This key document is produced by the Education Technology Strategy Management Group for the Department of Education, which took a consultative approach to formulate and develop the strategy. 38 events were organized until now to include stakeholder’s contributions and 1300 online visits were counted to the draft sections.

The strategy is embedded in broader vision; it gives a framework for action planning until 2008, but within a context of transforming education by 2020. Progress is seeked towards a unified Elearning strategy. The key issues is of the strategy is how digital, multimedia and communication technologies are being used ‘to enhance, improve and, ultimately to transform, education.’ Systemic change is in the foreground which embeds ICT into practice, transforming that practice where appropriate, rather than computerising existing processes.

The curriculum, which is currently revised, is a key factor in implementing the changes desired to address the needs of young people in the 21ct century information economy. It will be a broad curriculum which offers greater diversity, improved choices of courses, which can be adapted flexible to meet the needs of students.

John Anderson, the secretary and strategy coordinator, points out that scenarios envisage pupils submitting work on the school network, taking part in group sessions through video- conferencing when not in school, borrowing tablet PC’s and taking assessment online.

The key strategic priorities of the strategy that provide the framework of action for the next five years are:
o Enhancing practice for learners;
o Enhancing professional practice for teachers and leaders;
o Enhancing professional support services for schools;
o Innovating with the infrastructure, the connectivity and the school estate.

The strategy examines each of these priorities in detail and clearly establishes the milestones until the year 2008.

The strategy paper and all the documentation can be found under
http://www.empoweringschools.com/

New eLearning developments
www.elearningfutures.com

For more information on Northern Ireland see the Insight country report