EdReNe – Becta’s experience so far…. Andrew Kitchen Senior Architect – Digital Learning Resources and Tools Becta

Becta? Becta has a clear remit within England and works in collaboration with the national agencies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.  Becta leads the national drive to improve learning through technology.  We work with industry to ensure we have the right technology for education in place.  We also work to support the education workforce to make the best use of technology to improve learning.  Our aim is that every learner in the UK is able to benefit from the advantages technology brings, thereby helping them achieve the best they can.  Learn more here:

Digital Learning Resources and Tools? The Digital Learning Resources and Tools team is managed by Will Ellis and has a quota of four permanent staff. Focus on technical standards, specifications and guidance for digital content, in particular for: Strategic planning for an ecosystem that enables the discovery, delivery and sharing of digital learning resources. Interactive Whiteboards Content Packaging Metadata Vocabularies Persistent Identity & Resolution IPR & Copyright Accessibility Quality

Andrew Kitchen? One of four Senior Architects within the wider technical strategy team at Becta. Responsible for the formulation of Becta’s ecosystem strategy for the discovery, delivery and sharing of digital learning resources. Technical consultant for various Becta projects. Background is in software development, particularly for the internet. I am NOT a teacher and don’t have a teaching background! Been employed by Becta for 10 years in September, 2009.

EdReNe – Becta’s experience so far…. A brief run though each of the following: 1.First impressions of the Thematic Network 2.How the network has developed 3.What Becta has found useful 4.What we think Becta has contributed that you may have found useful 5.What we would like to see in the coming year 6.What happens after that?

1. First impressions of the Thematic Network Unsure at first what to expect Presentation overload but everyone needed to express who they were and what they did An impressive mix of different nationalities and perspectives Clearly a lot of collective knowledge in the network Apprehensive/sceptical of the network’s goals

2. How the network has developed Everybody knows one another now Events are proving to be valuable to those who actively participate Those who haven't found it useful have either left or come far less often Lessons learnt from holding some workshops too close together Plenty of very useful discussions about core topic areas Common problem areas are evident Relationships between ministries beginning to develop

3. What Becta has found useful In general terms: Gaining experience from other network members and projects Building trusted relationships with other European ministries For specific outcomes: Formulating our ecosystem strategy that enables the discovery, delivery and sharing of digital learning resources Obtaining feedback and support on some of our work

Gaining experience from other network members and projects Becta is a policy maker and values practical experience from the real world to inform this. Here are a few things that have helped us define policy: Search/Repositories LRE (Belgium) EduRep (Holland) Spindeln (Sweden) LeMill (Estonia) Agrega (Spain) Sharing strategies Klascement.net (Belgium) EDUNET/KERIS (Korea) OER Commons (USA) Access Management FEIDE (Norway) UNILOGIN (Denmark) ENTRÉE (Holland) Other Persistent identity & resolution (AIE Italy) Commercial content licensing (Britannica UK) GLOW (Scotland) Calibrate/Celebrate/Melt and now ASPECT

Building trusted relationships with other European ministries The network has provided opportunities for Becta to build relationships with other European ministries: Kennisnet and Becta have been discussing the possibilities of a formal agreement between our organisations for sharing: – Research – Experience – Ideas – Plans More informal relationships and knowledge networks are developing as a result of having interesting group discussion. Contact building invaluable.

Formulating our ecosystem strategy that enables the discovery, delivery and sharing of digital learning resources Harnessing the experience of other European ministries in this area Noting where problems have occurred Translating this practical experience to the UK market setting Integrating some of these approaches with those of our own Taking the holistic view of the system and its aims More to come on this strategy in the next workshop event this September.

Obtaining feedback and support on some of our work Interactive Whiteboard Common File Format – Interest from other European ministries – Support going forward from the EUN Whiteboards Working Group Quality Principles – Understanding that these have been used externally to the UK Drivers and blockers to sharing digital learning resources – Interest in our research – Seeing that it isn’t unique to the UK setting – Can benefit other European ministries too

What we think Becta has contributed that you may have found useful Our experience of policy, guidance and service provision – Curriculum Online repository terms and conditions – Tiger Leap Foundation and e-Safety policy and guidance A selection of our research, provided through: – Reports – Discussion sessions in the workshops Contacts – Kennisnet and Vocman Group for vocabularies work

What we would like to see in the coming year (1) In general: Further contact building Further research sharing between a wider range of network members – in both ways Some formal ministry-ministry relationships being created, where it makes sense to work together on common goals Identification of the crucial topic areas that all network members would benefit from if they were to be solved

What we would like to see in the coming year (2) Specifically: Becta’s Ecosystem strategy moving forward and building relationships with appropriate European projects and ministries Interest and support for Becta’s Content Packaging Application Profile work that has just begun Continued interest and support of Becta’s Interactive Whiteboard Common File Format work

What happens after that? (1) Becta believes there is good reason to continue to network We also believe various other network members feel the same It would be unfortunately to disband a network that has taken lots of effort to build and when value is beginning to be returned Lessons from the network’s operation need to be learnt if it is to continue – Some workshop/strategy meetings too close together – Should be no more than quarterly in frequency – Virtual meetings could be utilised to discuss less pressing matters – It’s Learning platform could be utilised to a greater extent

What happens after that? (2) Network could be used to: – Showcase and link to other European/World projects – Create working groups on common issues – Have a positive and visible impact for network members Would probably still need some EU funding Would need to be well supported by a group of organisations that constitute the core of the network We have the opportunity to discuss, plan and work out what we would like to happen before the current funding finishes

Contact… Andrew Kitchen Becta Millburn Hill Road Science Park Coventry CV4 7JJ T+44 (0) F+44 (0)