MANAGING ICT The brave new world


ICT association NAACE held its annual conference


last month when the changing landscape of ICT in education was the core focus. Education advisor Bob Harrison was there


T


he NAACe community consists of a diverse range of members including teachers, local authority advisors, higher educationalists, consultants, hardware and software vendors, and service providers. At the first annual conference


since the new government took office, more than 300 members gathered to contemplate the future for technology-enhanced learning in a Brave New World – the conference’s theme – of no central policy or strategy, a “schools know best” ideology, a White Paper focus on “the importance of teaching”, and a political climate where “private” is preferred to “public” sector intervention. According to most delegates, this was one of the


most successful conferences for some years with a stimulating and engaging programme. There was an overwhelming and powerful sense of


community, inspiring words from ewan MacIntosh, a Skyping, sleepy Professor Stephen heppell from


Organised by


hobart, and the uplifting and ever evolving stand-up routine of Professor Sugata Mitra. The breakouts and masterclasses all provided


affirmation of the delegates’ unilateral belief that “technology enhances learning”. But underneath all the warmth and glow, some


delegates had a sense of unease that this belief is not accepted in policy-making circles and an increasing sense of frustration that nobody is listening. Indeed, schools minister Nick Gibb responded to an invitation for dialogue in somewhat guarded terms: “I


am grateful to you and the other organisations who have endorsed this joint vision statement in your letter for providing such a helpful contribution to the discussion on ICT in education. The shared vision statement raises a number of points. In broad terms we accept the statement but with a caveat that we do not want to over- emphasis (sic) the role of ICT in education – excellent teaching for pupils remains the key to success. “We do agree that ICT can be a powerful tool to


support good teaching where it is used and managed well, and that leadership responsibility must be shared across the sector so that we can provide the best possible opportunities for schools and colleges.” It was no surprise therefore when there was no


In association with 5to7


five to seven educator www.fivetoseven.co.uk 8th national conference Autism Today Cavendish Conference Centre, London 11th & 12th July 2011 TOPICS WILL INCLUDE:


Assessment of autism: which approach should we use? Dr Helen Pearce


Complex presentations of autism Dr William Mandy


Parent’s experience post-diagnosis Jim Chapman


ASD in genetic syndromes: assessment and implications Dr Jo Moss


Feeding diffi culties in autism Dr Gillian Harris


Living with autism Dean Beadle


Reducing stress and easing transitions at school Mike Stanton


Forensic issues in autism Dr Helen Pearce


Role of speech and language therapy in intervention and management of ASD


Gina Davies


Helping adolescents with relationships and sexuality Angela Ward-Brown


Early behavioural interventions: role of PEACH Kirsty Hayhoe & Suzy Yardley


TEACCH Barbara Blyth


Motor skills in autism: pulling apart different motor processes Dr Emma Gowen


Effectiveness of pharmacotherapies in management of autism Dr Paramala Santosh


ministerial presence to open the conference and the conversation and back channels were full of criticisms of the importance the government places on international league tables. Niel McClean, Becta’s former deputy chief


executive, and architect, with former schools minister Jim Knight, of the £300 million home Access to Technology initiative, suggested this may not be such a hinderance: “The NAACe community has a wonderful opportunity to be ‘practice-led’ and be free of the constraints of government ministers’ policy announcements.”


The changing face of NAACE


Originally the acronym NAACe represented the National Association of Advisers in Computer education but it became apparent several years ago that local authority advisors were an endangered species and therefore to ensure sustainability “advisors” became “advancement” and therefore the community became more inclusive and comprehensive. The analysis of the 300 delegates for this year’s


conference reflects this evolution with over 40 per cent representing the ICT industry, 22 per cent from local authorities, 16 per cent from schools, a growing 14 per cent from consultancies, and four per cent from higher education. Despite the varied background of the delegates


there seemed to be a growing consensus that there was one vital emerging challenge within the education technology community, that education workforce professional development is key.


Vital


One fantastic piece of news, and an indication that the government is starting to listen, came from the announcement that Vital, the Open University- managed, Department for education-funded £5.6 million CPD programme for teachers and the education workforce will be funded for 2011/2 albeit with a reduced £2.5 million. This should allow Vital to continue to support


teachers’ development within the regions and the growing number of popular teacher-led “TeachMeet” events. Peter Twining, Vital project director, said: “We have


www.mahealthcareevents.co.uk +44 (0)20 7501 6762


40 YEARS OF MEDICAL EDUCATION 10


reached or exceeded all our targets for the first phase of the project and I am convinced that the response from teachers will enable us to ensure Vital eventually becomes self-sustaining.” Furthermore, there can be no doubt that the private


sector already makes a significant contribution to the professional development of teachers and other education professionals in its networks and communities of practice.


Microsoft has its “partners in learning” network,


Google has a Teacher Academy, Cisco has its education leaders programme, Apple has its itunesU for educators, Promethean has “the Planet”, and Toshiba has an Ambassador Programme – a community of practice of schools, colleges and universities at the forefront of using wireless and mobile technology for learning. Also, let’s not forget, NAACe has its own


programme for teachers (see further information for all links).


Changes at the TDA


Becta had been doing a lot of work on workforce development and the responsibility for this has now passed to the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA). The conference also was saying goodbye to Tim


Tarrant’s time at the TDA as head of the ICT team. Tim, who is retiring, has been a strong advocate for technology-enhanced learning and has been largely responsible for ensuring ICT has stayed on the TDA agenda. Last year, the TDA published an evaluation of


ICT in initial teacher training and their technology in teaching and learning resources and case studies are helpful. Tim’s replacement is Mike harrison (no relation).


Mike is an ex-primary headteacher and an experienced teacher trainer and initial teacher education programme leader and has worked in educational leadership development. he has responsibility for the technological


development of teacher skills and, attending his first NAACe conference, was very clear about the future direction for workforce development. Taking up the theme of the conference, Mike said:


“We have a clear responsibility to future generations of learners to make sure that our teachers are well prepared to make best use of new technologies, not merely for delivery but importantly so that students can explore and expand the boundaries of their worlds and create Brave New Ones. “I am conscious that how, and how well, we prepare


trainees will define the life chances of those in their care for years to come.”


Where to next?


So warm feelings, inspiring words, a strong sense of community and a stirring event. So what? What happens now? Who does what and when? The teachers return to their schools with no budgets settled and no ring-fenced funding for ICT for the first time since 1981. The industry vendors bid for business in an


increasingly competitive market. Local authority advisors struggle to survive in a politically hostile context. The independent/freelance consultants grow in number and the managed service providers see their margins get less and less while the education ministers exhibit a grudging tolerance of the part technology might play in enhancing learning.however they remain sceptical of over exaggerated claims of impact and are none too keen on a pet project of a previous regime. NAACe members remained upbeat however, and


ICT advisor for Lewisham, Tom Cooper, remained upbeat on his Twitter feed: “Onwards and upwards – we hold the key to future at NAACe and while a battle cry is not enough it is at least a start.” The final challenge for NAACe and the future came


from Ben Arora, education programme director at the National endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts: “The education system we have constructed is incapable of keeping pace with the economic and societal changes taking place around it.” Delegates might well reflect on these words and also


the quote from Antonio Gramsci the Italian philosopher and political theorist: “We need a pessimism of intellect and an optimism of will.” Only time will tell!


SecEd


• Bob Harrison is an education advisor with Toshiba Information Systems and a consultant with the National College for Leadership of Schools and Children’s Services.


Further information


• Vital: www.vital.ac.uk • NAACe CPD programme: www.ictcpd4free.co.uk • Microsoft Partners in Learning Network: http://uk.partnersinlearningnetwork.com/


• Google’s Teacher Academy: www.google.com/ educators/gta


• Cisco’s education Leaders Programme: www.getideas.org


• Apple’s itunesU for educators: www.apple.com/ education/itunes-u


• Promethean Planet: www.prometheanplanet.com • Toshiba’s Ambassador Programme: www.toshiba. co.uk/education


• TDA technology in teaching and learning resources: http://www.tda.gov.uk/training-provider/itt/ developing-quality/technology-teaching-learning.aspx


SecEd • April 14 2011


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16