Primary Strategy Learning Network

Press release - Innovative Devon primary strategy learning network uses video to help increase education standards

SLOUGH, Berkshire – 20 February, 2006: Polycom ® Inc, the leading provider of distance learning video conferencing and collaboration solutions for the education environment, today announced that five schools in Devon have deployed a Polycom video conferencing solution as part of their recently launched Primary Strategy Learning Network (PSLN). A government initiative, the PSLN is a programme designed to ensure that every teacher in every primary school has the opportunity to work within a group of schools, strengthening pupil learning and implementing effective Continuous Professional Development programmes.

The five primary schools, Tipton St John, East Allington, Bridgerule, Doddiscombesleigh and Widecombe-in-the-Moor are spread across the north, south, mid and east of Devon and have between 36 and 107 pupils on roll. One of the key strands of their PSLN is to maximise the common features of small schools and to explore the potential of video conferencing to support raising standards in writing, developing subject expertise and encouraging children to be aware of and celebrate the diversity of Devon.

All the schools in the PSLN have broadband connections and link to each other using the South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL) Video Conferencing Service. The main advantage of this over ISDN is that there are no call charges, so the schools can work together for extended periods of time without incurring any additional costs. The SWGfL also provides a multipoint facility so three or more of the schools can video conference together when they need to. The schools can link with other broadband users outside the SWGfL, and with ISDN users, using the UKERNA - JANET Video Conferencing Service which is working closely with schools throughout the UK via the Regional Broadband Consortia to provide a comprehensive video conferencing service.

Tipton Headteacher, Penny Burnside, has already had experience of video conferencing and thinks it is a powerful tool in the classroom. “In an earlier project we saw Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 children video conferencing across two small village schools, sharing their learning, their daily routines and their own experiences. We witnessed first hand children’s growing awareness of the world beyond their own school and village and the motivating impact of making new friends via video.

“As a PSLN we are continuing this work, but on a much bigger scale, involving five schools and all children and staff within the schools. Adult learning, through peer-networking and joint professional development, is a feature of the new project. Geographical distance provides real opportunities for innovative methods of communication and creative deployment of technology. The evaluation of the effectiveness of these technologies is an important element of the project and our objective is to learn new ways of working which we hope will be useful to other small or isolated schools,“ added Burnside.

The five schools are using video conferencing systems loaned to them by Polycom, in conjunction with its channel partners Review Video UK Ltd and JKC IT Ltd, an education specialist supplier.

“Polycom is delighted to support this innovative PSLN as it is a practical project that sets out to measure how valuable video communications can be in strengthening pupil learning across the primary school curriculum, and we look forward to reviewing the findings,” said Tony Heyworth, Polycom’s Director of Marketing EMEA. “We have strong relationships with education authorities and advisory services such as Devon Curriculum Services (DCS), as this allows us to work with them to demonstrate that video conferencing has become an everyday teaching tool and a crucial element in delivering the curriculum to pupils and students in primary, secondary and further education.”

The PSLN is also being supported by DCS advisers Tim Arnold and Steve Cayley, co-authors of ‘Video conferencing in the Classroom’, published in 2002 and revised in 2004 as part of the government’s support for video conferencing in UK schools.

“Video conferencing is increasingly being used in Devon schools and schools throughout the country to support teaching and learning. The technology has improved significantly over the past couple of years - these systems are easy to use, they deliver the voice and video quality that meet the requirements of the education environment and they are reliable,” explained Tim Arnold. “What we are keen to develop is examples of the embedding of this technology in the curriculum and this enterprising and innovative PSLN will provide the opportunity to do just that.

“The schools will be using video conferencing, and other appropriate technologies, to support a range of work from teachers using it for administration and professional development, to classes and smaller groups of children working collaboratively. The teachers are particularly keen to use the technology to support their programmes of work for Gifted and Talented children. We are very grateful to Polycom for their support for this Learning Network,“ concluded Arnold .

The first phase of the Devon PSLN video conferencing work started in earnest this month and will be going on until the end of the summer term – July 2006. The teachers will be evaluating the work over the summer and producing a report in October.

Contacts:

Based at the Digital Media Education Centre, Exeter +44 (0) 1392 426821

Tim Arnold, Adviser for Digital Media Education,
tim.arnold@devon.gov.uk

Steve Cayley, Adviser for eLearning,
steve.cayley@devon.gov.uk,

For Polycom

Sarah Chidgey, Sixth Sense, Tel: +44 (0) 1635 552694,
sarah.chidgey@sixthsense.co.uk

For Review Video UK Ltd

Barry Cross; Tel: +44 (0) 1189 701313
bcross@reviewvideo.com