Learning Platform for Schools in the CLEO Region

 What is a Learning Platform?

In March 2005 the e-Learning Strategy Unit of the DfES launched its e-Strategy – Harnessing Technology: Transforming Learning and Children’s Services.
One of the key aims of this strategy was for every school to have a Learning Platform which can be used to support learning and teaching. Latest guidance from the DCSF reiterates this target in the Harnessing Technology: Next Generation Learning guidance 2008-2011:

"Becta’s Harnessing Technology: Next Generation Learning Strategy reflects our huge ambitions for the country. We want every educational institution to harness technology’s potential, every teacher and student to use it confidently. Children and young people must have access to high-quality technology to enhance their studies - be it at homw or in school" Jim Knight

A Learning Platform (LP) is “a generic term to describe a system of information and communication technologies that is used to deliver and support leaning” (DfES).

The term Learning Platform refers to a combination of IT services that support learning and teaching to enable more effective ways of working within and outside the classroom.

Key benefits of using Moodle include:

- communication and collaboration tools
- anytime, anywhere learning
- support of extended school activities
- encouraging parental engagement
- personalised learning
- promoting inclusion
- pupil monitoring and tracking

The DCSF Next Generation Learning 2008-2014 Strategy sets out the government's targets for ensuring that better use is made of ICT in schools to improve standards, pupils' motivation and engagement in learning and use of teachers' time.

The Government's e-strategy sets the expectation that:

- by spring 2008 every pupil should have access to a personalised online learning space with the potential to support an e-portfolio

- by 2010 every school should have integrated learning and management systems (a comprehensive suite of learning platform technologies).