The KingsNet Learning Platform

What is it?

It is a sophisticated, user-friendly, intuitive, online space in which teachers and learners can collaborate and communicate safely. It is a space in which all of its users can interact in ways that will enhance their work by connecting them beyond the rigid confines of classrooms and schools.

And it could be a lot of fun! Read on if you want to know more of the background to all of this or jump to the end to access the useful links to other information about this topic.

Background:

Following discussions with schools through the ICT Strategy Group we have teamed up with Viglen / it’s learning to provide a Kingston-wide online learning platform. Viglen is a major ICT company in this country (chaired by Sir Alan Sugar) with a substantial interest in the school sector. it’s learning is a market-leading Norwegian company dedicated to the provision of learning platforms to education.

Our aim is to develop this provision during 2007-8 and 2008-9 resulting, hopefully, in all of our schools engaging and working in this safe, secure, collaborative space. By setting this up as we have – with a cross-borough approach rather than at individual school level – the opportunities for exciting links to develop between teachers and learners in all of our schools is made very real.

If you want to know more about what this learning platform can offer you could start by referring to the links at the end of this page.

Timescales:

In order to ensure a manageable take-up of this offering the development is being phased in.

• Phase 1a – commencing June 2007, to include all learners and adults in Hollyfield, Richard Challoner and Southborough schools with a view to achieving full implementation by September 2007
• Phase 1b – commencing June 2007, to include all learners and adults in all remaining secondary schools, together with designated LA staff, with a view to achieving full implementation by September 2007
• Phase 2a – commencing in September, to include all learners and adults in up to 10 primary and/or special schools, with a view to achieving full implementation by December 2007
• Phase 2b – commencing in October 2007, to include all remaining relevant adults in all schools and additional LA staff; with a view to achieving full implementation by November 2007
• Phase 3 will involve all remaining primary schools. Timescale yet to be confirmed.

This should enable us easily to meet government targets that require that:

• all schools have available to them “a learning platform service with at least core functionality” by spring 2008
• all will have “integrated learning and management systems” by 2010

Useful links:

You could start with the material by Viglen at:

www.viglen.co.uk/viglen/sector/schools/vle/product.aspx?GUID=22180534187

or from the it’s learning literature at:

www.itsolutions.no/data/f/0/04/88/9_2401_0/Its_Hovedbros_v7_ENG.pdf

For a more abstract (and rather dry) overview you could try the Becta resources at:

http://schools.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=lv&rid=12887

or the resources on TeacherNet at:

www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/ictis/infrastructure/learningplatforms/faq/