How to implement Anytime Anywhere Learning in your school 

Step 1

Are you clear about what you think AAL will achieve for your school? 

AAL is about changing pedagogy through 1:1 access to a portable learning device.  It is to do with all of these things and much more:

• Redefining the roles of teachers and learners.

• Empowering learners.

• Extending learning beyond the confines of the classroom.

• Bringing people/resources/contemporary data into the classroom.

• Providing audiences for learners.  All children can be publishers.  Peer review.

• Developing quality Grid/Web based resources.

• Using Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) and Managed Learning Environments (MLEs).

• The development of higher order thinking skills.

• Lifelong learning.

What will be the emphases in your school?  Is your vision detailed in the School Improvement Plan?

Step 2

Is your school ready?  Have you an ICT Capable School?

• Is your school making progress as detailed in Success for Everyone (A Standard for ICT)?

• Have you implemented the ICT Guarantee in your school?

• Also read and complete “Getting Ready for AAL” - below.

 
Step 3

Select a portable learning device that will has sufficient functionality to deliver your vision for AAL. 

Conventional laptops have the similar functionality to desktop machines but have a number of possible disadvantages:

• Weight – if they are to be carried to and from school by young children.

• Size – they have a large footprint on a normal classroom desk.

• Battery life – much less than the school day.  So charging racks are needed wherever the laptops are used.  If you are looking for cheaper laptops then do not skimp on the battery.

• Boot up time.  2-3 minutes of possible disruption at the start of each lesson.

• The temptation to store work on the local hard drive – because it is quick and easy.  This is fine until the machine goes down and then the work could be lost.  Encourage learners to get into the habit of copying work to a network drive whenever they are connected.

• Down time.  Laptops are not as reliable as desktop machines and when a machine goes down then the learner could be without it for several days.

Alternative devices might be smaller “thin client” machines, including A5 Windows CE computers and Web tablets.  Workshops where these devices can be seen and used will be arranged from time to time.  The dates, times and venues will be posted within these pages.

 
150 laptop computers @ £1,200 each * = £180,000 or a lease of approx. £60,000 per annum. 

* Note:  This figure includes a software bundle, a wireless network card and insurance.

Year One

This leaves £33,000 to be found by parental covenanting.  The school predicts that the following percentage of parents can afford to pay the following amounts.

Notes:

• All parental donations paid into the Birmingham e-Learning Foundation will attract Gift Aid and so the above model is viable in year one.

• In subsequent years there will be a shortfall as the initial donations will not be available and other grants may amount to less.

• Also if the school wishes to extend the pilot then each cohort will get less of the school budget contribution and other grants.

• The above illustration does not include a figure for upgrading the school’s infrastructure.

• Parents will more than one child at the school may be invited to pay at one of the lower rates for the second and subsequent child.

Step 5

Hold meetings with parents to “sell” them the vision for AAL and test your financial model.

Details of approved AAL suppliers will appear here shortly along with some PowerPoint presentations which you may find useful.
 

Step 6

Complete the paperwork and place the orders.

For details of “City” leasing contact the Phil Horgan, Education Finance Technical on 303 2788.

Parents should complete the following forms:

“Standing Order Authority” – try to get one completed per parent/guardian.  I.e. if the parent has more than one child at the school then add up all of the contributions and put them on one standing order authority.

“Gift Aid Declaration” – one per tax paying parent/guardian.  This is for the initial donation.

“Deed of Covenant” – this will allow the Charity to claim gift aid on all subsequent donations.



Step 7

Evaluate what you have achieved against the measures laid down in your School Improvement Plan. 

• What can your learners do now that they couldn’t before?

• What difference has the technology made to learning in general – not ICT.

• Which new audiences have learners reached?

• Have learners been able to publish their work electronically?

• Which new media have learners been able to explore?

• Has the technology been used to exploit multiple intelligences?

• What have you been able to bring in to the classroom (virtually)?

• How has AAL facilitated learning outside of school hours?

• How has AAL affected the schools ability to work with the local community?

 
Step 8

Share what you have achieved on this site for the benefit of others.

• Resources developed as part of the project.

• Learning gains.

• Case studies.

• Use of virtual learning environments.

Getting Ready for AAL