BETT, the education technology show which took place this month, is now the largest event of its kind in the world. Running for over 20 years, the show’s consistent growth reflects the increasing significance of ICT within the educational environment – a subject that it now central to the strategic aims of both the government and schools. With personalised learning now a technological possibility, schools are being encouraged to adopt wide-ranging e-learning strategies wherever possible, creating a demand for the kind of IT infrastructures and financial support that will help make this goal a reality.

TDespite both financial and strategic assistance from the government, it can still be daunting for schools to implement the kind of in-depth, extensive and potentially disruptive IT solutions that they need. With this in mind, it can help to work with experienced IT and finance providers who can demonstrate a good understanding of the issues and practicalities involved and ease the path to e-learning.

At Syscap, we recently organised a seminar about delivering and sustaining a personalised learning environment. Held at a school that has adopted a far-reaching e-learning programme, and attended by representatives from around 50 schools, LEAs, education experts and opinion formers, the event was a good opportunity to find out from those involved just what it really takes to make personalised learning a reality.

What our experience taught us is that schools very often have good, clear goals about their hopes and expectations for e-learning, but that the administrative and financial side of things can be confusing and time consuming. With various different grants available from the government and a range of possible finance opportunities, we have found that schools can really benefit from support and advice from their IT supplier and finance provider about how to source the most appropriate equipment for their long term needs and the best and most sustainable way to finance it.

The education sector is hungry for more IT. Access to technology both at home and in the classroom has been shown to improve educational outcomes, and the government is committed to increasing IT provision for schools. As one head teacher said at our recent seminar: “We need to bridge the gap between the way our students live their lives and the way they learn. It’s not about knowledge, it’s about giving children the skills they need for the workplace and their future lives.”

Philip White

Syscap