On 14 January Becta launched its Next Generation Learning campaign to change the way parents, students, tutors and teachers in Britain view and use technology in the context of everyday learning and overall school and college management.
Far from being confined to ICT classes, these days technology can be used across all aspects of education, from physical education classes, music and maths to administration. Where the technology is used effectively, the results are inspiring - improved grades and retention rates, greater participation by students and increased productivity by teachers and tutors.
Whilst we've seen a dramatic increase in the number of computers in the schools and colleges, presently only around one in five schools and further education institutions are using technology effectively.
To put it into context, let's look at what Becta calls ‘the Technology Premium'. £694m worth of productive teacher time would be up for grabs if all schools used technology effectively - that's the equivalent of more than 24,000 new teachers. Colleges could also save at least 300,000 hours a year by using technology effectively to record and analyse student achievement.
The results speak for themselves - in schools making the best use of ICT, Key Stage 2 pupils studying maths, science and English improved at twice the national average. In colleges that improved their use of technology, student satisfaction rose from 55% to 99%. This is why £5 billion has been invested in education technology since 1998.
However, education professionals can feel concerned at the thought of implementing new systems, fearing they will be difficult and time consuming to maintain, adding to an already full workload.
This is where the Next Generation Learning campaign comes in. It is about making people - that is, learners, parents, employers and practitioners - realise how technology can make a real difference in the classroom, workshop and workplace. It can help them get more out of the education and training in which they invest their time and money by offering realistic solutions.
Some schools and colleges already have extensive ICT facilities and take a very innovative approach to using technology in their lessons and in wider school life. Becta's annual ICT Excellence Awards recognise some the most impressive schools, and it is astounding to see how interactive whiteboards, hand-held learning devices, school radio stations, blogging, podcasts, computers in homes schemes, digital photography and video conferencing are being used to by teachers to create increasingly stimulating and exciting environments for their students to learn in.
Pupils respond to technology of this kind because they grow up with it, and it makes learning fun because it feels like an extension of what many of them already do in their free time. As well as making learning more exciting, technology can also play a vital role in building pupils' confidence because it allows them to work at their own pace, and use their skills and initiative.
All this is tangible proof of what be achieved when a school really gets switched on to how technology can improve learning. Sadly, such examples are the exception to the rule. Our goal at Becta, and the purpose of our new Next Generation Learning campaign, is to ensure that the benefits which are currently being reaped by a small minority are enjoyed by all.
An overwhelming majority of parents - 95% according a recent Populus survey commissioned by Becta - clearly want this to happen because they believe interactive whiteboards and other high tech tools can really inspire their children. Yet, other Becta research shows that just 20% of schools are using these tools to the full.
The same Populus survey shows that parents like the idea of technology because it can put them in the driving seat. Parents want to know that their children are enjoying school; that they're getting access to the best support; and that if they're having any problems, they will know straight away.
So, schools and colleges can - and must - do better. But how? After staffing costs, investment in technology is often the biggest expense in a school or college's budget. It is important to get it right, and our role at Becta is to ensure that everyone does.
School and college leaders do not need to be experts in IT to make the most of technology. But they do need to know what questions to ask, and they need the confidence and tenacity to get the answers.
One way to start is to assess the technology that is already used in your school or college. Becta's ‘self-review framework' will help you evaluate your current use of ICT and plan future improvements to the way technology is used. The framework is free to use via an online tool and is linked to the national standards for ICT: www.becta.org.uk/schools/selfreview
However, in many cases it's not just a matter of buying more computers, software and digital kit; it's about deploying that equipment effectively or integrating technology with traditional techniques, of maximising the potential of ICT. Many schools, colleges and providers have the technology but don't exploit it to its full potential. And there are some which still have a poor understanding. Insufficient capacity to deploy it effectively - including among teachers and trainers - is a common problem. Poor inter-operability is another, and often there's no systematic procurement, which means poor value for money.
Technology can and should transform schools and colleges. It should improve their management and leadership by providing the senior team with accurate and up to the minute information on attendance, assessment, progress, exclusions and key reports.
But, most important, it transforms the learning experience of our children, young people and adult learners. Technology is the ideal way to personalise education, allowing people to learn at their own pace and often in their preferred style. It can also be used to record the individual needs, progress and attainment of each student.
The expertise and support, which Becta and other agencies offer the various education sectors will support this endeavour, and together we are committed to providing the very best in practical solutions to ensure that every educational institution can get the best results out of its learners. We want to see all leaders, teachers and trainers making the most of technology as learners deserve no less than the best we can give them.
Stephen Crowne is the Chief Executive of Becta, the agency that leads the national drive to improve learning through technology. For more information about the Next Generation Learning campaign visit http://www.nextgenerationlearning.org.uk/
Case study: Djanogly City Academy, Nottingham (11-18 years)
When Djanogly City Academy in Nottingham replaced the Djanogly City Technology College and the Forest Comprehensive School, revolutionising the way the school used technology was at the top of Principal Mike Butler's agenda to transform the school into a thriving hub of learning.
According to Matt Buxton, Assistant Head of ICT Development, when the Academy was opened in 2003 technology was recognised as a vital element of the school's development and in the past four years the school has made significant progress. Matt explains:
"When we first introduced the new packages and equipment, we couldn't have anticipated the impact it would have on teaching and learning. Our teachers have found the range of resources they can now access has completely changed their teaching techniques and their mindset towards technology. Teaching has moved away from traditional methods and teachers now move around the classroom, interacting with each student and encouraging collaboration between pupils.
Students use tablet PCs in the classroom to take handwritten notes using a digital pen on the screen. The computers are connected to the Learning Gateway, a portal that everyone in the school can access, which has centralised the way the school communicates; students can find timetables, search the library and find out about school events, and there is an online helpdesk for staff if problems arise.
"The great thing about technology it that it extends far beyond computers. We have information kiosks sited throughout the school for students to access and plasma screens in the corridors updating pupils on school activities. Students use smart cards in the school canteen and there are ‘robots' and milling machines in the technology department, recording equipment in music lessons and we even have a ‘digital artist' in the art department. Even in PE, students are benefiting from using technology as they use special software to compare their times and techniques with international sports champions."
"One of the biggest issues we faced was ensuring students could continue learning through technology outside the school gates. The school is in one of the most deprived wards in the city, and we were conscious of the ‘digital divide' which could develop between those students who had access to computers at home and those who do not. We've spent a lot of time investing in overcoming this and through working in partnership with the e-Learning Foundation and Nottingham charity Eluse we have been able to provide every Yr 7 and Yr 8 pupil with a laptop and lower income students with a home computer. We are also working with a nearby school and Nottingham Trent University to create a ‘wireless cloud', providing blanket internet connectivity to the local area.
By giving our students home access to technology, learning continues after school hours; pupils regularly log on to discussion forums and debate issues they have talked about in that day's lesson. Pupils can also send emails to their teachers or post questions on the subject's webpage for help with homework. The result of embedding innovative technology throughout the curriculum is that students are on the whole so much more motivated and engaged, which has increased morale and improved performance."
