This is a guest contribution from Nick Jeans, who leads the South Yorkshire e-Learning Programme's team of learning technologists.
E-sy.info is a VLE available to many primary schools, all secondary schools, colleges, Adult Community Learning and 400 small businesses in S.Yorkshire. A team of Learning Technologists have recently been appointed to promote the development and use of high-quality interactive learning materials by teachers, trainers and students which can be accessed via the internet any time, anywhere. These materials can be accessed through the VLE, at www.e-sy.info .
The 5 members of the Content Team visit schools and other organisations to demonstrate a large range of existing e-learning materials, some of which are free - like the National Learning Network (NLN) materials - some bought, and some which we commission from professional developers as and when the need arises. We invite discussion about how these resources can enhance teaching and learning. Teachers are also invited to find and save resources relevant to their needs.
The assumption, however, is that the best content is likely to be created by teachers themselves - relevant to the curriculum and guaranteed to be used. We have produced a number of easy-to-use templates in Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Flash for developing materials with teachers in subject-specific groups, which are then shared across South Yorkshire. We also intend to use commercial developers to produce more technically-demanding content as and when appropriate, still using teachers as the starting-point.
We help teachers to create interactive resources, preferably based on materials that they already use with classes. To make the most of this, staff bring their own worksheets. We then show how resources can be loaded onto the VLE and shared across South Yorkshire. They can then be improved through others using and adapting the material, perhaps adding images or other enhancements. The ultimate aim of e-sy.info is to share content and good practice across South Yorkshire, so that both progressively improve.
Readers wanting more information can contact me, Nick Jeans, by email.
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