http://partners.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=rh&catcode=_re_rp_02&rid=17153

"Developments in infrastructure provision, have been the most successful strand of the Harnessing Technology strategy to date. One area related to infrastructure may need strategic attention, however: use of learning platforms"

"The Harnessing Technology schools survey is an annual, nationally representative survey intended to assess the uptake and use of ICT in schools across England. It aims both to give a broad overview of the 'state of the nation' of use of ICT in the school sector, and explore, and further clarify, what it means for educational institutions, notably schools, to be 'e-mature'. The focus of the survey is particularly wide, with topics including ICT leadership, infrastructure and impact on learning and teaching."

"The majority of teachers across all sectors are confident and enthusiastic about using ICT. The substantial majority of ICT co-ordinator respondents (77 per cent) reported that teachers in their schools were either very confident or quite confident with ICT."

"Developments in infrastructure provision, have been the most successful strand of the Harnessing Technology strategy to date. One area related to infrastructure may need strategic attention, however: use of learning platforms."

"Teachers were largely positive about the potential contribution of new technologies to learning. For example, around three-fifths of teacher respondents agreed with the statement that pupils enjoy lessons more if they use ICT than if they do not. Across all three sectors, there was agreement generally that ICT plays a positive role in engaging pupils in learning, having an impact on attainment and in terms of personalising learning."

"......technical developments have been accompanied by important ongoing changes in attitudes towards, and confidence in, the new technologies, particularly among teachers and school leaders. The survey findings revealed that the majority of teachers, across all school sectors, were confident and enthusiastic about using ICT. Perhaps one of the most significant survey findings was that teachers’ use of digital learning resources is increasing, with one-quarter of teachers uploading such resources at least once a week.

Teachers are also positive about the benefits and the potential contribution of new technologies to learning. For example, a substantial majority of teacher respondents took the view that pupils enjoy lessons more if they use ICT than if they do not. Across all three sectors, there was agreement generally that ICT plays a positive role in engaging pupils in learning, having an impact on attainment and in terms of personalising learning".

"...the use of learning platforms by schools is increasing, progress is limited. Substantial proportions of schools still do not have a learning platform. Furthermore, the most common uses for a learning platform are as a repository for documents for learning and teaching and, secondly, as a store for digital learning resources, both of which could be seen as ‘passive’ uses. There is also evidence that the culture of classroom technology use is still geared primarily towards display and presentational functions."

"Understandably, it takes time to embed new technologies, and the simpler technological functions will inevitably be used first, but there does seem to be evidence to suggest much potential for the more engaging use of learning platforms, school networks, and devices."