VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS – MYTH OR REALITY?Research project uncovers impact of virtual learning environments in the classroom 03 November, 2003 - Granada Learning is once again set to shake up the way teaching and learning is delivered throughout schools in the UK with the new version of the SIMS .net Learning Platform . For the first time, the Learning Platform will include a complete range of practical curriculum planning and record keeping tools for both primary and secondary schools. Combining lesson planning, pupil records and online teaching materials in this way will drastically reduce the administrative burden on teachers as the planning of lessons and selection and uploading of suitable teaching resources can be done in one sitting. The system will be launched at BETT 2004 (stand E40/F40) and Granada Learning is inviting teachers, school leaders and LEA advisors to visit their stand to try out the new technology. The addition of lesson planning resources, from Granada Learning's award winning Skills Factory imprint, will enable teachers to utilise suggested plans or create their own and then search for, customise or generate suitable teaching and assessment materials within the Learning Platform. This makes the provision of differentiated learning materials for pupils with varying needs a relatively simple task. The record keeping element to the Learning Platform will enable the results of each student's endeavours to be fed back into the system to inform future lesson planning. Commenting on the launch Alan Teece, Director for Learnwise at Granada Learning said: "By linking curriculum planning, lesson delivery, assessment for learning and record keeping tools in this way, the new SIMS .net Learning Platform products provide greatly improved learning opportunities for pupils whilst reducing teacher workload. We invite all educationalists on to our stand at BETT to see exactly how we can do it.” Crucially, all the record keeping tools within the Learning Platform have been designed to be easily integrated with a school's Management Information System (MIS), allowing teachers and Heads to easily track class or school performance and bring the government's vision of a truly integrated digital curriculum a step closer. Capita Education Services is one of the leading providers of MIS systems, supplying over 22,000 schools in the UK with the SIMS.net solution and Sean Massey, Capita' s Marketing Director thinks the addition of curriculum planning tools to the SIMS .net Learning Platform is a significant move, “By sharing data across the whole school, from the MIS system to the Learnwise Learning Platform, and incorporating tried and tested planning resources, teaching and learning will improve considerably as will the workloads of busy staff, freeing them to concentrate on their primary business of teaching.” -Ends- Notes to the Editor: SIMS .net Learning Platform The SIMS .net Learning Platform enables Teachers to access email; perform assessments; administer student records; utilise ready-made online learning materials or develop new resources, all from a single log-on. The Learning Platform is available from school and home which will allow students to access course material for homework and enable parents to engage more directly in their child's education. Granada LearningGranada Learning is the UK 's leading educational multimedia company, publishing innovative, curriculum-based resources for the UK and abroad. It currently supplies more than ninety-five per cent of schools in the UK and exports to more than thirty countries internationally, with a catalogue of over 800 software and hardware products. Its extensive and impressive range of educational resources spans the syllabuses of Primary and Secondary schools to meet the requirements of learners of all ages and abilities, ranging from infants through to A level and adult education. Please see http://www.granada-learning.com
For further information or images to accompany the release please contact:Danielle Williams at Granada Learning:The Chiswick Centre, 414 Chiswick High Road , London , W4 5TF Tel: 020 8996 3632 Email: danielle.williams@granadamedia.com
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