Government drives forward the digital-learning revolution
Government drives forward the digital-learning revolution
The Government has announced a package of information and communication technology (ICT) measures for schools and colleges to drive forward the digital-learning revolution. Education and Skills Secretary, Charles Clarke,says the measures will enhance traditional teaching practices and embed the central role of ICT in raising standards. The package will help to develop teaching skills and practice across all education sectors, extend access to online digital resources and continue investment for an effective ICT infrastructure.
The measures include:
£280 million for e-learning credits which, with the funding already announced, provides £100 million each year for the next three years to give schools access to online curriculum materials;
£92 million to develop College Online;
£8 million for online training for teachers;
£195 million to provide more laptops for teachers over the next three years; and
£287 million to provide all schools with broadband capability by 2006.
Mr Clarke said: "Some people have contested the value of ICT in teaching and learning. I challenge that view. We have spent more than £1 billion creating an ICT infrastructure in schools, colleges and libraries, stimulating the content market and training teachers. We are now beginning to reap the rewards for that massive investment as effective use of digital resources in teaching and learning is making a difference to raising standards. We know that a choice of innovative and professional digital resources helps to transform classroom practice. That is why I am very pleased to announce that Curriculum Online is now fully open for business. The portal means a revolution in the way teachers can search, compare, select and share digital resources. We are making£300 million available between 2003 and 2006 as e-learning credits to ensure access to paid-for as well as free materials. The initiative has been developed as a true public-private partnership. We are now extending the concept of Curriculum Online for schools to the post-16 sector by developing College Online. The post-16 sector, via College Online, will also soon have access to a much wider range of high quality, learner-focused online content."
The Secretary of State also welcomed the announcement by the Culture Minister, Tessa Jowell, approving the development of the BBC Digital Curriculum. It is an important step in the drive to offer the widest choice of quality teaching and learning materials to schools. The BBC's media-rich resources will complement the Department for Education and Skills' Curriculum Online service to create a balanced, dynamic market for top-quality priced and free digital-learning materials for teachers.
