South Gloucestershire ICT Information Update

The minister for schools, Jim Knight, provided the opening keynote speech for the BETT show. He focused on three main areas which are listed below.

The Importance of Technology

• This blurs the boundary between formal and informal learning as children can log on where and when-ever appropriate and it enables direct and immediate communication between schools and parents through web sites, text and e-mails.
• Technology is also an essential tool to help teachers plan, assess and monitor progress.
• The most effective schools provide clear evidence that technology is helping to improve achievement and open up choice through innovation

ICT Test at Key Stage 3

• The minister outlined that the test has real potential to support assessment for learning, but that to realise this potential, teachers should be able to use the test at any point when pupils are ready, as a resource which can indicate student’s strengths and weaknesses.
• The KS3 online test is consequently not being made statutory but will be available for use throughout the whole key stage and there is an intention to revise the piloted test and to focus on developing materials which can be used more flexibly throughout the key stage.

Digital Divide

• Reducing the digital divide is seen to be crucial in ensuring every child benefits from the advanates offered by technology and an aspiration for universal home access to technology and the internet was stated.
• The Computers for Pupils initiative is giving access to technolgoy to disadvantaged families at home and there will be further support. South Gloucestershire schools do not currently benefit from this initiative.
• The DfES want to build on the success of the 20% of secondary schools who already operate home loan schemes.
• They also want to open up after school access to pupils and their pareants through extended schools.

The minister closed with the following statements

‘ So classroom practice will have to adapt to the knowledge that children can access resources at home.’  ‘…we will be pro-active in seizing the opportunities technologies offer rather then being overwhelmed by the pace of change. That we will support our workforce to ensure that these opportunities are understood and accepted in the classroom.’

The entire speech can be downloaded from the DfES web site.

http://www.dfes.gov.uk/speeches/search_detail.cfm?ID=468