Becta collaboration: What benefits can learning platforms ...

Becta home page

Print

Up to Discussions in Learning platforms

This Question is Possibly Answered

1 "correct" answer available (4 pts) 2 "helpful" answers available (2 pts)

5 Replies Last post: 15-Jul-2008 09:18 by Robin Ball

Andyt

14 posts since
05-Feb-2008

18-Apr-2008 12:16

What benefits can learning platforms bring?

Much discussion on learning platforms has focussed on technical issues or procurement that, whilst very important, can sometimes leave people more confused and disengaged from the process. In February a group a schools who have been using learning platforms for a little while came together to share the benefits for learning, teaching & management that they are getting from theis use of technology. A report of the outcomes from this event is available in the documents area.

The outcomes and benefits have not been verified or analysed in any great detail but it would be very useful to hear what community members have to say about the headlines. Questions that you may wish to consider could include:

Do you recognise some of theoutcomes and benefits?

Are you interested in knowing more?

Do the essential steps to success make sense?

If you attended the event you may wish to add to the conversation.

Tags: implementation_strategies, experience_sharing, effective_use, learning_platform

Pilgram

23 posts since
06-Feb-2008

1. 16-Jun-2008 21:58

in response to: Andyt

Re: What benefits can learning platforms bring?

Benefits

Learning Platforms are part of the key that will unlock 21st century learning. They provide the relatively safe and secure environment that will promote collaboration towards shared goals. They are only part of the combination of technologies that will do this however.

Learning Opportunities can be created on the Learning Platform which allow activities to be started at school and then continued when a learner wishes- either at home or at school. These opportunities can then be stored for use with following classes in the same way that content in IWB files can be stored. The opportunities are much greater due to the sharing of resouces amongst, and occasionally beyond, the school community. In a media rich world they allow carefully chosen resources based in different media to be shared amongst the learners. Through active discussion forums different aspects of a theme can be unpicked.

Learners can become authors beyond their teachers, to the class, to the school and to the wider world. Before this year, I doubt whether more than a handful of people read the work of children in my class. Now both they and I know it has been read by thousands.

Jim Fanning

1 posts since
19-Jun-2008

2. 22-Jun-2008 12:15

in response to: Andyt

Re: What benefits can learning platforms bring?

We have been using a Learning Platform in Tideway School for over 4 years.

In June 2008 we ran a small pilot research project with 8 Year 10 students, building delivery of a Unit of work within ICT into the learning platform - students could complete lessons in school time or from home or from wherever they had access to the Internet - ICT lessons took place Period 1 on a Monday - students who completed the online lesson could chose to register from Period 2 onwards - assessment took place through a formal online exam at the end of the Unit (results were higher than the school average and there were some interesting comments from students about their experience of flexible learning with a learning platform).

The pilot is being extended in November/December 2008 when all Year 11 students will be given the opportunity of studying a Spreadsheet unit of work online. The results of this will have an impact on school policy in relation ot the delivery of subject content and assessment online.

I have posted information about this and other projects on our school website at www.learningplatforms.info

Jim

Joel Josephson

1 posts since
19-Jun-2008

3. 23-Jun-2008 12:14

in response to: Andyt

Re: What benefits can learning platforms bring?

In my opinion, the learning platform itself is relatively transparent to the educational outcome. A learning platform is merely a tool, it has features that can be used either easily, or with difficulty, depending on the platform and the knowledge of the user. There are already a multiplicity of platforms from 'Open source' to propriatory systems.

The heart of the matter is the content that is delivered over a platform. Does it have teaching value, does it use all the resources of the platform that enable the content to expand the bounderies of the classroom. It is possible to have the most sophisticated platform but if the content delivered is poor, then the platform could be considered a failure and will not be beneficial.

Almost 5 years ago I founded the Kindersite Project and at the time I wrote a short piece on the use of digital content. I asked, how we are going to evaluate and analyze the efficacy of digital content for learning, not the delivery system.

I would be very happy to be pointed to any studies that have considered this aspect of the use of ICT in the classroom. I have the results of one study that used the Kindersite content within a study, the results are available through the Kindersite.

Joel Josephson
Kindersite Project
http://www.kindersite.org

Andyt

14 posts since
05-Feb-2008

4. 11-Jul-2008 10:40

in response to: Joel Josephson

Re: What benefits can learning platforms bring?

Thanks to all for the encouraging responses to my initial question and proposition. I am really pleased with the tone of the responses that describe where the technology 'should' be for the user ie transparent. I completely agree that the important consideration is the value added to / for the learning experience.

However, as more recent posts indicate, many colleagues are not yet at this stage and their, very real, concerns are around the choice of technology. Will I choose the right one? Is there another better solution? All very important questions for the schools making choices and this is where I hope the community can support and offer insight.

As a Becta employee I am unable to say go with x, y or z because it is the best. In fact even without this restriction I would still argue this would not help to answer the questions raised by these colleagues. My experience tells me that the solution is not the major part of the decision, it is the investment the school and community makes that makes the difference. As a previous poster indicated, I could recommend ACME Learning Platforms.co.uk because it transformed the learning and teaching in my school but when used by another fails to get the adoption and impact because there was no understanding, vision from the senior leadership team or commitment for support and training. The blame then goes to the technology.

Using another technology as an example I recently bought a new TV and, as a good 'geek', spent many weeks, possibly months pouring through the magazines, trawling the internet and brokering the best deal possible. Once bought and installed the novelty value worn off (within days!) the conversations resume
‘did you watch x last night wasn't it rubbish??'
Rather than
‘I watched x on my Rishiba Turbo Screen 90" plasmatic TV and you could see every one of the 16million pixels.'
I know the comparison doesn't hold up well to detailed scrutiny but is sufficient to get past the technology for technologies sake argument.

Increasingly the technology is becoming more transparent - the fourth utility - works first time every time - but this takes time to regain the confidence of the workforce who have suffered blue screens, slow connections etc for a long time. The positive experiences and examples of the pioneers, early adopters are essential providing they get the debate beyond the technology and look at benefits for learning, teaching and management.

Thanks again for the positive messages.

Andy

Robin Ball

2 posts since
07-Feb-2008

5. 15-Jul-2008 09:19

in response to: Joel Josephson

Re: What benefits can learning platforms bring?

Joel does raise a key issue - much hinges on the quality and fitness for purpose of digital content and supporting resources as opposed to the preferred delivery mechanism.

Getting to grips with these issues can be a bit of a minefield as it is such a subjective area - so much is dependent on the context, desired learning outcomes and environment in which any digital learning resource is deployed. What works for one person may not produce the same impact as someone else's engagement with the materials.

There are principles which can be followed and applied to help teachers become more discerning in their choice and use of DLRs. Becta's Quality principles for digital learning resources can be found by following the link. This is not a 'silver bullet' but does at least provide a sound framework from which to move forward. One final document which is also useful as well as really informative is Becta's recent publication Choosing and using digital resources: A guide for school leaders which, includes amongst a range of resources an step-by-step interactive PDF.

Hope that helps...

Go to original post