Bromley ICT Forum Blog

• Using games technology and methodology to improve training & education [Weds 17th Oct, London, ETSA]

• 4th EduGeek.net conference [Weds 24th Oct, E. Mids]

• South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL) E-Safety [8/11, 20/11, 21/11, SW England]

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An informal survey of Naace members on ePortfolios from Ian Usher
A few weeks ago I sent a message to the Naacetalk Advisory list - the general mailing list for members of Naace. 36 people filled in the survey to some extent. (See original article for links to a Google Spreadsheet summary):

• There’s an approximate 50-50 split between those who have selected and have yet to select their ePortfolio system;
• Most respondents are planning on using the same system for both primary and secondary phases;
• The majority of respondents plan on offering an ePortfolio to both pupils and staff;
• Two respondents anticipated that their system(s) would have more than half a million users; the majority anticipated under 100,000 users;
• Most respondents anticipate supplementing their core provision by allowing their ePortfolio system to access other (external) online storage services;
• Unsurprisingly, there’s a vast range of ideas about storage capacities for staff and pupil users at primary and secondary phases.

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Becta highlights the fact that primary pupils can gain 2.5-7.5 months progress (in a period of somewhat over a year) through use of an interactive whiteboard (IWB) in maths, English and science. Rates of additional progress depend on the subject and level of attainment of pupils, with high achieving girls doing better in KS1 maths, while low attaining boys benefited more in KS2 writing. Further benefits (quoting):

“The report also highlights how interactive whiteboards have very positive effects on the attention, attitude and motivation of all pupils and produce a co-operative, ‘community of learning’ ethos in the class.

“Additionally it shows how interactive whiteboards help with the teaching of difficult, abstract and complex ideas - visual tools help pupils concentrate for longer and understand more fully and more easily what they are being taught.

“Also interactive whiteboards give teachers a tool to enhance interaction with learners, increasing discussion of ideas and concepts between teachers and pupils.

“Another benefit, specifically for younger children, is the drag-and-drop function which enables children to demonstrate their level of knowledge more easily before they have acquired writing skills, improving self-esteem and enabling teachers to assess learning potential.”

Becta press release http://news.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?resID=34253&page=1658&catID=1633
Original MMU report (via Becta) http://partners.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=rh&catcode=_re_rp_02&rid=14422

(Reprint from NAACE Newsletter)

Extracts from the speech by the Chancellor of the Excheque [sic]:
Britain’s future success will depend not just on investment in physical capital but also skills, innovation and intellectual property.

I can now announce the final figures for education will be higher than originally proposed.

The Budget proposed that investment in education and skills will rise to £74 billion in 2010, increasing education spending as a share of national income rising from 4.5 per cent ten years ago to 5.6 per cent.

Today I can also announce, in addition, further investment providing a quarter of a billion fund to ensure all children at school are ready to learn and benefit from personalised support.

I am able to raise the inheritance tax allowance and invest more in schools and hospitals for all the British people.

This means in education to help build a new primary school in every local area by 2010.

The full speech (as planned) is at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/pbr_csr/pbr_csr07_speech.cfm

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