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use a Cisco product – the ISR router – which can provide network capability, security capability, voice and wireless. The configuration depends on the size of the school.”


“Some teachers may not have done their PGCE using these sorts of


technologies, so they may lack the confidence to use them.” Amy Palmer, Weston College


Buy and build The generic IT within a school can be achieved within this technology blueprint, says Butler, which can then act as the basis for the more specialised infrastructure. Many schools still deploy a mix of cloud-based and traditional technology, combining buy and build options to provide effective IT infrastructure. “Schools can buy an IT solution as a cloud solution, or buy an application as a cloud solution. They can use them alongside localised applications which they build on their own IT platform within the school,” said Butler. Using these applications can be


daunting for some teachers who may be unfamiliar with new technology, so Weston College has established a training programme for teachers. “Some teachers may not have done their PGCE using these sorts of technologies, so they may lack the confidence to use them,” said Palmer. “This training initiative, the evolution programme, gives them that confidence. A learning technologist goes into the classroom with them and makes sure that everything is set up OK and is on hand if anything goes wrong. People usually only need that kind of support once or twice.” With many schools looking to move


revision at home then they'll just log onto the VLE and complete the lesson. They can complete the lesson as many times as they want, and their grades are also recorded onto the online grade book, so they can track their progress over time.” These are important differentiating


factors in today's increasingly competitive educational landscape, where many schools and colleges have greater freedom from local authority control. Today's generation of students have grown up with technology, and increasingly expect the same level of sophistication at school as they get at home; the challenge for many schools now is to meet this


demand. “I think the academies and the free schools, which are non-established schools and are looking to differentiate themselves, will drive the adoption of new technologies. Other schools will then follow,” said Butler. With the growth of specialist


academies, it's also important that new technologies are suited to the specific requirements of the school. “We created an education blueprint for schools and academies, which provides a flexible and scalable approach to building and delivering IT in those schools, regardless of its size,” outlined Butler. “For example, within the blueprint we


forward and transform their business in a quick and secure way, cloud technology is set to play an even more central role in education over the coming years. Butler says cloud technologies are already being widely adopted by schools alongside more conventional IT, and he expects the trend to accelerate in future. “I have no doubt whatsoever that the adoption of cloud-based services will increase in education as time moves on,” he said. Technology is also becoming evermore essential to teaching, and as one of the top-performing colleges in the South- West, Weston College recognises the importance of effective IT infrastructure to the student experience; Palmer expects that online lessons will be a core part of courses in future. “The VLE will be used extensively for media content – whether that's flash content with the lessons, or video content – and things like that,” she said. “I see it as becoming a central tool in courses, rather than an additional tool, which is where we are now.” ET


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