|
|
|
In 2007, a lot changed in the world of IT and
education and it already looks as if 2008 is going to see even faster
change. Our thoughts are starting to look further ahead so that we can
support you as you react to new government policies and directions.
Across schools, FE and HE, we're working with leading edge customers to
exploit new technologies, to support teaching, learning and management.
Some of those stories are detailed below, so take the time to think about
how we can help you to solve problems that haven't yet hit your inbox!
Ray Fleming, Microsoft UK Education Team
|
|
Partners in
Learning Programme Extended
Microsoft Commits to a Further
Five Years
First launched in 2003, Partners in Learning is
our global programme that reflects our commitment to making technology
more affordable, relevant and accessible for everyone in Education. Since
inception, the programme has reached more than 80 million teachers and
students in 101 countries and we are delighted that last week's
announcement confirmed that we are continuing our commitment for another
five years, and will bring our overall investment worldwide to almost
£250 million.
Going forward, Partners in Learning will focus on the three areas that
have the greatest potential to transform education:
Innovative Schools - helps schools to move beyond the limits of
the classroom and traditional learning models to prepare all children for
success in the 21st century. This program aims to use shared experiences
and goals to create innovative, forward-looking models that any school,
anywhere can use to improve learning experiences and outcomes.
Innovative Teachers -
this network enables teachers worldwide to learn from one another and
collaborate on new approaches to teaching and learning. The Innovative
Teachers Forums recognises and rewards outstanding uses of technology in
the classroom.
Innovative Students - aims to give students access to programs and
curriculum resources that help to fully integrate technology into the
learning process, both in school and at home. This program also enables
qualified governments to increase technology access for under-served
primary and secondary student households that aspire to own a PC with
affordable and reliable software.
To find out more about the programme and the initiatives it covers, go to the Microsoft Education
website . If you'd like to receive a free Partners in Learning DVD
containing digital literacy and e-safety information, as well as
curriculum and classroom resources, email your name and address details
to cdreques@microsoft.com and
we will send you one.
|
Transforming
Education - The Microsoft Learning Gateway
|
|
|
Schools Minister shows Shireland Learning Gateway
At the BETT show earlier
this month, Schools Minister, Jim Knight, opened the event by laying out
the DCSF policy initiatives for the future. These include the government
target for secondary schools to provide access to real-time reporting
information, such as attendance and assessment information, for parents
and carers by September 2010, which is also the deadline for all schools
to provide access to a personalised learning platform for their pupils
both in and out of school.
In his opening speech, the Minister demonstrated the Shireland Learning Gateway
as a portal that already meets these government objectives. Developed
over a number of years on top of the Microsoft Learning Gateway,
the Shireland Learning Gateway, along with the the school's overall ICT
strategy, has enabled the school to progress from a 'very good' OFSTED
rating in 2002 to an 'outstanding' one in 2006.
In November 2006, talking at the Specialist Schools Conference in
Birmingham, former Prime Minister, Tony Blair, called the Shireland
Learning Gateway "One of the most remarkable ICT systems in the
country," and their solution is now being used nationwide to provide
a Learning Platform for another 100 secondary and primary schools.
Read the Shireland case
study and watch the video
|
|
Transforming Education Nationwide
 Although learning gateways
and personalised learning environments are fairly recent buzz words, here
at Microsoft we have been working with our customers and partners for several
years to enhance teaching and learning experiences and outcomes through
technology.
For example, with more than 1,000 distance learners, Durham Business School
uses the Learning Gateway to ensure they stay connected and can
easily access the resources and information they need.
Coventry University has
implemented a new on-line voting system and is saving thousands of
pounds per academic year and hours of administrative time, while student
participation in elections is on the increase now that they no longer
have to go to ballot stations to take part.
A specialist school for children with behavioural problems, Hunters Hill Technology
College, has transformed communication and collaboration amongst its
key stakeholders and can now transfer information safely and securely to
learners, parents, client schools, governors.
Read more of our customer
success stories in this area to find out how schools, colleges and
universities nationwide are using the Microsoft Learning Gateway in a
myriad of creative and innovative ways to improve education.
|
|
The City of Leeds Creates Collaborative Education
Network
The Leeds Learning Network (LLN) is using the Microsoft Learning Gateway
to connect schools, libraries, and the 100,000 plus students living
and learning in the Leeds area.
Originally implemented in 2000, the LLN ensured that Leeds was well ahead
of schedule to meet the government's 2010 personalised learning target.
In 2007, LLN upgraded its Learning Gateway infrastructure to SharePoint
Server 2007 and started to use the SharePoint Learning Kit,
a free resource that helps to meet the specific needs of education.
It enables timetable data from the schools' MIS system to be integrated
into the Office SharePoint Server 2007 learning kit component, which
forms part of each school's Web presence, and with this system both
teachers and students can create collaborative online spaces called My
Sites.
Teachers can also create sub-sites for individual classes that contain
relevant curriculum materials and resources that pupils can access
anytime, anywhere.
The LLN site also
features blogs, news and events to engage learners throughout the city,
while teachers have the opportunity to access free training to keep up
with the latest teaching objectives.
Read the Leeds Learning
Network case study
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Free SharePoint training
If you missed the blog
just before Christmas about this, make sure you don't miss out on the
free SharePoint
training on offer from the Microsoft Download Centre.
Learn how to create document libraries, to store and search for
documents, to collaborate through discussion boards, blogs and wikis, get
feedback using surveys, and much more.
The training is broken down into short sections featuring articles,
videos and interactive options so you can easily focus on the areas
applicable to you and choose the learning style that suits you best.
To further enhance your use of SharePoint, you can also download the free
SharePoint Learning Kit. An e-learning delivery and tracking
application it has the following core features:
. Allows assignment, tracking and marking of both e-learning and
non-e-learning content.
. Supports learner-centric and instructor-led (assigned) workflows.
. Supports SCORM 1.2, SCORM 2004, and Class Server content, allowing
users to store and manage this content in SharePoint document libraries.
|
|
Education Live Meeting programme
Every Thursday in term time, we are running free Live Meetings
specifically for education to enable you to get the most out of your
Microsoft solutions. All you need to do is log on to your computer from
3.30 to 4.15pm to watch and listen to the presentations.
Coming up over the next few months is:
. January 31st: Reducing those hidden costs - a new way to deploy
applications
. February 7th: Is your network secure? Top tips for data security
. February 14th: Virtual Teaching - extending learning across
institutional boundaries
. February 28th: Give us 30 minutes of your time and we'll save
you hours! Getting the most from your desktops.
. March 6th: How high are your support costs? There must be a
better way to manage your infrastructure
. March 13th: Managing the value in your education software assets
Find out more, register for upcoming meetings and replay previous
meetings on our Live
Meeting page
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To cancel your subscription to this newsletter, reply to
this message with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the Subject line. You can also
unsubscribe at the Microsoft
Profile Centre if you have a Microsoft Profile. You can manage all your
Microsoft.com communication preferences at this site.
THIS DOCUMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THIS PROGRAM ARE FOR
INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.
The information type should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the
part of Microsoft and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any
information presented after the date of publication. INFORMATION PROVIDED
IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED 'AS IS' WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. The user
assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and the use of this document.
microsoft.com newsletter e-mail may be copied and distributed subject to
the following conditions:
1. All text must be copied without modification and all pages must be
included
2. All copies must contain Microsoft's copyright notice and any other
notices provided therein
3. This document may not be distributed for profit
Company Details: Microsoft Limited, Microsoft Campus, Thames Valley Park,
Reading, RG6 1WG
Email: 2way@microsoft-contact.co.uk
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
