EdTech

[sippo]

Anyone heard of them? Funded by the DFE, schools offering training. We have been offered some.

 

https://edtechdemo.ucst.uk/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

[paulkerton]

The EdTech Demonstrator Programme is the DfE's big push for Education Techonology in schools, with several schools signing up as the regional demonstrators.

I say big push... it could push harder but it is at least doing something.

So it's more than legit, it's a DfE thing.

[Brimstone]

Just bear in mind this is NOT about IT it's about how technology can support and enhance great teaching and learning in schools

[stevejp]

Minion in the DfE (running excitedly into office): guys, I’ve just invented this new thing - what do you think?

Other minions (gathering round excitedly): ooh, shiney! What’s it called?

First minion: I thought I’d call it (pauses for dramatic effect) …a ‘wheel’!

Other minions: Oooh - shiney, shiney!

 

Please note: no cynicism intended (he lied).

[GrumbleDook]

The EdTech Demonstrator programme is something that has growing for some time. The drive from the EdTech Leadership Group to have a funded programme of good practice around EdTech for Learning and Teaching kickstarted this, but there have been moves to this for a long time, through groups such as the EdTech Leadership Group's predecessor, ETAG, and the FE equivalent, FELTAG.

It is not that is it new. https://www.ednfoundation.org/2020/02/18/edtech-demonstrator-national-project/ gives you some idea of the work already done, and there was a lot of politics involved at the start of lock down to continue to get advice out to schools on implementation (the programme from The Key used DfE funds to support rollouts), and then the renewed contract went to United Learning (and there are many members on here who work for them) who are doing a very large promotional drive.

This also fits around things such as BESA's LearnEd and LendEd programmes, work from SWGfL and LGfL, constant drives from Microsoft, Google and Adobe ...

There is *always* something going on.

 

One problem is that there is not always a conversation with the IT staff who work within schools, those who have to do due diligence or those who have to need to make it sustainable.

 

Knowing the way some of the folk at United Learning work ... I wouldn't be surprised to see more advice coming from them around that.