School Information
Further Reading
Here we try to alert you to some useful information on key elements of ICT along with some of the latest relevant research findings to both explain the reason for wishing to highlight the digital divide, and to help those putting together a “business case” for becoming more pro-active in overcoming it, whether as a school, a concerned parent, a potential donor or a policy maker.
Most of these reports are in the public domain and published on the Internet so wherever possible a weblink is provided. Please refer to the full report for a more detailed assessment of the findings.
If you have research that you are prepared to share please let us know so that others can benefit.
Broadband and WiMAX explained
There has been a huge growth in the use of the Internet over recent years. Email is an established business tool in almost all industries. Schools and colleges rely on the Internet for research and both internal and external communication. Access at home for emailing, social media and online video services, such as BBC iPlayer is increasing. In June 2009 the research company Nielsen Online reported that there were over 48 million Internet users in the UK – where we have a population of just over 61 million. The requirement for greater broadband speed for each of these areas is continually growing as the Internet content becomes ‘richer’ (more graphics, videos and sound).
WiMAX is one of the latest technologies that will provide wireless broadband What is Broadband?. It is similar to WiFi (used inside buildings to get wireless broadband to a pc or handset) but designed for high speed over a wide area. WiMAX can deliver up to 40 Mbps over up to 15 miles. The actual throughput and coverage will depend on the local environment and how much of the signal is lost in buildings etc. It is fully standardized, and is able to provide both fixed connections, as well as nomadic and mobile connections.
Motorola have kindly prepared a document to explain both of these fields in more depth.
Health & Safety
The South West Grid for Learning provide a self review tool for schools covering all aspects of eSafety for schools and pupils. The tool also provides all manner of resources (policy templates, learning resources, etc.) to support the development of effective esafety practice.
Learning 2 Go
Many educationalists have come to the view that in order for learners to engage with their education in the 21st Century, they need to have greater access to the technology that is now embedded into their every day lives. The young learners currently starting school are among the first learners who were born in the 21st century. They are learners born into a world where mobile devices, games consoles, the internet, interactive TV and constant 24-7 multimedia are common place. How will our current educational system respond to this change in our way of life?
The Wolverhampton Learning2Go Mobile learning initiative brings into focus, a six year arc of work which began with the initial pilot phase in 2004. The report looks at the range of devices and age ranges now engaged in Mobile learning in Wolverhampton. It highlights in particular the use of Net books and compares them to Handhelds.
Perins School - independent notebook report
Perins recently commissioned an external consultant to undertake, what has proved to be a very useful, study of their Notebook Scheme. The report outlines the impact of e-learning at Perins in 2010. The consultant spoke to parents, students and staff and the results give a very positive outlook on e-learning schemes in schools.
Family Spending Survey
Every year this survey records a wide number of items that families record they have bought, done or own. This includes a PC and the Internet. Data is split by region, family composition and family income, which makes it very useful for tracking progress in overcoming the digital divide amongst families with children.
BESA ICT in UK State Schools
This survey is conducted every year and BESA members are entitled to see a full copy of the report.
OFCOM: Growth in Internet take-up
Research published in June 2009 suggested a surge in interest in taking up the Internet, especially amongst younger people and families with children. Those still not planning to get on-line split between the self-excluded and the financially excluded.
Breaking the Link between disadvantage and low attainment
This paper, published by DCSF (now the Department for Education) in March 2009, sets out the Government’s policy on breaking the link between poverty and attainment. The impact of poverty on educational achievement remains significant, in most cases about 20 points difference between children on FSM and the others. It is therefore not surprisingly a major policy objective of the Government. Our work at the e-Learning Foundation aims to address the same issue, ensuring that children from, low income families have access to the same learning technologies at home that their better off peers have had for many years.
UK Children Go Online
A major two year research project conducted by Professor Sonia Livingstone and Dr Magdelena Bober of the LSE contains a wide range of fascinating and relevant findings about how children use and benefit from being to go online.
Latest Internet statistics
The latest Office for National Statistics figures show that 73% of households now have the Internet with London and the South East (83% and 79%) way ahead of the North West and the North East (71%, 59%).
A major difference can be seen in Internet Access and qualifications, with 97% of adults educated to degree level or higher have used the Internet compared to just 45% of adults with no formal qualification. The difference can also be seen in age where 99% of 16-24 Yr olds have used (and only 1% have never used) the internet while with the 65+ group only 40% have used while 60% have never used the internet.