Naace Strategic Conference 2007

Professor Steven Molyneaux, Director of Learning Lab

This keynote will address the issues regarding Virtual Learning Environments and their possible unsuitability in providing support for 21st Century Learners. It will look at the characteristics of the Neo-Millennium Learner and offer debate as to the suitability of current software applications in exploiting these characteristics.

The session will challenge some of the current DfES/Becta thinking in this area and stimulate debate between practitioners, vendors and policy makers.

Clare Johnson, ICT Programme Director

This session will set the scene for the range of curriculum sessions in the Theme “Curriculum Choices, Pedagogy and Assessment” by reviewing research evidence and trends, current accountabilities and agendas, and begin to explore a definition of curriculum.

Evidence and practice will be drawn from a number of areas including QCA agendas and policy statements e.g. White Papers

Richard Millwood, Director Core Education UK
This session will share the progress made in the Naace/Core Education UK DfES funded project to develop new continuing professional development approaches for teachers using inquiry-based learning, online community, patchwork assessment, exhibition and personalised learning.

Where Naace stands on ICT CPD for Members
Roger Broadie, Broadie Associates Ltd and Member of the Naace Executive Committee

Robin Ball, Manager Learning Services and Andy Tyerman, Assistant Director Content, Becta

Following the Learning Platform Services framework announcement I will focus on engagement and implementation for schools and institutions. The deployment of Learning Platform technologies, a central theme to the delivery of the e-Strategy, needs to be carefully planned and manager through a clear statement of requirements for the institution and its learners. We will address the development of a strategic vision using available tools and resources to support the process of change management

Margaret Wright, Adviser for ICT, QCA

The Education and Skills white papers proposed reviews of the ICT curriculum and ICT general qualifications in schools, including GCSE and GCE A Level. In addition, two new qualifications were proposed, one for functional skills in ICT and another, the specialised diploma in ICT. These changes are due for implementation in 2008 and 2009. This session will explore the curriculum and qualifications proposals and prompt thinking about what they might mean for the learner.

Update:

Thanks to Leon for filming this session on this Learning 4 Life website (see comment)

Download link
Credit: Leon Cych on behalf of Naace

Niel McLean, Executive Director, Becta

ICT CPD: Gathering Evidence from Members to Inform the Naace Strategy
Christina Preston, Chair MirandaNet Fellowship; Margaret Danby, Education Consultant and John Cuthell, Director Research and Implementation MirandaNet Fellowship

Chris Wood, Portal Manager, London Grid for Learning

Learning platforms have the potential to touch every aspect of the way schools communicate and organise their data. This session some of the latest developments and issues.

Steve Beard, School Improvement Consultant (ICT), Shropshire CC

The session will demonstrate practical uses of Web 2.0 technologies in Shropshire Schools.

David Litchfield, Headteacher, Castle View, Sunderland and Caroline McHale, Director of Business and Community Services, Castle View School, Sunderland

Senior managers face not only the developments of new technologies, but also the changing demands on information and communication. At Castle View School, the leadership group has been working to bring a coherent approach to development, monitoring and improvement by concentrating on the impact for the individual student. This session will explore the approaches to student participation and individual learning that have driven the changes in information systems and the skills of the workforce.

Roger Broadie, Broadie Associates Ltd and Member of the Naace Executive Committee

Assessment of ‘Quality of use’ of ICT in schools is currently geared to doing the best we can with what we have – in the way the school currently operates.

This is optimisation.

To aspire to transformation will require a systemic rethink of the way that learning is organized so that schools can achieve significantly greater impact upon pupil achievement – for all.

Some schools are now doing this, stretching the gap between schools in educational offering and achievement.

The Transformed Education project has created practical tools for schools to assess and develop the best approach to fit their culture and community.