20 Nov 2008
I am writing this in my classroom because our current network is down, which hopefully isn’t the shape of things to come.
Our new school building is almost ready and I am looking forward to using my dual-boot Mac/Vista machines and interactive whiteboard. I also can’t wait to use our virtual learning environment (VLE) to enable my students to embrace technology in the most efficient and useful way.
However, things aren’t actually that rosy for Building Schools for the Future (BSF). In particular, I’m worried about how this new “technology-rich” environment is to be rolled out to my colleagues and, arguably more importantly, the students.
For ICT staff and other motivated ICT users in the school, we have a one-day training opportunity to get up to speed with our VLE – Ramesys Assimilate. The next time we see it will be in a month’s time for one and a half hours and then we go live with 1,000 students accessing the new network and software. This scares me!
I am amazed anyone can think that the level of training and support provided is adequate. I am highly motivated and a self-confessed geek, so any new software interests me and I will play about with it until I am satisfied. However, for less skilled or e-confident staff, the implications are horrendous. How can they be engaged and confident after one and a half hours of use? Will ICT transform the teaching and learning of a class of 30 students with 12 old PCs stuck in the back of a classroom, especially when they run a system with which the staff don’t feel confident? There has been a missed opportunity to get them involved in the scheme.
I spend a lot of my time these days moaning and predicting the end of the world. Maybe I should stand outside school with a board saying “The end of the world is nigh”.
Things will be worse for the students. They will receive no training until they arrive at an ICT lesson. While young people pick things up and are happy to play about with new technology, take them too far out of their comfort zone and their confidence nose dives. I worry that the great things they have achieved already will be lost.
Thanks, BSF, for all the help and support in transforming ICT in education.
Mark Minghella
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Reader comments
As the letter's author, I'm incredibly unhappy at the slant given to the letter by computing magazine.
"The End is Nigh for ICT Education" is not my headline or related to my article. The closest link is the passage where I state that I feel like a portent of doom and hould be wearing a sandwich board. At no point do I say that ICT is in decline.
My letter is about my personal feelings and missed opportunities for student and staff engagement long before the final deadline date
Posted by: Mark Minghella 20 Nov 2008
Though I disagree with the 'slant' given by computing mag, I must say that I concur with the sentiments in this article. In my experience BSF - much like ict in education has left me and any of my peers I care to think of frustrated beyond belief. The problem lies with the people at the top calling the shots. The majority of the educational hierarchy are to a degree ict illiterate and are being poorly advised by companies whose area of expertise is usually lent to companies/establishments that deal with adults not kids, or are trying to get their proverbial fingers in the proverbial pie of education. And we all know this a gravy train that never stops. Outsourcing and contracts which tie schools' ict provision down to one company are bad news.
What often seems a good idea on paper, particularly in education, is not always good in practice. Also no-one seems to be addressing the deficit of ICT skills held by many teachers specifically the “non-geeks” and the “pre-playstation” generation
The point I’m making is that this all amounts to inadequate facilities and training being delivered to staff and pupils and ultimately the losers are the kids. Our future.
I sincerely hope that common sense will prevail and those with the power to change what is yet to happen will do, into something good, something special which will truly encapsulate the vision that they so desire.
Listen to the practitioners!!!!
Posted by: kw 21 Nov 2008
I should point out that there was no slant given to this piece, other than a headline which was taken from the body copy of the letter.
After discussion with Mark, I agreed to amend the headline in version.
The more important point here is the one Mark raised about the level of training being provided.
Gareth Morgan
Deputy editor, Computing
Posted by: Gareth Morgan 21 Nov 2008
Thanks a lot Gareth; I think the new title sums up what the letter is about and makes it seem a lot less confrontational.
It is also nice to read the comments from KW as one of my main hopes with the letter was to spark a bit of debate and hopefully see if there are others who feel the same way. It would also be nice to hear some real success stories about well-managed roll-out processes that have engaged the staff and students
Posted by: Mark Minghella 21 Nov 2008
It may seem a bit sad, but Mr Minghella has himself a rather cushy position.
I have just moved from a school that spent millions of pounds on ICT (thanks to ICT Testbed) & is about to spend more with BSF. The majority of the staff are very young, and have had to adapt to the schools way of working with ICT. where there are older staff, they are predominantly SLT (Senior Leadership Team) and have enough free time to spend learning the systems.
I recently moved to another school, taking a promotion to Head of ICT in the process. In my classroom I have an interactive whiteboard that doesn't work, but in the other ICT suites there are no so such luxuries - one class make do with an A3 flipchart!!!
I have been told that this school is on the BSF list, but no-one seems to know if/when anything may or may not happen...
Dare I mention that this school has Maths & Computing Specialist status...
Posted by: Mark 03 Dec 2008
