BSF and VLEs

[Diello]

Does anyone know if there is a document somewhere detailing that under BSF, the VLE will be provided by the winning bidder, and that schools won't be able to run their own isolated VLE due the need for cross-school collaboration?

 

Thanks

[beeswax]

It's a little easier to get out of the winning bidder's recommended VLE than it is managed services. If you (oh, ok, you and the head) decide that what is on offer is not what you want, then just say no.

The downside to this is that most of the LEA may be going with the managed services VLE, economies of scale and all that, 14-19 Diploma coordination plus a whole bagfull of other stuff.

[Grommit]

Does anyone know if there is a document somewhere detailing that under BSF, the VLE will be provided by the winning bidder, and that schools won't be able to run their own isolated VLE due the need for cross-school collaboration?

 

Thanks

 

The whole Mantra of BSF ICT rubbish is shared cross-school collaboration.. so if you want to fight them you have show you can share and not be a stand alone

[Diello]

Preaching and converted Just trying to convince someone else!

[Face-Man]

You may be able to retain your VLE and certainly any work that has been created in it. This is becuase the VLE is seen as a collection of tools/programs/content the key is the school needs to ask for it in it's school enhancements went the specification is draw up. Obviously the get out of jail for an MSP is it will "cost to much" to support

 

 

It's not the easiest of qoute but the follow section from

 

Partnerships for Schools

 

ICT Output Specification Guidance (August 2006)

 

2.1 Section 1a Design and Installation Requirements – Learning Platform

 

It is increasingly the case that local authorities wish to have a Learning Platform operational and available to teachers and students in BFS schools (or more widely) well in advance of the first new or remodelled school being ready for occupation. Where this is the case, the LA Enhancements column of the ICT Output Specification should make this clear and identify the section(s) of the Strategy for Change which make this a priority.

 

The aim is to have a learning platform which covers all the BSF schools. Bearing in mind the definition of a Learning Platform as something which - “is not expected to be a single product but may be a collection of interoperable systems or modules from different suppliers. Each may perform discrete functions, but collectively they should deliver the requirements described in Section 1b below.” – it is possible that the local authority and / or individual schools may wish to retain and integrate legacy applications such as an existing Management Information System (MIS) with new modules or systems to create a Learning Platform. Where this is the case, it should be clearly set out in the LA and/or School Enhancements column.

 

The local authority may wish to specify the need for unique identification namespaces.

 

The local authority may wish to ensure that learner information can be integrated with existing systems as necessary. These should be clearly specified for both the local authority and any school/academy-specific system that is to be retained.

 

Where they exist, school-specific administration and/or management information systems should be identified and categorised as possible for replacement or retention and integration.

 

Ability to manage/administer policies relating to access to chat rooms, discussion forums and bulletin boards for the local authority and school/academy. These should be documented (see section 1a4). For example, access to certain discussion forums may be restricted by age group or subject.

 

A list of appropriate resources which should be made available on a range of devices in a shareable format across the local authority and all schools/academies, irrespective of their involvement in BSF. It should be possible to combine information from a range of diverse sources easily and to be able to selectively share the output with others.

 

Schools with individual specialisms may wish to specify additional content enhancements to meet the needs of their visions. For example, specialist content for music composition and peer review.

 

Schools/academies should be able to submit pupils’ coursework in an agreed format to examination boards.

 

The LA should define how training in the use of the Learning Platform will be delivered: by the LA, by the LEP or via partnership provision.

 

The LA should consider whether the Learning Platform implementation should be phased or completed as one single task.