This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Lighting up Learning
18/08/2006
It has been known as the Scottish Schools Digital Network National Intranet (SSDN), but from today the service will simply be known as 'Glow'.
Ultimately Glow will digitally link Scotland's schools, connecting over 800,000 teachers and pupils safely and securely. No other country's education system will have such a nationwide intranet.
The new name was chosen because on many levels it is believed it matches the objectives and aspirations of the national intranet. Education and learning do not change people and societies overnight but they do have a long-term positive effect.
Glow is intended to be fun, bright and hopeful - yet it is simple and accessible to all.
Pupils will find Glow easy to spell and remember while teachers will see it as a pool of resources that can help to make lessons more interesting and interactive.
Education Minister Peter Peacock said:
"These are exciting times for education. Our ongoing curriculum review - A Curriculum for Excellence - will change the face of learning and teaching and Glow will provide the tools to deliver this change. Our schools will have 21st century technology to support 21st century learning and teaching.
"To ensure the success of the intranet we needed a name that would resonate with all users. As well as being short and memorable, Glow is a name which conjures up images of the power of learning and will appeal to teachers and pupils."
Director of Learning and Technology at Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS), Laurie O'Donnell said:
"We expect that Glow will bring a range of benefits to teachers and learners, helping them to plan, collaborate, create, publish, and share effectively.'
"We want all of our learners and teachers to have the best available tools so that education in Scotland continues to improve and maintains its reputation as a world class service."
LTS, in partnership with RM, the company providing the national intranet service, believes it has created a look and feel that is consistent with the ambitions and long term goals of Glow.
- Glow is designed with one aim - to support educational development
- Glow will enhance the appetite for learning by exciting and motivating pupils
- Glow is for everyone: it gives teachers and pupils powerful online tools to work together in safety and security - at any location or time
Visitors to the Scottish Learning Festival in September will be able to get their first look at an early version of Glow as well as the opportunity to attend seminars to find out more. The festival at the SECC, September 20-21, is the key learning and teaching event in the education calendar.
Developing, testing and piloting of Glow is currently underway, with initial roll out to schools planned to start in mid 2007.
LTS is the lead organisation for the development and support of the Scottish curriculum. RM is the leading supplier of ICT to UK education, providing industry-standard, educational software, services and systems to schools, colleges and universities.