Scottish Government

Information and communications technology (ICT) in education

The ICT in Education Vision

"Scotland’s educators, learners and parents take full advantage of the opportunities offered by technology in order to raise attainment, ambition and opportunities for all."

This vision is underpinned by the five ICT in Education Objectives, which are to:

• Change the Culture of the use of ICT
• Improve confidence in the use of ICT
• Promote new behaviours for teaching using ICT
• Deepen parental engagement
• Strengthen the position on hardware and infrastructure

The Scottish Government has established a new national procurement framework for notebook and tablet devices, for use in education, at market leading prices.

• National Framework for Notebook and Tablet Devices
• New National Framework for Notebook and Tablet Devices - Engage for Education News

The ICT in Education Excellence Group delivered their report on the future of Glow to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning in January 2013.

To take forward consideration of the report and its recommendations, a Project Implementation Board has been established.   The Excellence Group has been retained as a Reference Group to this Board, with the Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Muffy Calder continuing as its chair.   A Stakeholder Group has also been set up to provide input and ensure that all relevant interests are taken in to account.

In addition to the development of a successor to Glow, the Cabinet Secretary has outlined three further key priorities for ICT in Education - Bring Your Own Technologies, Broadband Infrastructure including appropriate levels of Wi-Fi, and Security and Web-filtering.

Useful Links

• ICT in Education Excellence Group meeting with the Cabinet Secreatry for Education and Lifelong Learning

Glow

• Find out more information about Glow developments

The ICT in Education Excellence Group, was convened by the Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Muffy Calder at the request of the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, the Group was asked to consider the future development of the Scottish schools’ intranet ‘Glow’.

Over five months the Group, which consisted of IT and education specialists and end users. The Group visited schools across Scotland to look at the experience of using of ICT for learning.

The Group's final report makes recommendations to the Cabinet Secretary on how to ensure that future Glow is dynamic and remains relevant to its users for years to come. The Group has also produced a set of technical annexes that look at the range of issues in more detail, as well as a set of user stories which describe how a future service could be used by teachers, learners and parents in different circumstances.

To consider the report and the feasibility of the recommendations a Project Implementation Board has been established. The Excellence Group has been retained as a Reference Group to advise going forward.

Useful Links

• Final Report and Minutes of Meetings
• ICT in Education Excellence Group Report is Published
• The Cabinet Secretary reflects on the work of the ICT in Education Excellence Group
• The Excellence Group completes its report on the requirements of a future Glow service - Muffy Calder
• Glow Plus User Stories
• Glow – Schools IT Excellence Group set up