eLearning4schools.net

Since 1998 there has been a very significant investment in ICT in schools through the National Grid for Learning Programme.

Virtually every school is now connected to the Internet and the average number of computers in schools for teaching and learning has virtually doubled or trebled in recent years with some schools having enough computers for one each and many one for every two pupils.

But despite all these advances and this investment the vast majority of schools are only now beginning to tap the potential of ICT to enhance teaching and learning and to modernise the way in which schools are run and organised.

This blog is therefore relevant to everyone concerned with primary and secondary education. Over the next week I will highlighting some specific ideas for using ICT in class ranging from one off activities to year long projects.

So please sign up to the RSS feed and make sure you do not miss out on any star tips and ideas.

I saw this video yesterday and thought I would share it with you it really made me think about how technology should be used more creatively within the curriculum and how schools really need to be focusing on how to develop a clear strategy for eLearning.

This video is a must-see for every parent and teacher. Education guru Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining (and profoundly moving) case for creating an education system that nurtures creativity which is so often being pushed out of the exam led approach to the curriculum in the UK. It certainly made me think about how I could encourage creativity within my classroom.

To judge whether VLEs have a role within the new education landscape to enhance teaching and learning it is necessary to examine the available research evidence.  Research literature is only beginning to emerge relating to the benefits of VLEs on teaching and learning in schools in the UK, as the market for VLEs is still developing.  But by drawing on the more extensive evidence from further and higher education, where the use of VLEs is more advanced, it is possible to identify potential benefits for schools.The aim of this section is to summarise both my own observations and research of others (providing references for further reading) in order to highlight potential applicability in the school sector.

General Benefits

• Users could find it easier to use the ICT found within the various components of a VLE as it offers an integrated environment rather than discrete offerings (Dorner et al, 2000).
• The different options to communicate are increased allowing users to choose those appropriate methods for different tasks (e.g. through email, discussion groups and chat rooms).
• The VLE provides a consistent look and feel across the whole school.

Benefits for students

• Access to learning wherever and whenever required (Jacobsen and Kremer, 2000).  This will improve flexibility in learning and allow students to develop independent learning skills which will prove invaluable in the new knowledge economy.

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An interesting video that shows how students are far different from the way we were!  We really need to think about our teaching and the environment we offer our students to learn they fundamentally operate differently.  It is this that we need to grapple with when we look at implementing eLearning as part of a blended approach to education.