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Londonlearning news update

December 2005

Young Animators honoured

	Rob Lee Jones at 3December

Londonlearning's new online BTEC award in 3D Modelling and Computer animation was showcased at the prestigious worldwide Alias event 3December.

24 cities around the world from Seoul, to London, to Los Angeles, took part in live events that united thousands of Computer Graphic artists and designers around the world.

Young students currently participating in the Londonlearning pilot of the exciting new course running at Lewisham City Learning Centre in South London presented their work to an enthusiastic audience assembled at the Olympia Conference Centre.

Alias, the leading software company hosting the event presented the Londonlearning students with a special prize to mark the occasion, reminding the industry representatives present that the students were the future of the CG industry.

"It was a great honour to be showing our animation work on the same platform as professionals who've worked on the Batman film and cutting edge adverts" said Daniel Grivsby, aged 17

Rob Lee Jones told the worldwide audience how the course developed key teambuilding skills as well as competency in Maya software. Lewisham City Learning Centre is now the first authorised Alias education training centre in the UK and teachers are now signing up for CG training before running the BTEC Awards.

November 2005

British Schools in UAE welcome online courses from Londonlearning

Beacon Education, the leading school management company in the Middle East will be offering the latest e-learning courses from Londonlearning to pupils in its flagship schools following an agreement made with Londonlearning's partner in the United Arab Emirates, UKS.

Commenting on his visit to Beacon's British School in Dubai, Mr Gerry Barnard, MD of Londonlearning said that the school was determined to offer the very best of e-learning from the UK to its pupils." It is exciting to think that a pupil at a Beacon School in Dubai will receive the same ICT tuition and online assessment as a pupil at the prestigious Westminster School or Dulwich College in England. Our products seem perfect for Taaleem and Beacon 's vision. We offer online courses from Preparatory school to University that also can be studied in the family. It was good to learn about their plans for a network of five individual schools with exceptional shared facilities in Dubailand and we look forward to working closely with teachers here in the coming months".

Other schools in Dubai will also be running the Londonlearning courses. "Dubai is a modern city that is growing so fast that it is vital that schools can keep up to date and offer the most modern courses that complement their environment. Emirates International School is one such fast growing establishment with first class facilities so we are delighted in their interest" said Mr Barnard.

October 2005

HMC Conference a success

Over 100 Head teachers from the UK's leading independent schools visited the Londonlearning exhibition stand at The Belfry, Warwickshire, UK during the annual conference of the Headmasters' & Headmistresses' Conference.

"As well as talking with potential new customers we were delighted to meet some of our existing customers and hear how well our e-learning courses are being received in their schools" said Gerry Barnard, MD of Londonlearning.

"The Headmaster of Ipswich School came to tell me that even though his Head of IT was unfortunately in hospital this term all IT lessons continued without disruption to the pupils' learning because of our online courses. That's what I call good news".

"During the conference, addressed by speakers from Government, the BBC and Higher Education one message was clear" said Mr Barnard, "Independent schools are centres of excellence in education that can help move the standards of teaching and learning forward without the constraints operating in parts of the state sector. We are therefore particularly pleased that some of our Independent school customers are sharing the experience of our e-learning courses in the wider community and working closely with state funded schools. We look to the Government and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to facilitate and encourage such collaboration".

During a Londonlearning reception held at The Belfry, Head teachers heard from pupils and teachers doing the Londonlearning ICT courses. One sixth former told the assembled audience that he had successfully completed the course in his own time without ever having to seek the help of a teacher. He said that the online tutorials and assessments had been fun to learn with and that he had been able to learn important ICT skills much more quickly than previously in the different schools he had attended.

Stephen Luck, BSc MSc PGCE MBCS, Head of ICT Bloxham School told the audience:

"The Londonlearning course combines excellent online learning resources with an efficient marking and reporting system which takes much of the drudgery out of administering what is essentially a skills based course. I have taught a wide range of ICT skills courses (including Key Skills) and can honestly say that the Londonlearning course is by far the best I have used".

Dean Close School were the winners of Londonlearning's prize wine tasting competition during the conference and will receive a £1000 courseware licence next month.

September 2005

Institute of Administrative Management to incorporate Londonlearning's ICT Awards in its professional body requirements

The holders of a degree and the Level 3 Online Certificate in ICT currently being piloted in the UK's top independent schools will be fast tracked for the Institute of Administrative Management's professional body membership according to an agreement reached in London this month.

"Having ICT skills is not a luxury in today's society, it is an essential skill in terms of employability" said David Woodgate, Chief Executive of IAM.

"We are looking forward to working closely with Londonlearning to bring the benefits of their excellent online ICT courses to the benefits of our members".

The Institute of Administrative Management (IAM) is a leading professional membership and awarding body. Founded in 1915, the IAM offers vocational qualifications in administration and related disciplines. With students in 65 countries it has an international reach.

Contact IAM at: info@instam.org

Caroline House, 55-57 High Holborn, London WC1V 6DX

August 2005

Latest Online 3D Modelling and Animation Course development on track

Londonlearning is pleased to announce that its latest online product has been submitted to the UK Awarding Body Edexcel for approval as a BTEC Short Course.

The online course will provide interactive learning using the industry leading software Maya. Through the 100 hour course, students will develop the 3D Modelling software skills suitable for future employment in the Design, Film or Games Industry.

The Londonlearning courseware provides interactive, online tutorials in Maya software that will appeal to a wide range of learners. These will include designers, architects, school pupils and computer games fans.

Londonlearning has developed the qualification in partnership with Lewisham City Learning Centre, the first Alias authorised education training provider in the UK for 3D modelling.

Professor John Vince, Head of the National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA) at Bournemouth University, is a strong supporter of the 3D course that Londonlearning and Lewisham CLC will provide for pre-university students. He believes that students going on to study animation at university will soon be required to demonstrate their prior 3D skills, particularly through an electronic portfolio of their work. This will result in less need to teach software skills in the first year of higher education, enabling universities to focus on higher-level creative skills, such as storytelling and filmmaking.

Zali Collymore-Hussein, Lewisham CLC Manager, says that their philosophy is to offer students and teachers access to the latest industry standard technology and to equip them with skills for the future. The use of Maya software for 3D animation projects strongly reflects this philosophy and has provided the opportunity for school pupils to unleash their creative potential.

The online course author, Rob Lee Jones wants to encourage pupils to dream big and to be able to use their creative imagination and produce professional results.   Rob says that through doing the BTEC course many school pupils will amaze adults with what they actually can achieve.

Londonlearning will announce through 'Update' when approval is received to offer the online course in schools. This is anticipated for September 2005.

For more information contact: rob_lee_jones@yahoo.com

July 2005

Londonlearning author short-listed for 2006 National Award

Dr. Andrew Storey, Head of ICT at Dulwich College has been short-listed for the prestigious Becta ICT in Practice Award.

Andrew was nominated by Lewisham City Learning Centre Manager, Zali Collymore-Hussein, for his leadership in ICT. Not only has Andrew led the talented IT team at Dulwich College to develop online ICT materials to support the application of IT skills across the curriculum at the College, but he has extended that leadership to guide Heads of ICT in local state schools in implementing e-learning and assessment.

Dr. Storey, the lead author of Londonlearning's highly successful online ICT courses that have been taken up by many Independent schools, has not only demonstrated his leadership qualities locally but   has exported his good practice in ICT around the world. Through the Londonlearning courses he has provided Heads of ICT in schools and colleges from Europe to China with powerful teaching and learning materials and a strategy for building and delivering ICT skills across the curriculum.

Judges from Becta, the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency have visited Dulwich College to interview Andrew. Winners and runners-up will be announced on 12 January 2006.

Becta is the UK Government's key partner in the strategic development and delivery of its information and communications technology (ICT) and e-learning strategy for the schools and the learning and skills sectors.

Becta's Awards schemes play a vital role as part of the organisation's commitment to identifying, exemplifying, rewarding and disseminating effective practice in ICT. The Awards are complementary, highlighting good practice across the spectrum of teaching and learning. The awards focus on practitioners (ICT in Practice Awards), learners (Creativity in Digital Media Awards), industry (BETT Awards) and whole educational institutions (Web Awards).

ICT in Practice Awards

The ICT in Practice Awards aim to identify models of excellent practice and use these to develop and promote effective practice in the use of ICT in teaching, learning, and leadership. The Awards allow us to share this information with the wider teaching community while rewarding individuals and teams who demonstrate exemplary practice in ICT.

The 2006 Awards closed for nominations on 7 April 2005.

June 2005

Online marking lifts assessment burden for teachers

Teachers from top schools across the UK travelled to London on the 14 th June to attend a Londonlearning training session on how to apply the latest online marking technology for delivering BTEC Awards in the classroom.

During the intensive training day teachers heard from Dr James Kinch and Dr Andrew Storey how the use of the technology had promoted formative assessment with pupils and improved teaching and learning in ICT.

Delegates attending the training day came from both Private and State schools who have adopted the BTEC Awards in ICT (online) from Londonlearning. They included teachers from Fettes College in Scotland, Tanbridge House School in West Sussex and Barnard Castle School in Co. Durham

During the day delegates had hands-on practice in using the marking engine to assess and report back on their ICT skills. They also learnt how easily they can now customise and produce detailed reports on pupil progress for parents and Head teachers.

They witnessed a live demonstration on how long it takes to actually mark the online external tests and provide comprehensive feedback to pupils taking the BTEC Award. One hundred and twenty tests from pupils at Westminster School in London were marked and returned to the Head of ICT in 14 minutes. "I'd like to see an Exam Board do better than that!" said one Head of ICT.

Hadi Shaheen from UKS in Dubai commented "Schools in the Middle East will love this. They already like the BTEC online tutorials but when they find out that all their marking problems are over they will be very excited. I am extremely impressed with the Londonlearning course and how easy it is to install the marking technology".

More information on the BTEC Awards in ICT (online) from mail@london-learning.com

May 2005

BTEC Online Awards presented to QCA

Representatives from secondary schools, Further Education colleges, City Learning Centres and the Awarding Body Edexcel met with the UK Government regulator, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to present the BTEC Awards in ICT (online).

QCA meeting, London

The QCA team who hosted the meeting included the head of e-assessment, the head of 14-19 education and the head of ICT qualifications.

The purpose of the meeting was to examine the BTEC Awards in ICT from Londonlearning in the context of QCA's new Framework for Achievement.

Andy Russ, Deputy Head of Tanbridge House School in West Sussex told the participants why the new BTEC Awards from Londonlearning would facilitate the smooth transfer of pupils from primary to secondary schools in ICT skill building.

Stuart Dethick, an ILT lecturer at Newark & Sherwood College described how the mini-tutorials and formative assessment were so valuable in supporting adult community learning and work-based programmes across the region.

Zali Collymore-Hussein told the meeting how the emphasis on IT skill acquisition within the software application was what learners and employment wanted today.

She said that " the BTECs underpin many qualifications currently in the National Qualification Framework. If the units were to appear in a Framework for Achievement, with appropriate credit ratings, then this would give schools and training providers the flexibility they need to respond quickly to local needs. The problem at the moment is that most qualifications do not keep up with the pace of ICT development and learner expectations.

For more information contact: zalihe@lewisham-clc.org.uk

April 2005

Latest version of BTEC Awards in ICT (online) courseware released

Londonlearning has released the latest updates to the successful BTEC Awards in ICT (online) courseware.

New Londonlearning satellite centres from Scotland to Sussex will soon be able to teach ICT, mark and report individual learner’s achievement using the latest Marking and Reporting Engine technology.

Londonlearning is delighted that all existing customers can seamlessly deploy the latest product update. New centres, including Fettes College in Edinburgh and Brighton & Hove High School in Sussex will be able to hit the ground running with the improved version.

The improvements to the courseware have been made as a result of valuable customer feedback.

“We welcome the input from teachers delivering our courses and the improvements we have been able to make demonstrate that the BTEC awards in ICT (online) are really designed by teachers for teachers” said Gerry Barnard, MD of Londonlearning.

For more information contact:
mail@London-learning.com

March 2005

ICT awards in Greece

Londonlearning has agreed a distribution licence in Greece for its BTEC Awards in ICT (online) courseware.

Following negotiations in London the President of the Greek company, ICT Hellas S.A., Mr George Tsatsabas and Mr Gerry Barnard, Managing Director of  Londonlearning have signed an agreement that will mean learners in Greece will soon be reaping the benefits of Londonlearning’s online courses in ICT.

Mr Tsatsabas explained that the Greek Government wanted a qualification that was assessed from a central location. Students in Greece will now sit external assessments delivered online  from Londonlearning (Guernsey) Ltd in St Peter Port. Students will receive their results within 24 hours, thanks to Londonlearning online technology.

Learners in Greece will initially follow the ICT courses in the universal language of IT, English. However, Londonlearning will work with ICT Hellas to produce a Greek language version of the course that leads to the international qualification, a BTEC Award.

For more information contact:
mail@London-learning.com

February 2005

Londonlearning partners European companies in cutting edge technology project.

Londonlearning has joined with leading organisations across Europe to submit a project proposal for a European Specific Targeted Research Project.

The participants include Spanish company Alecop, Fraunhofer IGD in Germany and Brno University. The Project is led by Mik S. Coop in the heart of Spain’s machine tool industry in Spain.

The project seeks to explore the synergies between human skills and knowledge management systems for fault diagnosis in complex machinery.

“The thought of technicians actually learning on the job when dealing with faults in complex machinery may be alarming for some, but this is, in fact, one of the key applications of e-learning and knowledge sharing. Londonlearning looks forward to working with the partners at the cutting face of technology applications” said Gerry Barnard, MD of Londonlearning.

For more information contact:
martin@mik.es or mail@London-learning.com

January 2005

Londonlearning invited to join e-learning think tank

Londonlearning has joined one of the UK’s leading think tanks on e-learning, FMS associates. This group has been formed to harness the expertise from a number of UK companies to address the challenges of e-learning and to provide total solutions for customers.

The FMS mission is to provide experienced, high quality, independent, consulting and implementation services. They typically are engaged to scope, design, implement and support large scale e-learning implementations as part of an overall learning and development program within the clients own business and that of their extended value chain.

With Consultants based throughout Europe, the US and Asia Pacific they work globally & locally to help large organisations and learning providers understand, develop and implement e-learning strategies.

The FMS Learning Solutions team is one of the most experienced independent e-learning consulting groups in the market. Their team has all been involved in major e-learning initiatives as buyers, managers and implementers.

Norman Buckberry of FMS Learning Solutions welcomed Londonlearning’s participation in the think tank. “Having input on assessment and qualification issues is of great benefit to companies” he said.

For more information contact:
Norman.buckberry@fmsglobal.com or mail@London-learning.com

November 2004

Londonlearning’s online courses to raise IT literacy standards across Middle East

Londonlearning’s suite of online BTEC Awards in ICT have been selected to meet the needs of high school communities in the Middle East.

Microsoft, IBM, Universal Knowledge Solutions, Londonlearning and Edexcel have teamed up to deliver a new educational service designed to assist schools in providing advanced IT curricula to their students. Known as ‘ELITIS’, this exciting new service was launched by the Lebanese Minister of Education at a televised event in Beirut. ELITIS will role out across all secondary schools in the region during November 2004.

ELITIS, “e-learning IT in schools” will enable students in the Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and other Middle East countries to achieve a BTEC Intermediate Award in ICT online during grades 7 to 9 and to achieve a BTEC Advanced Award by the end of grade 12.

Within the ELITIS project IBM is providing hardware to schools which will be replaced after 3 years; Microsoft is providing software and upgrades; Londonlearning provides the e-learning content.

Initially students will learn their ICT skills in English however Londonlearning is working with Universal Knowledge Solutions to produce a contextualised version of the online course in the Arabic language. Students across the Middle East will then have the choice of learning ICT skills in English or Arabic and to achieve an internationally recognised BTEC qualification.

“Knowledge and Technology are so intertwined nowadays that it is almost inconceivable to have the first mentioned without the other. The alliance between academia and technological innovation has made it possible to integrate continuing education in almost every professional sector whilst laying a strong foundation at school. The Londonlearning course will help us to equip our younger generations with the tools needed to meet global trends and challenges with confidence and ability”.
Dr. Milad F. Sebaaly, Chief Executive UKS

For more information contact:
rabouzeid@uks.ae or mail@London-learning.com

October 2004

Londonlearning launches new e-learning short course at St Andrews conference

A new e-learning course designed by teachers specifically to meet the needs of independent schools around the world was launched at the HMC Annual Conference in St Andrews, Scotland in October.

The BTEC Foundation Award in ICT (online) provides the essential vocational grounding in ICT skills to enable pupils in Years 6 to 8 to confidently and correctly apply software applications in their work across the curriculum.

Designed by expert IT teachers with other subject teachers in mind, the online course from Londonlearning is a valuable whole school resource enabling non-IT teachers to not only integrate ICT easily into their own teaching but also to oversee pupils learning on the online course.

Newcomers to IT and other members of the school community needing to refresh their skills will find the interactive modular learning a refreshing change from the traditional IT training manual approach. All software application examples and assignments have been contextualised for the school environment. Pupils are required to apply new skills learnt in subjects across the curriculum, in homework or classroom activities.

Pupils achieving the BTEC Foundation level can progress to the BTEC Intermediate level and eventually the Advanced Award. A pupil can easily demonstrate their ICT competence when moving schools as evidence for the qualification is stored in an electronic portfolio. It is therefore possible for a pupil beginning the BTEC Foundation course in a Prep school to complete it at the Secondary school stage. Where strong collaboration already exists between an Independent secondary school and its feeder preparatory schools it is quite possible for a pupil to begin work on the BTEC Intermediate course before they transfer.

The online course and external examination for the BTEC are provided globally through Londonlearning, approved by the UK Awarding Body Edexcel.

Gerry Barnard, Managing Director is delighted to launch the new qualification at the HMC Annual Conference at St Andrews.

“We had a very positive response from Headmasters attending our seminar in Dublin last year when we announced our pilot plans” he said. “I am delighted to say that our online courses are now being taken in China, the Middle East and the UK and we are looking forward to see more schools reap the benefits of this formative approach to learning and assessment. The online BTECs are a wonderful vehicle for building collaborative partnerships internationally and in the local community, something I know many Heads and the Secretary of State welcome”.

September 2004

China first to adopt new e-learning course from UK

The first Prep school pupils in China to enrol for a new international online qualification in Information Communication Technology from the UK have welcomed this exciting new way of learning.

Pupils in Shanghai and Beijing described their online course as “Cool!” when they logged on at the start of term to begin their BTEC Foundation Award in ICT (online) course from Londonlearning.

Not only will the young pupils in China learn how to use Microsoft Office applications correctly but they will also be encouraged to involve their families at home to join in gaining these essential skills together.

The BTEC Foundation Award in ICT (online) has been designed by teachers in top UK independent schools who were not satisfied with other IT qualifications currently available. The resulting Londonlearning course is a whole school online resource that pupils, teachers, secretaries and parents can learn essential computing skills whenever they need to, and wherever they are.

The pupils in China will spend up to two years on the BTEC Foundation course learning new IT skills and applying them in other subjects across the curriculum. When they are ready they can progress to the BTEC Intermediate Award in ICT (online), already running in independent schools in the UK.

A big challenge many Independent schools find is when they have pupils arriving from countries across the world with a wide range of ICT experience and competency. Progression at a level and pace to suit an individual’s needs is therefore a key design feature of the suite of BTEC Awards in ICT (online) from Londonlearning:

“This is the beauty of the online BTEC; a pupil works at an appropriate level and can take the exam whenever they feel competent enough to enter. I would not be surprised if we find a junior pupil demonstrating their competence in ICT at the BTEC Advanced Award level in just a few years time” said Dr Andrew Storey, the course designer.

“From a teacher’s perspective, as a result of the online BTEC we are confident that our pupils are now better equipped with the necessary ICT skills for successfully continuing their lifelong learning at the next stage; whether that is school, university or employment”.

China was the first country outside the UK to adopt the BTEC Award. Schools in the UK already running the BTEC Awards in ICT (online) include:

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