Never mind the technology, where’s the learning?

In Gordon Brown’s speech today at the Labour Party conference, he announced the long awaited Home Access scheme. The £300 million scheme commits to providing all low income families of school age children with home internet access, including appropriate hardware if needed, by 2011.

The basics of the initial scheme are:

• broadband for all young people between 7 - and 19-years-old whose families are eligible;
• a free laptop or other computer with relevant software and hardware bought with a ‘Home Access’ voucher; and
• support covering important areas such as internet safety, effective use of technology for learning and a technical support helpline;
• the programme begins in November with targeted funding available for all local authorities to provide home access for groups such as looked after children and others for whom the authority has special responsibility;
• the wider programme will be piloted in early 2009 in two local authority areas, with expansion to the rest of England starting in autumn 2009;
• families in receipt of income support or unemployment benefits will be able to apply for a ‘Home Access’ Grant which they can use to purchase a package from accredited suppliers. The programme aims to work towards universal home access by 2011.

Having been on the Home Access Task Force group representing Naace, it’s gratifying to know that the hard work of all those involved has come to fruition. The aim of the scheme is to bridge the digital divide and provide access to all learners at home. This should have a significant impact in schools, coupled with VLE access, teachers should be able to plan online learning opportunities knowing that access is available to all pupils. Of course there will be problems and most likely abuses, but the true benefit is to remove yet another barrier to change which will make 21st century learning available to all.

The press release can be found at:

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2008_0208

Image credit: World Economic Forum

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