Report 2 - A Network to Share Best Practice

. How convinced are you currently about the impact of ICT on learners' learning?

There are real success stories – as this short report shows – of innovation, sharing
best practice, improving skills and exchanging ideas. These providers are identifying new pathways and methods of meeting previously unforeseen challenges around ICT as we take stock of the wider demands on all teaching and support staff, managers and other agents in the education and skills service.
The achievements of these pioneering networks of providers will help us all identify
and learn lessons about the best way forward, as we address the issues and take stock
of social, economic and cultural changes, not only at home but globally.


. What were the research projects you looked at?

Strengths of the networks:
• Peer support and interaction is well liked.
• Visits were well hosted and well received.
• Organised contact gives insights into other people’s methods.
• Peer activity validates your own work and gives recognition to good practice.
Challenges:
• Flexibility for running mini-networks was welcomed, but is there a need to
evolve the structure? How hierarchical – or flat – should it be?
• How can the lessons learned regarding the successful operation of the
Network be shared?
• How can the good practice in e-learning and the effective use of technology
be shared across a wider audience?
• How will the Network be sustainable in the future?


. Briefly state what the conclusions were.

The challenges Becta and the LSC set for all participating learning providers were to proactively communicate across the network and share their aspirations, the issues
raised, the learning gained and areas for development in an open and honest manner, and to positively contribute to the objectives of the network.


. Has your view on the value of ICT changed at all since reading this research?

No matter how poorly developed you think you are, there is always something you can teach the more advanced institutions.