Are we too obsessed with the idea of learning platforms delivering the learning, are we forgetting its purpose? Where is the learning. The learning plaform is ket in developing learning outside the classroom, for reflection and collaboration. But all this should occur outside the classroom, to "Maximise out and minimise in" learning technologies. What is the model - 1. A learning platform that supports collaboration. 2. Students own learning devi... [read more]

Hi, I'm looking for an assessment tool which will accept embedded content from websites as evidence of learning. I work for Radiowaves and NUMU which has tens of thousands of pieces of content created by children and young people. I'm looking for an easy way to help teachers assess and reward the work they are producing across a wide range of assessment areas. Thanks in advance Tim

Just to ket you know that the first conference presentations have been posted on the Naace Web Site. See http://www.naace.co.uk/conference2010videos You will need to log in.

Bernadette mentioned ToDo lists as a consequence of what we do or hear at conference. I thought it might be good to create a public ToDo list here which we can add to as conference progresses. At the end of the conference perhaps we'll have a shared list which we can act upon afterwards. So why not add your ToDo items here ...

Bernadette Brooks: Well done Douglas for suggesting this.....so here's a few for starters .... 1. Checkout Race Online 2012 ....get involved. 2. Check out TakingITGlobal ....get involved. 3. Follow up on all those promises you made to get in touch and keep in touch ...... [read more]

What's your view? - Is it possible to have innovation in the context of a Managed Service? - How do we create (or maintain) a culture of innovation? - Is there a destruction of innovation by BSF procurement? - What do we do about the lack of allocation of money for change-management in BSF by LAs?

Paul Springford: I'm pleased to say that Tim Scratcherd, who is at our Blackpool conference, has agreed to lead the discussion on this topic.

Bernadette Brooks: 36 Naacers gathered at 8.30 this morning to share paracetmol and discuss our revised draft guidleines on Securing Innovation under BSF Managed Service Contracts. What a turnout .....how can we harness this involvement and appetite for collaborative? ... [read more]

8:30 in York Room Interactive workshop discussion on formulating a Naace response on educational copyright exceptions within the Digital Economy Bill. We will be seeking comments and additions to the original responses from Naace members on the Naacelist. You may preview the responses here http://docs.google.com/View?id=ah768nfc3mkn_687gv4qftfg

Leon Cych: You can also write to your MP to voice your concern personally - here is a site that automates that for you but you'd be well advised to modify the letter - it will email your concerns directly to your MP : http://www.38degrees.org.uk/page/speakout/e... [read more]

What's your view? • How do we achieve affordable interoperability?

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Crispin Weston: The two main priorities set by publishers for the Becta/ISB project on interoperable learning content are (1) e.g. runtime interoperability of data - passing performance diagnostics back to common mark books); and (2) sequencing, which would allow te... [read more]

Crispin Weston: I really enjoyed Jon Williamson's talk yesterday on i-NFER's assessments. These tests can create some really useful competency data - particularly as level-judgments are accompanied by a statistically sound measure of confidence. Will all publishers ... [read more]

Crispin Weston: The other possible topic for discussion in this area is - how should interoperability standards be improved? Are these standards something that industry should sort out amongst itself? That government should sort out in the bowels of the DCSF? And wh... [read more]

What if schools were more like families - and less like institutions - what part would technology play?

What's your view? - Can the current assessment system cope with demonstrating gains in eLearning in the future? - There has been a lack of change in NQF assessment to reflect 21st century workplace and societal change. What should we suggest?

Paul Springford: I'm pleased to say that Allison Allen, who is at our Blackpool conference, has agreed to lead the discussion on this topic.

Allison Allen: The group had a useful discussion and covered the following points; i)Looking at e-assessment, we wondered if some activities were open to interpretation. Generally the engines are opaque and the group was concerned that scoring might be too crude, b... [read more]

What's your view on e-safety and lockdown in education? Here's some starters: e-safety for adults – who is at risk & how? Freedom versus lockdown – do e-safety concerns prevent learning in schools? Network security/Child safety - where should the balance lie? Is lock down of networks constraining teachers in developing pedagogy?

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kathy olsson: Is it the tools or the behaviours we need to control?

Rachel Ager: Do we know the law and what sanctions there are available to schools?

Rachel Ager: Should we be also be focusing on the benefits that the technologies bring to the classroom?

What's your view on Transformation? - Do traditional educational approaches have a place in a world of free communications and learning resources? - What should educational transformation through ICT really look like – and the answer is not BSF! - What would an education system that made full use of ICT look like - would we need to build schools for the future? - The refusal of schools to accept use of pupils devices such as phones in school need... [read more]

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Paul Springford: I'm pleased to say that Richard Allen, who is at our Blackpool conference, has agreed to lead the discussion on this topic.

Richard Allen: Stephen, many thanks for the document posted which will help start our discussions. This gives a concise selection of aspects of transformation. The Becta Self Review Framework is more comprehensive and therefore seen by some as more complex. I would... [read more]

Richard Allen: As an example "How do we acknowledge and accredit (if sensible) pupils’ informal learning?" Delivering this seems to me to be fundamental to teaching and accreditation catching up with 21st century learning. Learners have access to knowledge anywhere... [read more]

What's your view? - How can future educational standards be maintained as budgets decline? - Sustainable ICT - is it possible in the current financial climate? - How can we do more and yet spend less?

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Mark Chambers: Surely a principle of sustainable ICT is not that it is a "reaction" to budget cuts (not denying this as a driver) but a "proactive" decision to change our lifestyle and culture? I hope so anyway :)

Paul Springford: I'm pleased to say that Paul Heinrich, who is at our Blackpool conference, has agreed to lead the discussion on this topic.

Paul Heinrich: A number of issues arise: Budget cuts overall are apparently inevitable - the banks will force them on government. ICT is too often seen by schools as a cost not a significant benefit. Schools could save through more efficient planning and procuremen... [read more]

What's your view on ICT CPD? Here's some starters - there is a major emerging issue of staff not being allowed out or even given time for CPD. ICT is viewed as a low priority compared with Maths & English/Numeracy & Literacy.

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Paul Springford: When you ask a group of teachers to recall and describe a great personal learning experience, it's hard to stop them talking. How can we ensure that CPD in ICT provides great learning experiences that people remember, regardless of the actual topic?

Leon Cych: I think people now need to start thinking about how ICT can enable them to do better what they already do in schools. Martha Lane Fox understood this and got rich on the back of it. It is using ICT to enable people to do the things they want to do an... [read more]

Paul Springford: Leon Cych has agreed to lead this discussion - thank you!

What's your view? - How do we deliver personalising learning (including CPD) - choice and voice, including the informal?

Paul Springford: Persoanlisation, personalisation, personalisation... Is this about technology or pedagogy? What are the drivers which will actually deliver something to learners?

What's your view? - What's the best way of authentically embedding ICT across the curriculum?

Clive Portman: Remembering this is a start: "Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important." - Bill Gates The biggest problem I come across is teachers not having experience with tech... [read more]

Paul Springford: Will the requirement to use ICT in each Area of Learning in the new primary curriculum in England help or hinder the embedding process? I hope it will be a great help.

What's your view? - Does institutional self evaluation work? - Are too many school leaders still refusing to acknowledge how ICT can enable a radical increase in effectiveness of staff and pupils? - Do you think that Ofsted has failed to assess and report on the impact of ICT on whole-school improvement? - What is the best way of quantifying impact of ICT and replicating it across schools?

Paul Springford: I'm pleased to say that Roger Broadie, who is at our Blackpool conference, has agreed to lead the discussion on this topic.

The future of ICT CPD for people in schools, Local Authorities, Children's Services etc seems to be linked to accreditation. Did you know? That all accreditation in the EU is now linked to something called the EQF - European Qualifications Framework. The EQF has 8 levels. Level 3 is A Level/Diploma. Levels 4,5 & 6 are the undergraduate HE degree level with level 7 Masters, and level 8 doctorate. All newly qualified teachers from 2011 are expected... [read more]

Peter Twining: In Vital's market research at the end of 2009 teachers reported that they wanted accreditation as part of Vital's ICT CPD (universally). One of the challenges is that to be working at MA level you need to be going well beyond practical skills or even... [read more]

It is not often that we make PMQ's but BSF did today? Will the BSF train be stopped in its tracks? Or will it become RSF? (Remodelling schools for the future) And what does that mean for ICT? Opportunity or threat? What do you think?

A recent article in the Times misquoted the Principal of the Bristol Brunel Academy to produce a "white elephant" headline. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article7019905.ece A more balanced view came from Ian Fordham at BCSE http://www.thecentreforschooldesign.org/2010/02/technology-and-school-buildings/ What is your view?

Bob Harrison: It is not often that BSF has made Prime Ministers Question Time but it did today! Eventually people are waking up to the issue that BSF will be brought to a crashing halt if the Conservatives are elected! What about the 500 schools planning for the f... [read more]

It's great to see so many from the US attending the conference! Remember to put "UK" or "United Kingdom" in your location as Google Maps tends to assume US town and city names otherwise!

Just back from Blackpool .....have been sampling food for the conference ...... Peter the chef sends his regards ....he has lots of goodies planned for us this year. Found out that Hilton Blackpool won the Hilton Select Hotels Food & Beverage Award again this year! First out of 52 resort hotels! Lots to look forward to!

We are delighted that Drew Buddie will be hot footing to Blackpool to host Naace's first TeachMeet on Tuesday 16 March. He will be ably assisted by Leon Cych on the night. Register now at http://teachmeet.pbworks.com/TeachMeet+-+Naace+2010+-+Tuesday+session

Have just been talking to Howard the General Manager at the Hilton. He was telling me about the excellent wifi they have planned for us this year and about all their ideas for looking after our guests in March. We will announce the details of the Wifi shortly as lots of partners have been involved in developing this for us. Howard was off to London for a meeting and sang the praises of the excellent train connections they have - 2 hours from Lond... [read more]

Gareth Davies: Quick tip for car sharing: if when registering you put in your location, you're put on a Google map. Put your postcode and it's more accurate for car sharing opportunities. Access the map by clicking "by location" under "Browse attendees" on the righ... [read more]

Bernadette Brooks: That's the great think about Naace - there's always an expert with a better solution for dealing with a potential issue! Thanks Gareth.

We are pleased to announce that Northgate Managed Services will be sponsoring this year's Gala dinner. Delighted to have their support again in 2010!