Andy Tyerman, Becta, 10:45 Wednesday, What will a personal online learning space mean for schools and for learners? Where are we now?

The Government target for learners to have access to a personal online learning space by March 2008 will be a significant move towards the widespread uptake of technologies that widen access to learning. Learners will increasingly take greater control over their learning as they have choices about when and where they are engaging. What are the challenges to the role of the teacher and the school to ensure that best practice and effective use of the technologies leads to improved outcomes for learners in the shortest possible timescales? The session will provide an update on the current position and how learning platform technology is having significant impact around the country.

Becta keynote address, Niel McLean, Personalising learning in a connected world

The debate about personalising learning asks challenging questions. To what extent is it possible or desirable to meet individual learners' needs? If we want to open up real possibilities to personalise what is learnt, how it is learnt, where it is learnt, when it is learnt, how learning is supported, and how it is recognised, do we have the tools for the job? If new technology offers us the tools, what does that mean for the role of the teacher and the school? This session considers the challenges and opportunities for personalising learning in a connected world.

Tony Richardson, Becta, Delivering the e-strategy for education

This session will be led by Tony Richardson, Executive Director, Strategy and Policy, Becta.

This session will set out Becta’s view about what the e-strategy is aiming to achieve in order to extend, enhance and enrich learning and to empower learners. It will be put in the national context of the evidence we have of the impact of the Harnessing Technology Strategy on the quality of learning, learner motivation and engagement and the evidence of impact on achievement. It will outline the future development of the strategy – in the context of a more demand-led system. This will ensure the needs and demands of learners, parents/carers and employers drive the way 21st century technology is harnessed to create a much more personalised system for all.