South West Grid for Learning Trust ICTiS Conference 17 th April 2008 Ian Southwell

South West Grid for Learning Trust ‘Providing high speed connectivity and digital resources to support quality teaching and learning in the South West’

South West Grid for Learning Trust Consortium of 15 Local Authorities Founded November 2000 Serving nearly 2500 schools - 750,000 children Delivering safe and reliable Broadband Internet Connection and Educational Applications and Services Became the South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL) Trust, as a charitable, not for profit, private company limited by guarantee in October 2005

SWGfL Trust Organisational Structure

One of ten RBC’s that make up the National Education Network

Existing Key Services Broadband Connectivity Internet Safety Connection to the NEN National Content, Communications and Technical Groups Video Conferencing Educational Portal E-Content and collaboration Web Hosting and Calendaring Managed Service

SWGfL Merlin? SWGfL Merlin? The Foundation for your Learning Platform Or Content?

National Collections

Publish online

Collaborate online Coming Soon!!!

Create online 'ArtisanCam stimulates ideas, shares enthusiasm and promotes imagination and creative thinking. There is nothing else that offers anything similar.' - BETT Award judges 2007

Study online

Explore online

Video Conferencing Final slides

SWGfL Merlin? SWGfL Merlin? The Foundation for your Learning Platform Or Content?

“The term ‘Learning Platform’ refers to a combination of IT services that support teaching and learning. Through a learning platform, hardware, software and supporting services are brought together to enable more effective ways of working within and outside the classroom.” Learning Platforms – Making IT Personal, DfES Definition of “Learning Platform”

Drivers for Change Personalised Learning Agenda Anywhere anytime BSF Virtual Learning Environments Technology Development of the Web YouTube, Bebo. Myspace, blogs, wikis Collaboration DCSF Targets Learning Space MIS Access Parental Access

DCSF Targets By September 2008 all secondary schools will be expected to provide information to parents covering achievement, progress, attendance, behaviour and special needs, on a timely and frequent basis – this should be at least once per term. By September 2010 all secondary schools will need to offer parents real-time access to this information (including the opportunity for secure online access) wherever they are and whenever they want. Primary schools must also meet the basic requirement by September 2010 and the real time requirement by Jim Knight 09 January 2008 BETT

Strategic approach in SW One size does not fit all – schools want choice – Would 2,400 schools ever choose the same thing? Let’s do that which an RBC can uniquely do and avoid that which can be done best at a local level Technologies develop quickly – need ability to add services in future through an integrator service

Strategic approach in SW Key principles moving forwards Drive integration Promote the right to choose Aggregate to reduce costs Develop managed services Allow schools to build on what they have already… … and let schools move at their own pace

A simple sign-on service Personal Online Learning Space Virtual desktop Compatibility with Mobile Technologies (AKS) Regional online collaborative tools – blogs, wikis, forums, shared spaces etc. Interoperability and Integration services – so you can ‘plug in’ your choice of tools E-safety What will SWGfL Merlin do?

Collaboration – Martini Learning Early years Primary Transition Secondary CLC New Diploma Workplace Hospitals Young offenders Youth clubs Home

Definitions …. Virtual Learning Environments (VLE) Learning platforms Managed Learning Environments (MLE) Content Management Systems (CMS) A place for organising your online materials Your ‘virtual’ school ; Serving to manage the online learning process i.e. authoring learning objects and learning pathways, tracking and assessments hardware, range of software and supporting services all brought together

Developing your school’s learning platform The foundation for your school’s learning platform – provided through SWGfL Merlin

A starting point… Building your school’s platform – plugging in your choice of tools An extended learning platform

SWGfL Merlin Schematic SIMS Your MIS Simplified Sign On Service User Directory Inter-operability data interchange Library Space CommunityPersonalVirtual Desktop VLE Your VLE Blog Wiki Forums etc. Tools uLearn Content Audio Networks British Pathe Espresso Big Day Out SWGfL VCS

Timescale JanFebMarAprMayJunJulyAugSept - onwards Contract Hosting Install  Pilots preparation  Pilots Implementation - go live  Testing and feedback Engagement and Training Early adopters Merlin available  Indicates milestone payments

SWGfL Merlin Interface and branding update - LATEST 26th March 2008

Planning for implementation Some areas for consideration: How might teachers and teaching / learning adapt? Who should learn with this type of tool? Who will be creating the learning resources How will schools manage the change? How can parents benefit?

Further SWGfL activity Spring 08 Video case studies of VLE use Revised guidance booklet Updated LP section of SWGfL website E-learning blog User blog and forums (SWGfL BOB) Regular Communications updates Learning Environment Call off contract (available by September 08)

Questions?