Issue 5:
Maximising the
benefits of ICT
Technology, whether used in an institution or at
home, must play a full and seamless part in
supporting personalised learning and the gathering
of relevant assessment data. The Home Access
agenda and budget underlie the expectation that
learning when and wherever it suits the student is
crucial, including encouraging greater involvement
of parents and carers in the process.
Interoperability of content, software and hardware
is key to these goals, and standards to guarantee
compatibility and interoperability are required.
Responses to the Commission agreed on the need
but differed on the process. The extremes of
options to achieve this are: an entirely free-market
approach where standards will emerge from strong
commercial competition, or an entirely
government-directed approach where the
appropriate organ of government would interpret
government policy and generate standards itself.
The former approach will take too long and the
latter will guarantee unworkable standards that
both alienate industry and frustrate schools.
Listening carefully to responses, it is possible to
tease out a basis for consensus which accepts that
it is legitimate for government to set a priority
agenda, for example the implementation of
learning platforms within a stated timescale. Whilst
most head teachers at recent BESA focus groups
have confirmed they have learning platforms,
response on their effectiveness is so far
disappointing and interoperability difficulties are
part of the issue.
Recommendation 5
The Commission recommends that:
1 As the DCSF's relevant agency, Becta should lead the development of such standards. In
particular Becta can bring the dimension of understanding international standards
development to ensure the widest compatibility and competitiveness.
2 This leadership should be in partnership with industry so that there is joint ownership of
the outcomes.
3 Becta needs broader support to take this lead and a developed relationship with industry
to achieve the mutual confidence to act swiftly.
4 DCSF and its Information Standards Board should charge Becta with this initiative and
BESA in turn will commit to drawing industry into necessary developmental processes.
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