Mobile technology initiative given national recognition
Released: 16 November 2007
A groundbreaking mobile technology initiative which is preparing Wolverhampton school children for the demands of 21st century working life has been highlighted in the annual report of England’s chief education inspector.
The city council’s Learning2Go project has been recognised as bringing a more personalised approach to learning by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills, Christine Gilbert.
In her report, which discusses the overall picture across education, child care and adult skills, drawing on evidence from inspection and regulation from the 2006/07 school year, the scheme is acknowledged in a chapter entitled ‘A sense of identity: growing up in 21st century England’.
Harnessing enthusiasm for mobile technologies, the Learning2Go scheme enables school children to use handheld computers (called personal digital assistants) in a fun and interactive learning environment, giving them a real boost in their studies.
Under the subheading ‘Information and communication technology’ the report says that such new technologies are integral to the lives of many children and young people, in school and in their leisure time.
It says: “There were examples of schools using information and communication technology to provide more personalised approaches to learning, some of which enabled young people to continue their learning in their own time at home.
“For example, a project in Wolverhampton, known as ‘Learning2Go’, used handheld computers to extend learning opportunities by providing multimedia content and a range of software to individual learners in any place and at any time.”
The report for the new Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills, published last month, also cites a particular example of this approach working effectively in a school:
“The staff and governors of one primary school in a challenging city area were placing greater emphasis on the use of information and communication technology in their work with the local community.
“They were involved in a number of collaborative information and communication technology projects, including the effective use of personal digital assistants to enhance learning for gifted and talented pupils.”
Councillor Christine Irvine, Wolverhampton City Council’s Cabinet Member for Schools said it was a great compliment for the project to be highlighted in the annual report.
She said: “It's fantastic to see the council’s Learning2Go initiative gaining more recognition.
“By enabling young learners to have these mobile devices they have become much more involved and engaged at school as well as being far more proactive about learning on their own. It’s a great example of how technology and smart thinking can make a real difference to young people’s education.”
Dave Whyley, the city's E-Learning Headteacher Consultant who developed the initiative, echoed Councillor Irvine’s reaction.
He said: “It is very unusual for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector to mention a local authority, let alone a specific initiative in their annual report like this.
“This is a massive achievement and shows the impact that the Learning2Go project is having in Wolverhampton and beyond.”
He added that as well as being fun and interactive, the skills being developed through Learning2Go were essential for later life.
“Many families do not have computers so these devices enable all families to use and interact with technology in the home, giving all school children the same opportunities to excel,” he said.
The mention in the annual report is not the first time Learning2Go has been recognised as a leading example of the use of mobile technology in learning, winning a National ICT in Practice Award, a Microsoft People Moving Business Award, as well as earning praise from Government ministers.
From video recording of science experiments to adding notes and questions to electronic versions of books, Learning2Go covers the breadth of the national curriculum. Pre-installed educational software and familiar Microsoft applications bring subjects to life - engaging pupils and encouraging them to further their learning while the highly portable devices mean pupils can continue to learn outside normal school hours.
Around 1,000 pupils and their teachers across 18 schools are currently signed up to the scheme, with plans to extend to more primary and secondary schools.
Issued by the press office.