Use the online Learning Platform self-evaluation matrix. Click this link and scroll down to the heading entitled 'ICT Infrastructure'. Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Vision
What is our vision for how the learning platform will shape education in Bolton over the next 3-5 years?  Instead of us producing a vision for this we've set up a Wiki where we invite you contribute whatever you think the vision should include. You'll need a passcode to click 'edit' and add your bit.  The passcode is bolton .

About
This area of the TLC is now the reference point for schools on the subject of the Bolton Learning Platform Solution which will enable all schools to take up the challenges and opportunities brought by the Government's Harnessing Technology Strategy

• What is a learning platform? [new window]
• 'Technology will be key in delivering the Children's Plan. ' - Jim Knight's speech (09/01/08)[new window]

What does it look like? 
The Uniservity learning plaform has features common with a typical web site e.g. navigation, pictures etc.  However it can also do much more, specified as compulsory, by BECTA the Government's ICT arm.  So as well as  a web site look and feel there's also a much deeper layer that is all about enabling schools to use/harness technology in a very safe and managed environment.  We're getting some usernames and passwords set up for these two demo schools so that you can start to get a feel for what this all could look like. Your site would look different again.

How can a learning platform do this?
Well much of the power of a learning platform is derived form the unique way it can integrate and use existing school systems such as SIMS.  In fact its the Government's target for 2010 that the authority learning platofrm integrates fully with existing information management systems.   Very importantly the Government has specified rigorous rules with which learning platforms must comply so that they can interoperate with other industry standard systems in a completely secure way.  Child safety and data security is an imperative.

• Learning platform definition for secondaries

Why integrate our systems into a learning platform?
Lots of reasons for this but primarily you'll find that there's a massive labour saving opportunity to be had.  For example, you won't have to manually create or maintain user accounts like you did with the last system.  You, parents, children will also be able to read information from SIMS online as part of the learning platform from anywere if it was wanted.

Does this affect our school websites?
No.  Your current website will continue to be supported for at least the next two years.  The future of school websites is secure!  In the future though we do envisage a very tight integration between what you choose to show publically and what you choose to keep within the managed and secure learning platform.  It's anticipated that in the UK the trend will be to clearly define the role of public information and managed information through one system.

Real opportunity
Interest in the new learning platform is high in both secondary & primary schools and we're looking to see a really positive impact upon outcomes for young people through a whole LA approach.  Where the learning platform will really begin to add value is in how it works with schools existing SIMS systems.  Schools can expect a very tight  and 'automated' integration of SIMS as part of the learning platform and even moreso since it was announced last week that Uniservity are now in the unique position of being Capita's preferred learning platform provider.  16 high schools and 92 primary schools have so far been trained and so far feedback has been positive.

More on SIMS (in plain English!)
At its most basic, SIMs integration is used to synchronise pupils, teachers and classes in SIMs with the learning platform (aka: cLc=connected learning community). In addition to this, we also have the capability to import assessment, timetable, attendance and behavioural information from SIMS into the cLc, but this has not been released at present by Capita.

There are two ways that the cLc communicates with SIMS

1. Remote Client
   This version provides a one-way data flow from SIMs to the cLc and synchronises pupils, teachers and classes. This happens by running a small piece of software on the SIMS server that extracts this information and sends it to the cLc which imports the data. Typically SIMs and the cLc are synchronised over night.
2. Capita Web Parts
   The second aspect of SIMS integration relates to embedding Capita Web Parts into the cLc. Web Parts are components that sit inside the cLc but look and operate as if they were SIMS. This means that two-way communication between the cLc and SIMs is provided in real time. Before the provider of the learning platform can  complete this work through they require the Capita Web Parts which are expected to be released around mid April.

Communication & Partnership
If you're a head teacher then you'll hopefully be up to speed on how things have been progressing and the news of a change in provider won't be a big surprise.  Over the last 8 months there have been formal and informal updates to try and keep head teachers informed of progress.  However, classroom teaching colleagues may not be quite as aware of how things have been progressing and we'll be addressing that need for wider/deeper communication very shortly. 

We're keen to say that this focus on communication will extend into the homes of children and young people too.  There's much to do to help parents understand what the potential of  a learning platform is, especially in the current climate of concern around young people using the web.  Read this 18/1/08 BBC news report for more. [opens in new window]

The Change
There are many changes associated with this project and LA officers are currently dedicated to the task of making this period of change as smooth as possible.  It's a two-way thing of course and these changes will not happen without schools and other colleagues fully understanding their role - this will come down to communication and working in partnership as you might imagine.