinating organised approaches beneficial to teaching and learning I used the 'BECTA Self Review Framework', developing a whole school vision which led to ICT Mark accreditation in March 2005.

I have worked and used Learning Platform technologies both in the classroom and then as cluster project manager over the last 3 years. This experience led to a secondment to Kent County Council’s - Children, Families and Education division co-ordinating local authority approach to Learning Platforms. Advising primary and secondary schools towards their vision, strategic approach and preparation of multi-vendor emerging technologies.

Please feel free to participate offer ideas and constructive debate through the comments section, it is nice to be aware of interested readers.