Summary

Futurelab is undertaking a programme of work - supported by Becta - to contribute to the 'Harnessing Technology: Next Generation Learning 2008-14' strategy launched in July 2008. This strategy aims to bring about a step-change in the way technology is used across the education and skills system, enabling learners to take greater control of their learning. In particular, it places emphasis on five key areas: learner entitlement; engaging family and informal learning; professional tools and support for teaching; mobilising technology leadership; and fit-for-purpose sustainable technology based on personal ownership.

Project type and status

This is an ongoing research project - for all outcomes available so far please follow the links below. The areas of work currently being undertaken (in partnership with Becta and others) are:

• the Map of Innovations project is developing a free, engaging and easy-to-use online space that gives access to a wide range of useful and relevant innovations across educations’ varied communities.
• researching how families and adults use digital technologies to learn outside of formal education, to support universal access to learning tools and content for learning in families and adult informal learning
• a programme of consultation and research to develop recommendations on system-wide responses to computer games and learning
• a programme of work contributing to the field of digital participation and literacy by working closely with practising educators, experts and children to devise, pilot, and review practical classroom approaches
• researching what factors support learners in successfully negotiating relationships between home and school learning; and how digital technologies might support learners, parents and teachers to mediate home-school relationships
• the Gaming in Families work programme explores the differing ways in which computer games are played and perceived in family settings, including parents’ and children’s attitudes towards gaming.

Follow the links above for further details on each of these areas.

Partners

Becta

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